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What is a hairless cavy?
A hairless cavy is a guinea pig (cavy) without a coat. PetMD, in an article written by a vet, explains that hairlessness appeared through natural genetic changes about 40 years ago and is passed on as a recessive trait. There are two kinds, and they come from different genes.
| Skinny pig | Baldwin | |
|---|---|---|
| At birth | Almost completely hairless | Born with a full coat |
| As an adult | Some hair on the nose, feet and back, which can grow with age | Loses the coat over days to months; some keep only whiskers or foot hair |
| How common | The most common hairless guinea pig | Less common |
| Care | The same for both: warmth, skin care, extra food | |
Neither is one of the 13 breeds recognised by the American Cavy Breeders Association, says PetMD. Our guide to guinea pig breeds covers the coated breeds they are often kept with.
How big do skinny pigs get, and how long do they live?
A skinny pig grows to about 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in) long. PetMD gives the usual guinea pig weight as 700 to 1,200 g (1.5 to 2.65 lb), with males generally bigger than females. Without fur they can look smaller and leaner than a coated guinea pig of the same weight, so weigh rather than judge by eye.
They live 5 to 7 years, says PetMD, and some reach 8 or older. That is the same as coated guinea pigs.
Temperament
Skinny pigs are guinea pigs first, so the temperament is the same: PetMD describes them as typically gentle, docile and loving. PetMD advises handling them gently every day while they are young to help them settle.
Keeping a hairless guinea pig warm
Warmth is the biggest difference. PetMD advises a room at 70 to 75°F (21 to 24°C), warns that 80°F (27°C) or above risks heatstroke, and says cold can cause hypothermia and chest infections. That is warmer than the 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F) the RSPCA gives for coated guinea pigs, so a skinny pig needs a room you keep heated through winter, with a steady temperature.
- Keep them indoors all year, away from radiators, draughts and sunny windows
- Keep a thermometer by the cage and check it morning and evening
- Give soft fleece hides and snuggle sacks to burrow into
- Add a microwavable pet heat pad wrapped in fleece on cold nights, with room to move off it
- Pair them with a friend for shared body heat
- Keep humidity at 30 to 60%, as PetMD advises
Overheating is as dangerous as cold. Never put a heat lamp over a skinny pig or a heater right next to the cage, and move them somewhere cooler if the room passes 26°C (79°F), the point the RSPCA gives for heatstroke risk in guinea pigs. A skinny pig that is floppy or breathing fast in the heat needs a vet straight away.
Our guide to guinea pig temperature covers heatwaves and cold snaps for every guinea pig.
Can skinny pigs live outdoors?
No, not as a home. The RSPCA says even coated guinea pigs should come indoors when it falls below 15°C (59°F), and a skinny pig has no coat to hold heat. PetMD also warns that hairless guinea pigs burn in direct sun. Supervised time outside on a mild, overcast day, in a shaded, covered run, is fine. Our page on indoor vs outdoor guinea pigs explains the choice for coated pigs.
Skin care for skinny pigs
Bare skin is sensitive. PetMD says it can turn dry or flaky and gets sore from wet or dirty bedding, so the most useful skin care is a clean, dry cage.
- Use soft bedding. PetMD recommends plush fleece liners with an absorbent layer underneath, or recycled paper bedding (substrate). Avoid cedar shavings and wire or mesh floors.
- Change wet patches daily. Spot clean wet and dirty areas every day and wash fleece liners at least weekly.
- Check the skin. Look over the whole body each week for dry patches, scratches, scabs, redness or bald round patches.
- Trim the nails. Keep nails short so your skinny pig can't scratch itself, as PetMD advises.
- Ask before using anything. Ask a vet before putting any cream, oil or balm on the skin.
Hides with rough or splintery edges scratch bare skin. Choose smooth wooden or fleece hides, and check new ones by running the back of your hand over every edge.
Diet: why skinny pigs eat more
A skinny pig eats the same food as any guinea pig, just more of it. PetMD says hairless guinea pigs may need more calories to stay warm, and advises watching their weight and body shape. That means unlimited hay, which should be most of what they eat, a portion of fresh greens and vegetables every day, a measured amount of guinea pig pellets, and daily vitamin C, which guinea pigs can't make themselves.
PetMD names peppers (bell peppers) as a good vitamin C vegetable. Weigh your skinny pig weekly; if weight drops, ask your vet whether to give more pellets. Our guinea pig diet guide and vitamin C guide give the amounts.
Housing and company
PetMD gives at least 7.5 square feet (0.7 m²) of usable floor for one guinea pig and 10 square feet (0.93 m²) for two, plus about 20% more for each extra pig. PDSA gives at least 1.5 x 1 m (5 x 3 ft 3 in) of living space with a 2 x 1 m (6 ft 7 in x 3 ft 3 in) run. Every pig needs its own hide. Our guinea pig cage size guide has the full measurements.
Guinea pigs shouldn't live alone, says the RSPCA. A skinny pig can share with a coated guinea pig, which makes a warm cuddle partner. PetMD notes same-sex pairs work, and so does a neutered male with females; introduce them slowly, because fight scratches show on bare skin. See our guide to guinea pig pairs.
Common skinny pig health problems
Skinny pigs get the same illnesses as other guinea pigs. PetMD lists gut stasis, chest infections (pneumonia), dental disease, skin problems including sore feet (bumblefoot) and ringworm, eye injuries from hay pokes and bladder stones. It notes hairless guinea pigs may be more prone to ringworm, a fungal skin infection that shows as round, scaly patches, and recommends at least a yearly vet check.
- Daily: check eating, drinking, droppings and breathing
- Daily: check the room temperature and spot clean wet bedding
- Weekly: weigh, check skin all over, teeth, eyes, feet and nails
- Weekly: wash fleece liners and hides
- Yearly: vet health check
A guinea pig that stops eating, breathes noisily, or sits hunched and cold needs a vet that day. Our guinea pig health guide explains the signs.
How much are hairless guinea pigs?
PetMD gives roughly $100 to $300 or more in the US, depending on the breeder, place and type, as of November 2026. We couldn't find a welfare or vet source for UK prices. The ongoing costs are higher than for a coated guinea pig, because of heating and extra food.
Where to find a skinny pig
Try rescues first. In England and Wales, the RSPCA Find a Pet search lets you look for guinea pigs, and local guinea pig rescues are worth asking. In the US, PetMD notes adoption from a rescue is an option.
If you buy from a breeder, ask whether the parents were healthy and long-lived, how warm the babies have been kept, whether they've been handled daily, and whether you can take home a pair. Choose a pig with clear eyes, smooth skin without sores or scabs, a clean bottom and a good weight. Read our guide on where to get a guinea pig and our complete guinea pig care guide before you bring one home.
Skinny pig questions
How long do skinny pigs live?
PetMD, in an article written by a vet, gives 5 to 7 years, with some living to 8 or more. That is the same range as coated guinea pigs. Keeping them warm, dry, well fed and out of the sun, with a yearly vet check, gives a skinny pig the best chance of a long life.
Can skinny pigs live outside?
Not in the UK climate. The RSPCA says even coated guinea pigs should come indoors below 15°C (59°F), and a hairless guinea pig loses heat far faster. Skinny pigs also burn in direct sun. Keep them indoors all year in a draught-free room, with supervised time on the grass only on mild, overcast days.
Do skinny pigs smell or need baths?
They shouldn't smell more than any guinea pig if the cage is kept clean and dry. PetMD's skin advice is a clean, dry home and a vet's word before any product goes on the skin. Wipe off any mess with a soft, damp cloth and dry them straight away rather than bathing them.
What is a hairless cavy?
Cavy is another name for a guinea pig, so a hairless cavy is a hairless guinea pig. There are two types: the skinny pig, born almost bald with a little hair on the nose, feet and back, and the Baldwin, born with fur that falls out over the first days to months of life.
Do skinny pigs need a friend?
Yes. Guinea pigs are social and the RSPCA says they shouldn't live by themselves. A skinny pig can live with another skinny pig or a coated guinea pig, and a coated friend makes a warm cuddle partner. Same-sex pairs work, or a neutered male with one or more females.
How warm should a skinny pig's room be?
Aim for 21 to 24°C (70 to 75°F), the range PetMD gives for hairless guinea pigs. That is warmer than the 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F) the RSPCA advises for coated guinea pigs. Keep it steady day and night, with humidity at 30 to 60%, and move them somewhere cooler if the room reaches 26°C (79°F).
