Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pigs
COMMON NAME: Pot-bellied Pigs
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Sus scrofa domesticus
TYPE: Mammal
YOUNG NAME: Piglets
DIET: Omnivores. Roots, vegetables, nuts, seeds, berries,
worms, insects, raw eggs, and other little critters.
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 10 years
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN CAPTIVITY: 15 to 20 years
HEAD & BODY LENGTH: 36 inches
HEIGHT: 16 to 27 inches
WEIGHT: 70 to 175 pounds
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1. Pot-bellied pigs are native to Southeast Asia and since the 1980s have been imported into the United States as pets.
2. Pot-bellied pigs are smart and are very trainable. They can be taught to do tricks and respond to commands, just like dogs.
3. Pot-bellied pigs have very strong snouts (they can push bowling balls!).
4. Like all pigs, Pot-bellied pigs have sensitive skin and they will get sunburned just like we do.
5. They use their noses for more than just smelling. Their snouts are strong and they use them to push things around, forage and root in the dirt.
6. Pot-bellied pig used for locating and extracting the fruit bodies of the fungi known as truffles from temperate forests in Europe and North America. Pigs have an exceptional sense of smell, and are able to identify truffles as deep as three feet underground.
7. Pot-bellied pigs grow much larger than people often realize. A Pot-bellied pig can grow to be between 80 and 180 or so pounds.
8. Pot-bellied pigs are friendly and social animals. They enjoy being in the company of other pigs and people. They also get lonely without the stimulation of friends and family.
9. Potbellied pigs can get overweight and if this happens it can actually cause “mechanical blindness”. This is where rolls of fat obscure their eyesight, but it can be reversed with diet and exercise.
10. Potbellied pigs are surprisingly quick and enjoy running. They can also swim in shallow water.
11. The tusks of male Potbellied pigs continue to grow throughout their lives and must be trimmed by a veterinarian. Pigs’ hooves must also be trimmed a few times a year, unless they are active enough to wear them down naturally.
12. Potbellied pigs have bristles, not hair or fur, that they shed once a year. Some shed their bristles twice a year.
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13. Pigs are opportunistic omnivores, which means they’ll eat pretty much anything. They live up to their reputation in this regard.
14. Potbellied pigs were originally solid black in color, but now it’s common to see pink, white and spotted pigs.
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15. Pigs constantly communicate with each other using an extensive vocabulary with distinct meanings. Mother pigs “sing” to their babies when they nurse. Piglets learn to recognize their mother’s voice and will run to her when she calls.
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