With his hairless body and pink skin you could mistake this tiny animal for a piglet rather than a rodent.
But Pim, from the Netherlands, is actually a ‘Skinny Pig’, a hairless breed guinea pigs that typically only have hair on their muzzles, feet and legs.
The Skinny Pig was first created by breeding haired guinea pigs with hairless lab strains, traditionally bred for laboratory use in dermatology studies.
Pim, from the Netherlands, is a Skinny Pig, a breed of guinea pigs that typically only have hair on their muzzles, feet and legs
Pim’s owner, Jessica Pires, first met the Skinny Pig in December 2016 while searching for a new pet following the death of her hairless rat
The Skinny Pig was first created by breeding haired guinea pigs with hairless lab strains, traditionally bred for laboratory use in dermatology studies
Pires, 21, of the Netherlands, said that Pim was a newborn when she first brought him home, and she’s loved him ever since
While the small creatures are generally healthy, the only other difference between guinea pigs and their hairless cousins is that they need to eat slightly more to maintain body heat.
Pim’s owner, Jessica Pires, picked him up in December 2016 when he was a newborn, and has been in love with him ever since.
The 21-year-old said: ‘I’ve had a skinny rat in the past, but after she passed away, I wanted to get another skinny animal and I discovered the Skinny Pig and fell immediately in love with them.’
Pires said that she had to travel across the Netherlands to find Pim, as his skin color is apparently rare.
‘I only wanted this colour, and I’ve seen all the Skinny Pigs breeders in the Netherlands to find someone like Pim. He wants to cuddle every time he sees me and he sleeps in my arms.’
Pires said that she’s well aware of her guinea pig needing more food than his hairless counterparts.
She said: ‘Every time my mother comes into my room when the curtains are closed, he will scream for as long as until he gets his vegetables.’
Little Pim is turning one this month, and over the past year he has gained many friends, both in life and online. He lives at Pires’ home with a puppy, named Rox
Pim, who has truly settled into Pires’ home over the last year, also shares the home with a pet bird, canary named Do (pictured above).
Pim is pictured above with two haired rats. The difference in the rodents’ appearance is stark when they are sitting next to each other
Little Pim is turning one this month, and over the past year he has gained many friends, both in life and online.
He lives at Pires’ home with a puppy, named Rox, and Do the bird. Pim has also gained a big following thanks to his Instagram account.
Pires said: ‘I think that he loves all his fans and he loves to be famous. Some of my followers are so in love with him that they would love to see him every day. And for some people he is the best piggy of Instagram.’
On the Instagram Pires poses him with an array of different props, from a sign saying ‘Free Kisses’, to a work of art signed by the Pim himself.
His owner said: ‘Pim loves to pose for the camera. Since he was little I’ve taught him to pose for the camera and to be patient. He likes it because he gets a treat afterwards. He does everything for a treat.’
On the Instagram Pires poses him with an array of different props, from a sign saying ‘Free Kisses’, to a work of art signed by the Pim himself
While the small creatures are generally healthy, the only other difference between guinea pigs and their hairless cousins is that they need to eat slightly more to maintain body heat
Pires says that Pim loves posing for photos for Instagram, adding that he receives a treat following every photography session
Pires said that she wanted Pim’s specific color of Skinny Pig and traveled to breeders across the Netherlands before finally meeting her pet