Has anyone seen the new "Skinny Pigs"? There was an article about them in the Times on 18th October with a photo.They are a hairless variety that has resulted from a deliberately induced genetic mutation. They eat 3 times more food than normal GPs & require moisturiser, factor 50 sun screen & protective clothing in winter. Apparently, the demand is so high that they are selling for £150 in Bournmouth. I don't think that this should have been done. They are delicate enough without artificially adding traits that make it harder for them to cope with the weather conditions in this country and I cannot condone altering animals to make them into novelty fashion accessories. :huh:

Has anyone seen the new "Skinny Pigs"? There was an article about them in the Times on 18th October with a photo.They are a hairless variety that has resulted from a deliberately induced genetic mutation. They eat 3 times more food than normal GPs & require moisturiser, factor 50 sun screen & protective clothing in winter. Apparently, the demand is so high that they are selling for £150 in Bournmouth. I don't think that this should have been done. They are delicate enough without artificially adding traits that make it harder for them to cope with the weather conditions in this country and I cannot condone altering animals to make them into novelty fashion accessories. :huh:

not really a new thing , they have been around for a while. a forummr has some :)

They don't have to cope with the weather conditions - I believe skinny pigs should never be kept (permanently) outdoors (obviously they like a run around on the grass in warm weather), this treatment isn't any different to furry pigs though, many are kept as indoor pets.

Skinny pigs aren't for inexperienced guinea pig owners though, as you rightly pointed out they need a lot of special care. I wouldn't agree that they are 'delicate enough'. Guinea Pigs are a hardy little species and healthy animals can live past 8 years. Many species of animals are bred to produce various breeds for different reasons, including showing. I disagree with this when it results in serious health problems by overbreeding for certain characteristics, but if properly cared for (and at £150 a time I don't think anyone will take them on without serious consideration) skinny pigs are at no serious disadvantage. They're also hypoallergenic :D

There was a forummer who no longer uses the forum who had and bred skinny pigs. Personally I wouldn't go for a breed that needed so much care because I'd be wary of whether I could provide it, but she does and when she rehomes a skinny she is very, very careful about who they go to.

But yes, I have mixed feelings on the breeding and 'designing' of them as well because there are ways for people to get their hands on them just because they're different and then not care for them properly.

Right, I am about to set the record straight about this STUPID journalist who printed these stories.

My other half is the ex member who breeds them. She knows a lot about the breed and even runs her own forum on them, and it is gullible folk like the OP that has made these animals into the next "big debate". They were not genetically mutilated, it was a breeding accident that happened in a Canadian lab some 30 odd years ago.

They CANNOT go outside, regardless of "winter clothing (what a load of tosh!) factor whatever sun cream and such likes. They cannot live permanently outside, regardless of what the stupid article insinuates.

Also they do not sell for £150 and certainly not in Bournemouth. thats where the idiot journo lives, I know my OH spoke to her.

Please, do not take everything you read about in the paper as gospel. If you have any questions about these please feel free to ask, I will get her to give you a response if needed

Have you written to the Times as you feel so strongly about this? As the article will have been read country - wide, it might be an idea to put the record straight regarding these GPs by sending a letter which if published would be read by everyone who saw the original article. I have always found that when journalists write about a subject I know well, there are massive errors and they portray complete rubbish as fact, so I am not surprised to find that this is the case here.
This is the first time I have seen or heared of a hairless GP and having kept GPs myself. I was just curious about them. I was not aware that there is a debate going on regarding these animals. I've been called a few things in my time but "gullible folk" is a new one - sounds a bit patronising.

For a start it wasn't just The Times, it was in fact in 9 national news papers.

For me the definition of gullible is taking everything at face value, to me thats exactly what you did, you believed everything the paper printed. The journo actually was an independant one from BNPS google it if you want, her name is Natasha.

I see no point in writting to either of the papers or the journo that wrote it, my partner and the breeder who's skinnies were photographed gave her the correct info, she twisted it to make it sound better as journo's usually do.

I just hope the rest of the readers use their brains and realise putting a hairless animal outside in a hutch WILL kill it, you might as well save yourself a few quid and get a stuffed one.

Like I have said before, if yu have any questions, please feel free to get in touch, I will get her to respond to you personally

Ask you questions! Yeah right - you sound SO approachable and friendly.

Ask you questions! Yeah right - you sound SO approachable and friendly.

Ask away, both Nutronic and his Mrs are freindly and approachable :thumbsup:

Ask away, both Nutronic and his Mrs are freindly and approachable :thumbsup:

Seconded! I've had two piggies from Nutronic and "his Mrs" lol- they are fab people who know what they are talking about when it comes to Guineas:)