Is There Such Thing as a Micro Mini, Tea Cup, Pocket Pig, or Other So-Called Breeds of Miniature Pigs?

Example of underfed, unhealthy piglet bred by a "micro mini" breeder.
Chances are, this little guy is not even still living.

Short and sweet answer is: No, there isn't any such animal.  The many pig breeders call their piglets everything from Tea Cup Pigs, to Micro Mini Pigs, and another one is something like, Royal D-something or other.


One of these people actually sent me photos of their so-called ultra small piglets, and tried to tell me that they had been raising their line of miniature pigs for at least two and a half decades, and that their pigs don't get any larger than 50 pounds. They even said that their male pigs don't even get tusks, when I requested photos of adult males with tusks. (So I would have a better idea of their correct age).

When I requested photos of some adult males, I was sent one picture of two males that were not babies, but were so malnourished that they were obviously stunted, and their hip bones and spine showed very plainly in the picture. Those were starving pigs.

This sow is not even a year old yet, and they have already used her to breed these little ones, telling people that these babies will not get any larger than their mother.  She still has another 2 to 4 years yet to grow, and if she lives long enough she too, will hit at least 100 pounds at maturity.

Your Pot Belly Pig needs to be fed a diet of food made specifically for Pot Belly or miniature pigs. In addition to that feed, it should be getting plenty of green leafy vegetables, with the exception of iceberg lettuce, and other vegetable that cause gas, such as broccoli and cauliflower. These can cause gastric upset, and necessitate vet visits that could well be avoided otherwise.  Be sure you don't overdo such things as raisins, carrots and other fruits that are high in even natural sugars, and even natural sugar can cause cavities, and that will lead to more pain and suffering for your pig as well as yourself and your wallet.  DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT feed your pig dog food. It is not created for pigs, and has way too many calories, and as many of you may already know, many commercial dog foods, are primarily corn, which is way too fattening for pigs. Corn also causes high cholesterol, even in pigs, which can drastically shorten their life.

Another thing about too much of anything that is high in calories, and causes excessive weight gain, is that when a pig gets obese, just as in humans, it puts too much stress on its joints, which can cause the cartilage which will lead to arthritis and inflammation of  the joints.

Many Pot Belly Pig breeders have web sites that show a little piglet inside of or next to a soda can or a coffee mug, leading people into think ing that their baby won't get very large.

Just think about photos you have seen of kangaroos.  A full sized kangaroo is about six feet tall, yet when their young are born, they are less than one inch long, and have to travel up to the mother's pouch, where they stay until they are able to move around on the ground. Yet, there little creatures will grow to the size of their parents.

Are You Considering Getting A Pot Belly Pig As A Pet?

Once this tea cup size piglet matures, it will weigh in at 100 to 200 pounds.

 Are you ready for that?

This Piglet And It's Future Is Up To You.

If you are considering getting a pet miniature pig, make sure you have  accurate information so neither your or that sweet little thing won't have to deal with the trauma of having to get rid of it sometime down the road.

There are many unscrupulous pig breeders who claim they have perfected a way to breed a miniature pig that won't exceed 35 to 50 pounds at maturity.  They will usually also tell you that you will have to be sure to keep it on a strict diet so it doesn't grow too large.  That happens to be their out, for if you do feed that baby according to their directions, it will be stunted, and have internal organ problems and if it does survive long enough to make it thought the first year, it will have all kinds of health problems. If someone who is sharp enough to realize the pig actually needs more to eat, and they go ahead and feed the piglet a more reasonable diet, and it gets larger than the breeder said it would, they will say you didn't feed it according to their directions, and it's all your fault you pig got too large.

These were very tine when they were born, and the young ones will get at least
as large as the Pot Belly Pig they are standing next to.

Keep this in mind: Your pig will grow according to it's genes. Underfeeding it will only produce a malnourished pig that is too thin, and won't even look like a normal Pot Belly Pig.  A pig is a pig, and  a Pot Belly Pig is supposed to have a pot belly, and be reasonably rounded in body, not obese so that it is so heavy that it has trouble getting up and down, but comfortably rounded. You see pictures on this site as well as other pig rescue sites that show pigs in all shapes and sizes, as well as some that are so morbidly obese that they must be put on carefully controlled diets to help save them from being completely crippled, and unable to even move around.  Even these morbidly obese pigs still have to eat enough to survive, and not be starving. Just as weight loss for people takes time and some exercise, so it does with a pig as well.

Slowly, it will regain mobility and energy, and as long as the damage hasn't already been done to it's joints, it should recover pretty well, if not entirely.

Before you do buy a pig from a breeder, first check with a veterinarian in your area that takes care of Pot Belly or other breeds of miniature pigs.  Any qualified vet will know what kind of diet your pig will need, as well as the vaccinations required to prevent pneumonia, rabies, and Parvovirus, as well.