Your little house hippo has a few basics that you’ll need to purchase and set up before bringing him or her home.
First up is a cage or enclosure. One of our favourites is the guinea habitat (available on Amazon - see link below). We like this cage because it has a smooth bottom that’s easy on sensitive feet and it’s reconfigurable so you can set up two together in various formations. It also has a door with a ramp so your little house hippo can come out for floor time or you can close him or her up on one side while you clean the other. Some people like to link modular wire partition squares together to make their own cage. It’s not necessary to have a top.
This brings us to our next basic - some form of bedding. One great option is fleece. It has the advantage of being warm and soft but will need to be laundered. I’ve put a link in our favourite /recommended products to a company that makes different sized fleece squares with absorbent cores - though making your own is also an option. We like to line the bottoms of our cages with puppy pee pads to soak up any spills. Absorbent bedding from the petstore is another option, but wood shavings are not recommended.
Skinny pigs are prey animals and need some sort of house or hiding place to feel safe. You can purchase a plastic “igloo” at the petstore - our piggies love the ones with steps to walk up so they can also sit on the top! Fleece “forests” are also a big favourite.
Next up is a water source - we use water bottles as skinny pigs are curious and clever and tend to play with and rearrange any bowls or dishes in their cage. A solid dish for pellets and a hay feeder are also basics. The feeder simulates natural foraging behaviour and keeps the hay out of any droppings on the floor.
Skinny pigs are unusual in that they cannot synthesize their own Vitamin C. They need to be supplemented, either with something like Oxbow Vitamin C “cookies” or some thought and planning when choosing their fresh vegetables so that you make sure you’re including those high in Vitamin C such as parsley.
Your piggie will need about a cup of fresh vegetables every day such as carrots, dark leafy lettuces, parsley, green pepper, and kale. They learn the sound of the bag or fridge drawer being opened and squeak with adorable anticipation. They learn routines quickly and will remind you if you’re late with their treat!
Most of these items are one time purchases (cage, bowl etc) and should last quite some time.
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