Is a Micro Mini Pig the Right Pet for You?

Before you purchase a micro mini pig, you need to decide if a pig is the right pet for your family.  Pigs make excellent house pets, but they are definitely not for everyone.  There are a few very important questions you need to ask and discuss with your family:

• Will a mini pig be compatible with your lifestyle?
• Do you own your own home or have signed permission from a landlord?
• Do you have a yard where your mini pig can play?
• Does your local township zoning commission allow mini pigs as pets in your town?
• Do you have the proper amount of time to train and spend with your new mini pig?
• Have you located a vet in your area that treats miniature pigs?
• How do you think the other pets or children in your house will accept a mini pig?
• Do you have someone who can watch your mini pig when you are away?
• Have you asked other mini pig owners about their experiences?
• Have you researched health and vet requirements and the costs of owning a mini pig.

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How Big Do Teacup Pigs Truthfully Get?

The media has created a misconception about mini pet pigs.  The names teacup pig, nano pig, micro pig, miniature pig are all used regularly, but those are in relation to a full grown farm pig.  Often we see the adorable faces and sizes of the baby piglets as they are born and photographed.  However, there is not a lot of attention paid to the pigs once they are full grown.  Remember Paris Hilton's adorable baby teacup piglet?  Well, still a beautiful pig, but it will definitely not fit in a teacup any longer.  Most pet pigs from reputable breeders grow to be 35-60 pounds when full grown.  Hopefully the pictures below of Paris Hilton and George Clooney's full grown mini pigs give you a better idea of what to expect when purchasing one of these adorable pet piglets!

Paris Hilton's Pet Pig Full Grown

George Clooney's Pet Pig Full Grown

What are the Different Miniature Pig Breeds?

Choosing a pig can be very confusing.  There are a lot of different breeders out there advertising pigs using a million different and fancy words: micro mini pig, nano pig, teacup pig, toy pig, miniature pig, etc.  There is no association that has clarified what all these terms actually mean.  These fancy words deal with the size of the full grown pig and each breeder has their own definition.  There are only a few different breeds of small pigs.  Many of the pigs being sold are crosses between the breeds, which is great and part of how there are so many great colors, patterns and sizes.  Be aware that pigs are not normally full grown until they are 2-3 years of age.  On occasion, some pigs have been known to grow up until the age of 6, but this is not the usual.  Pigs tend to do most of their main skeletal growing during the first year to year and a half.  After that they fill out and add weight, but their height and length do not tend to change.

Over time, breeders have worked on bringing these pigs down in size.  You must see the parents to have a good idea, but many breeders now have mini pigs, which are a mix of many of these smaller pig breeds, standing around 15-16" tall and weighing no more than 60 pounds when full grown.

Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs:
 These pigs are originally from Vietnam, but where imported to the U.S. & Canada in the 1960s.  These pigs can grow to 20" tall and range from 100-250 pounds.  They are extremely social animals, but are also known for their stubborn and independent streaks.
Potbellied pigs have short legs, a short snout, a sway back, a potbelly, a straight long tail, and they tend to be very portly and round in their appearance.

Juliana Pigs:
Juliana pigs are smaller and more petite in their bone structure than the potbellied pig.  They were brought to the U.S. from Europe.  They have straight backs, longer snouts, they are always spotted, their legs are longer than the potbellied pig.  Juliana pigs are lean, long and athletic in appearance.  They can range in size from 10-16" tall and weigh no more than 60 pounds when full grown.  They have a very friendly and outgoing personality.

Guinea Hogs:
Guinea Hogs are rare and unique to the U.S..  They are thought to originate from West Africa.  They are usually black, have a sturdy build, a curly tail, they have a straight back and no potbelly.  They are highly active, alert and intelligent.  They can grown to 22" tall and can weigh from 150-300 pounds when full grown.

Ossabaw Island Pigs:
The hogs of Ossabaw Island, off the coast of Georgia, are descendants of Spanish pigs brought to the New World over 400 years ago. They were small range pigs with prick ears, heavy coats and long snouts.  Ossabaw hogs are usually black, although some are black with white spots or light with black spots.  They tend to weigh 80-150 pounds.

Kune Kune Pigs:
The KuneKune Pig is a delightful breed of swine once near certain extinction.  They were only found in New Zealand and kept by the Maori people.  They are known for their extremely laid back, docile, friendly personalities.
The Kune Kune is covered in hair which can be long or short, and straight or curly. Hair colors include black, brown, ginger, gold, cream and spotted combinations.  It has a short, round body with short legs and two tassels under its chin called wattles. They stands about 24 inches tall and weigh 150-250 pounds.

Mexican Yucatan Pigs:
Parent stock for a miniature pig herd was obtained from the progeny of pigs imported from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The Yucatan miniature pig is slate-gray, essentially hairless, and has a docile temperament.  The Yucatan miniature pig is native to tropical regions.  They weight 150-180 pounds when mature.