The size of an adult pot-bellied pig can vary according to genetics and diet. However, pot-bellied pigs are often 14 to 18 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh 125 to 150 pounds. The original pot-bellied pigs introduced into the United States were bigger, weighing roughly 200 lbs. However, some breeders developed much smaller pot-bellied pigs for the pet market.
The gestational period of a pot-bellied pig is about 114 days. Females usually produce a litter of six piglets. Pot-bellied pigs can grow for four or five years, but grow the most during the first three and a half year. They reach sexual maturity at the age of 5 to 7 months. Their lifespan is 10 to 20 years, but some can live as long as 30 years.
In the wild, pot-bellied pigs are territorial, forming herds and communicating with a variety of sounds, such as squeaks, sneezes, grunts and gurgles. Like other breeds, pot-bellied pigs like to roll in mud to cool their bodies and create protection against sunburn and insect bites. An important part of the a pig's instinctive behavior, rooting is a way of getting vitamins and minerals.
Smaller pot-bellied pigs are popular pets, and some people believe they can be house-trained just as a dog. According to the Northwest Miniature Pig Association, pot-bellied pigs generally can live well with other house pets, such as dogs and cats. However, according to Pigs, a nonprofit animal sanctuary, pot-bellied pigs can become aggressive when living inside a house all the time. Pot-bellied pigs need to have access to outside areas at all times so they can root.