What's a realistic weekly schedule for my Skinny Pig?
Follow this weekly schedule to ensure your Skinny Pig stays healthy and happy. Spend about 30 minutes each day on routine tasks.
Daily Routine
Start your day by checking the Skinny Pig's cage for any signs of illness or discomfort. This includes looking for wet bedding, changes in appetite, or signs of stress. Spend about 5 minutes on this daily check.
Next, provide fresh water and hay. Fill the water bottle and ensure the hay is fresh and dry. This takes about 2 minutes.
After that, it's time for feeding. Offer a small amount of pellets and fresh vegetables. This should take about 5 minutes.
Spend 10 minutes on daily playtime outside the cage. Interaction is crucial for your Skinny Pig's social and mental well-being.
- Daily: 5 minutes for health checks
- Daily: 2 minutes for fresh water and hay
- Daily: 5 minutes for feeding
- Daily: 10 minutes for playtime
Weekly Routine
Once a week, it's time for a thorough cleaning of the cage. Remove all bedding and wash the cage with mild soap and water. This takes about 30 minutes.
Also, once a week, you should change the cage's location to a different room for a few hours. This helps prevent the cage from becoming a 'den' and encourages your Skinny Pig to explore.
Check the cage's temperature and humidity levels once a week. Ensure they are within the ideal range of 68–75°F (20–24°C) and 40–60% humidity, respectively.
- Weekly: 30 minutes for cage cleaning
- Weekly: Change cage location for a few hours
- Weekly: Check temperature and humidity
Monthly Routine
Monthly, it's important to weigh your Skinny Pig. This helps monitor their health and detect any weight changes early. Weighing should take about 5 minutes.
Also, once a month, provide a new litter box. This encourages your Skinny Pig to use it consistently and keeps the cage clean.
- Monthly: 5 minutes for weighing
- Monthly: Provide a new litter box
What to Skip on Busy Days
On particularly busy days, you can skip the daily playtime if necessary. However, try to keep it to no more than two days a week.
If you're short on time, you can also combine the daily health check and fresh water/hay replacement into one task. This can save about 7 minutes.
- Skip daily playtime on busy days, but no more than two days a week
- Combine health check and water/hay replacement to save time
Keep reading about Skinny Pig: Skinny Pig care sheet
Related questions
How often should I clean my Skinny Pig's cage?
You should clean the cage thoroughly once a week.
How often should I change the cage's location?
Change the cage's location once a week for a few hours.
How often should I weigh my Skinny Pig?
Weigh your Skinny Pig once a month.
Not veterinary advice. This guide covers husbandry — housing, feeding, cleaning and handling. If your skinny pig is injured, off food unusually long, or behaving abnormally, contact a veterinarian.