Types of guinea pigs - breeds, their description and characteristics

18 March35462pet rodentsguinea pig

The guinea pig is a species of domesticated rodent. Despite their name, they are not related to marine animals and are not related to the pig family. The guinea pig has other names, it is called Guinea pig, as well as cavy or kewi. Guinea pigs are trusting and good-natured animals. In this article you will learn a lot of new and interesting things about the guinea pig.

Care and maintenance

Guinea pigs will need a comfortable and safe home, equipment and quality food.

Cage and filler

The animal can be kept in a cage, terrarium or enclosure. The main requirements for a guinea pig's home:

availability of free space;
design safety;
good ventilation;
ease of cleaning.

An aquarium or closed plastic cage is not a suitable option. There is poor air circulation in them. Some stores sell guinea pig racks. These are multi-tiered open-type structures with plastic pallets. They are somewhat reminiscent of a shop window. The floors are connected to each other by steps or gentle stairs with notches.

Such a dwelling does not take up much space in the apartment and is well ventilated. In addition, rodents living in these structures are constantly in sight of the owners, making it easy to observe them. The rack is easy to clean since the top is open.

A house for a guinea pig is placed in the cage. Each rodent should have its own shelter. It is quite large - approximately 35 cm in length, 20 cm in width and 7-10 cm in height. An adult animal must fit freely inside.

In addition, you will need a hay barn, 2 feeders and a drinking bowl. It is worth giving preference to the nipple one, since pets will not be able to knock it over, which means they will not be left without water.

Filler is used as bedding. Its function is to absorb moisture and eliminate unpleasant odors. For rodents, hardwood shavings or compressed sawdust are suitable.

Hygiene

Caring for a common guinea pig includes cleaning the cage, brushing the fur, and trimming the nails. Inexperienced owners believe that rodents need to be bathed when they smell unpleasant. In fact, the animal washes its coat on its own. If an unpleasant odor appears, it means you need to change the filler in the cage more often. Guinea pigs are bathed in exceptional cases when it is impossible to remove dirt on the fur by other means.

The animal's home is cleaned every 4-7 days. The more pets live there, the faster the litter gets dirty. The dirty filler is thrown away and the tray is washed with hot water. Cleaning products must not be used.

It is necessary to periodically examine the animal's ears.

If a lot of sulfur has accumulated in them, it is carefully removed with a cotton swab or disk. Nails are shortened once a month

Only the very tip is cut off with a special nail cutter.

It is imperative to monitor the condition of the fecal pouch in males. Sometimes shavings and other debris get into it, and droppings also accumulate. All this can lead to skin irritation and cause inflammation.

Taming

When the animal gets used to its new place of residence, you can begin to accustom it to your hands. The main thing in this matter is patience, there is no need to rush. First, the pig must get used to the owner's voice.

You need to approach the cage several times a day and talk affectionately to your pet. It is advisable to call him by name. Communication with a person should be associated with something pleasant, so you should treat the rodent with a piece of apple or carrot every time.

Then you can move on to the next stage - hand feeding. When the guinea pig stops being afraid, he will come closer and take the treat right from the palm of his hand.

It is important not to make sudden movements so as not to scare her. Gradually the animal will get used to the smell of the owner’s hands, and then it can be taken on your lap

Keeping smooth-haired guinea pigs at home

Smooth-haired guinea pigs do not require special conditions for comfort. They need all the same accessories for life as most pigs. Of course, like any small pet, a pig needs a cage.

The cell arrangement is standard. The pig needs a place to rest, a “dining room”, a “restroom” and a play area.

Cell

For smooth-haired pets, choose a cage with a plastic tray. The minimum dimensions for one pet are 80*90 cm, height 35 cm.

The cage contains:

A reserve for hay, where the animal can feed itself with dry grass and also build a nest for itself;
feeder;
sippy cup;
tray;
house;
toys;
litter

The cage must be installed on a straight surface without tilting. It is important to avoid direct sunlight and drafts when choosing a location for the cage. Before putting hay in the cage, you need to knead it well with your hands. Experienced breeders use soft dried timothy grass.

Caring for the animal and cleaning the cage

To keep your animal clean, you will need to carry out the following procedures:

Combing out fur;
trimming claws;
water procedures;
ear treatment;
home cleaning.

The fur should be brushed daily. This procedure will remove dead hair and stimulate the growth of new fur. This activity will bring your pet a lot of pleasure, because the brush massages the skin. It is better to choose a brush with natural soft bristles.

A rodent needs a manicure just like its owner. Uncut legs grow, curl and become the cause of musculoskeletal problems, as well as bacterial diseases. To keep the animal clean and healthy, it is necessary to trim its claws once every 2-4 weeks with a special nail clipper or electric file. These tools are sold at pet stores. When trimming, you need to be extremely careful so as not to touch the nerve and vessel located at the base of the claw. To perform the procedure correctly and safely, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian or study the relevant materials on caring for pigs.

Water procedures are not so necessary. The pig cleans its own fur. But there are times when a pet is so dirty that a bath is indispensable. For swimming you will need:

bath with anti-slip mat;
water with a temperature of 24 degrees;
special shampoo;
terry towel.

It is important to ensure that water does not get into your pet's ears. Immediately after bathing, the pig should be wrapped in a towel, as these animals are susceptible to colds.

Minor stains and daily wet care can be carried out using special wet wipes.

Cleaning the ears is a very important step in caring for your pet. You need to clean your ears regularly with a stick soaked in chlorhexidine. If there are dried crusts in the ears, then the Bars solution is instilled into the ears. It is sold in pet pharmacies. And if your pet squeals when trying to clean its ears, then you need to take it to the veterinarian. Perhaps an ear mite has settled in your pet's ear canals.

Cleaning the cage consists of daily washing the feeder and disposing of leftover food. The litter needs to be changed twice a week. General cleaning, which includes treating all surfaces of the cage and objects, is carried out once a month.

Short-haired guinea pigs

This category includes all breeds whose representatives have fairly short fur. Typically, their fur is no more than 3 cm long.

Agouti

The agouti guinea pig is officially considered the ancestor of many modern decorative breeds. It has a very unusual ticked coloring, in which dark and light zones alternate on each hair.

According to the officially current breed standard, agouti can have any of the following colors:

citric;
silver;
golden;
chocolate;
cream;
cinnamon.

It is extremely rare for agouti to be born with albinos. But according to the official standard, all-white representatives of the breed are subject to culling and cannot take part in breeding.

English selfies

These animals have uniform, evenly colored fur, which is characterized by a natural glossy shine. Their smooth coat does not have any contrasting spots or speckles. And there must be a soft light edge on the ears and paws.

Among the completely white representatives of the breed, there are often both individuals with dark-colored eyes and classic albinos with a colorless iris through which red capillaries are visible.

According to the officially established standard, the smooth-haired Self breed guinea pig can be colored not only completely white, but also beige, black, chocolate, cream, gold, lilac, red or saffron.

Crested

It is almost impossible to confuse a Crested guinea pig with a representative of another breed. It is easily recognizable by the white rosette, which is located on the animal’s head. In a colored individual it contrasts with the coat color and looks like a crown.

The breed is divided into two main types - English and American. In representatives of the first species, the shade of the rosette should match the main color. In the American Crested guinea pig, its color contrasts sharply with the rest of its coat.

The rosette of a white individual practically merges with the main background and does not look so impressive. Therefore, the Crested guinea pig with light-colored fur is not very popular among professional breeders and ordinary lovers of decorative rodents.

Rex

Representatives of this widespread breed of guinea pigs have a special coat structure. Their wavy, hard fur grows strictly vertically and evokes associations with down.

The curly fur of the animals does not fit tightly to the body and is practically impossible to style. Rex pig can be painted in any color, including white.

Satin

Satin rodents are completely covered with silky, pleasant-to-touch fur that lies tightly to the body. The colors of guinea pigs of this variety are very diverse.

Among the representatives of the satin breed there are completely white, chocolate, black, lilac and beige individuals. The standard also allows for red, gold, saffron, cream and two-tone coat colors.

A satin guinea pig with a white coat may have dark or red eye color. But in both cases, the animal must have flesh-colored paw pads. The shade of the ears of the pure white cavy satin breed is pink or matches the color of the coat.

Teddy

This beautiful American guinea pig has short, dense and relatively coarse fur. Thanks to this structure of the fur coat, the purebred animal looks more like a toy teddy bear.

The luxurious, lush hair of the American guinea pig is evenly distributed over the entire surface of the animal’s body. The fur looks slightly tousled and visually increases the size of the animal. According to the standard, the American guinea pig can have many different colors, but the white teddy looks the most impressive.

Pigs are colorful

Smooth-haired tri-colored guinea pigs have soft, smooth, silky hair, without curls or rosettes. They are characterized by a bright, unusual pattern. The colors, and there are three of them in any shade, with the exception of white, black and bright red, are distributed in the form of a chessboard consisting of squares of the same size. The best specimens have two colors on the head and three or more patches of all colors on each side. In animals, the so-called dividing line is clearly visible, which is formed at the junction of areas located on the sides and runs along the entire body, both below and above. There is no specific color sequence, but purity of color is important. There should be no admixture of hairs of other shades. They have a short and wide head, eyes located far apart, clear and protruding, large ears hanging down.

Nutrition

Long-haired pigs are herbivores, so the food should be predominantly plant-based; the following combination is considered optimal:

grass or hay – 60-65%;
juicy food – 30%;
dry food – 5%.

It is best to purchase hay in a specialized store, in which case you can be sure that it will be of adequate quality. When buying at the market from hand, you may encounter irresponsible sellers who did not remove poisonous herbs when preparing feed or collected food near highways and large industrial facilities.

The food requirement of a shaggy guinea pig is 150 g per day. You can give her dill, parsley, lettuce; pigs love strawberries, pears and cherries; they will not refuse vegetables, they especially love carrots, cabbage or zucchini.

Try to keep your pet's diet as varied as possible; the body should receive a full range of vitamins, macro- and microelements. If your pet eats only cabbage or carrots, this will have the most unfavorable effect on its overall well-being.

The ideal situation would be when the rodent’s daily diet contains at least 3 types of vegetables and juicy greens. As the latter, you can take leaves of strawberries, raspberries, black and red currants; carrot and beet tops are very useful for animals.

We pay special attention to the fact that the rodent requires table salt, so you will need to buy a salt stone. Unfortunately, with other products the pet will not be able to receive the required amount of salt, while it is very important for normalizing the digestion process

The animal should not be hungry - if it does not receive food for more than 18 hours, irreversible pathological changes are triggered in the body, which can cause the death of the rodent.

As for supplementary feeding, here you need to focus on the juiciness of the main feed. If your pig gets enough fluids from her food, she may not drink water at all. On average, an adult pet needs 60-70 ml of water per day. Few people know, but the rodent body is not able to absorb vitamins B and K during the very first passage of food, so many animals often eat their own feces, since when they pass through the digestive organs again, all substances are absorbed in full.

Himalayan

The Himalayan albino pig has a unique genetic coat color: a snow-white shade with a dark characteristic spot in the nose area. Another amazing feature: the absence of eye pigment, which makes the pupils appear red, although in fact only the blood vessels that create such an unusual color are visible. The ears have an unusual petal-shaped shape. The hair is hard, dense and thick. As the air temperature decreases, its tone changes somewhat towards a darker side. These rodents are afraid of sunlight, so when choosing a place for the cage, take this feature into account. They have a calm, balanced character, making them great for families with small children.

Himalayan

Skinny

These pigs of truly exotic appearance appeared as a result of a mutation in 1978 at the Institute of Montreal (Canada). They have no fur, only on the nose and paws there are sparse curly and coarse hairs. Skinny skin is very soft and velvety. The most common color is chocolate; there are black, tortoiseshell, silver, lilac, etc.

Skinnies have an excellent appetite, which is not surprising: they have a faster metabolism, as they need to retain body heat. Therefore, they eat 3 times more than their furry counterparts, sometimes gnawing on something all day long.

Due to their lack of fur, skinnies require a little more care and attention than regular guinea pigs. The main thing that future owners of these cute and gentle creatures need to know is that skinnies need to be protected from drafts and always kept warm. If fasting days are only beneficial for most animals, then for skinnies to remain for two days without food is literally like death. At the same time, skinnies are prone to obesity, so the owner’s task is to carefully consider the diet, establish a diet and strictly adhere to it.

Baldwins

Unlike Skinnies, who have tufts of hair on their paws and nose, Baldwins are a completely hairless breed. Babies are born covered with fur, like ordinary pigs, but by the age of one month it completely falls out. Baldwins have extremely delicate skin; both cold and direct sunlight are dangerous for it.

A person who has decided to get a guinea pig and has become acquainted with all the variety of breeds faces a difficult question: how to choose “your breed” among all this diversity?

Surely, many people want to have a rare breed of pig at home. Thus, hairless guinea pigs are very in demand and popular today. But here you need to take into account that these are more delicate and sensitive animals, they are more demanding in terms of care and living conditions. And the price for such exotics will be significantly higher than for pigs of less rare breeds. In addition, when purchasing a pig of a rare breed with a good pedigree, additional responsibility is imposed on the owner: you need to join a club, take part in exhibitions, find your pet the most suitable partner for mating, etc.

Pigs of less rare breeds can be no less beautiful and affectionate pets. Short-haired guinea pigs are easier to care for, they have high immunity, which means they get sick much less often than other breeds of pigs. Animals with short hair are the best choice for a novice breeder. In addition, if you are purchasing a guinea pig for a child, it is best to choose just such a pet. Caring for rosette pigs is also not very difficult, but they are somewhat more expensive. As for guinea pigs of long-haired breeds, they need more thorough coat care, which will require much more time.

Classification of species

Before you have a guinea pig at home, it is still worth getting to know this animal as closely as possible. First of all, it is worth considering its varieties. Perhaps many do not pay attention to this nuance and buy the animal they like best. But it is better to first find out what breeds there are, and also consider their main features.

There are usually three types:

short-haired or smooth-haired;
wire-haired or rosette (Abyssinian or Japanese);
long-haired (Angora, Scottish and Peruvian).

But these are just the types that include different breeds. Therefore, it is worth considering what breeds of rodents exist according to each species.

Shorthair

This is a common type, which includes a large number of breeds of these animals. They are all suitable for home keeping, have an unpretentious nature, good fertility, and beautiful appearance.

Self

A guinea pig breed of this species has one distinctive characteristic - a single-color tone of the coat. Representatives of the Self breed can be painted in different colors; you can find black, red, cream, and white rodents.

Satin smooth

Representatives of this species are also called satin. A few interesting features:

animal fur is smooth and shiny;
the fur fits tightly to the skin;
the covering of rodents is very soft and delicate to the touch;
the length of the hairs should not be more than three centimeters;
Guinea pigs of this species can have a variety of coat colors.

Satin smooth-haired agouti colors are often found. Their area of roots and tips of fur has different tones. These representatives look unusual and very beautiful.

Rex

Animals of this breed have an interesting feature - fur with a curly and rigid structure. At the same time, their hairs stand straight, so they look like fluff. The colors of their cover may vary.

American Teddy

The American guinea pig has the following characteristics:

rodents have soft and thick fur;
all the hairs are quite short, standing straight across the entire surface of the animal’s body;
It is precisely due to the fact that the fur has a plush structure that this rodent is called a teddy (the name of the famous toy American bear);
Animals can have any color;
Representatives of this species are usually small, their weight does not exceed 800 grams.

Crested

Rodents have one characteristic feature - the presence of a rosette on their forehead. It is located between the eyes and ears.

Cresteds are divided into two types - American and English. Depending on the type, animals have some distinctive characteristics, but their main difference is the color of the cover.

English Cresteds have a uniform color. It is for this reason that the rosette on the forehead does not stand out in any way, so it is very difficult to see.

The American Crested also has a uniform coat color. But in rodents, the rosette on the forehead is white.

There is also another subspecies - the American colored crested. The coloration of these rodents can consist of three or more tones. The color of an animal can be different in several parts of the body, for example, in one part the muzzle can have one color, the other half can be painted in a different tone. Sometimes the ears may be colored in different tones, or there may be stripes or spots of different colors on the surface of the animal.

Wirehaired

The Abyssinian guinea pig is part of this species. This variety is considered one of the favorites among many rodent breeders.

All Abyssinians have the following characteristic features:

Representatives have a specific coat structure. There are rosettes on the surface of the entire body;
Usually on the body of the animal there are about eight even rosettes that are symmetrical to each other;
The color of animals may vary. Often there are pigs with a reddish or golden coat.

Longhair

This species includes a large number of breeds that simply fascinate with their diversity. All representatives differ in the type of coat, color, and body structure. But at the same time, they all have almost the same habits and behavior.

Sheltie

This is an Angora guinea pig, which has an interesting hair structure. The animal's fur grows from its muzzle. Moreover, it does not have partings or rosettes. In this case, the color of the animal’s cover can be absolutely any.

Coronet

Animals of this breed are similar to Sheltie rodents. But they have a rosette on the surface of their head that looks like a crown. It is from this that the parting on different sides runs along the entire surface of the back.

The Cornet crested pig has a long coat, the length of each hair can reach up to 15 centimeters. The hair is very light and fluffy, for this reason it requires special care. Namely, regular combing will prevent the formation of tangles.

The color of the coat of rodents of this species can be varied. There are pigs of the same color, and several tones may also be present at once.

Alpaca

This is a rather unusual angora, which has characteristic external qualities:

the wool is long, with curls;
the coat grows towards the muzzle;
there are several rosettes in the sacrum area;
a rosette may also be present on the surface of the head, which can form the appearance of a bang;
on the surface of the muzzle the cover has a fairly rigid structure;
The animal has a variety of colors.

Texel

Representatives of this species have a beautiful, but at the same time unusual appearance. Their fur is very long and curls into curls. At the same time, the hairs have a large length - about 12 cm, but sometimes 18 cm are found.

The coloring of animals can be different - one-color, two-, three-color. These breeds are mainly used for exhibitions.

Smooth-haired guinea pigs

The smooth-haired guinea pig is a native of Peru. Representatives of this species were brought to Europe at the beginning of the 16th century. The origin of the very first smooth-haired representative dates back to ancient times. After the appearance of this breed in Europe, breeders began studying and further breeding various breeds. The emergence of a new type of pig made it possible to further experiment and develop new breeds with a unique type of coat.

A common distinguishing feature of all breeds, the ancestor of which is the smooth-haired pig, can be called a special type of wool. The hairs of these pigs are short and stiff. Due to the thickness of the coat, the pig appears glossy. The direction of hair growth is the same over almost the entire surface of the animal, which creates the feeling of gloss. Sometimes there may be rosettes on the back of the neck.

The physique of rodents of this branch of breeds is strong and large. The body length reaches 30 cm. The color can be one-color, two- or three-color.

The character of such pets is peaceful and calm. Maintenance will not be difficult. There is a joke among breeders that this breed is specially bred for children because it is so easy to care for.

Scientists have managed to develop several new breeds thanks to smooth-haired representatives. When crossing a curly-haired and smooth-haired guinea pig, 2 smooth-haired individuals and 3 curly-haired individuals will be born. However, if both parents are smooth-haired, but smooth-haired is a non-dominant gene, then the probability of having smooth-haired guinea pigs in such a pair is 20%.

American Teddy

Representatives of this breed look like teddy bears. That's why they are called Teddies. These are large individuals weighing up to a kilogram, with a large but proportional build. They have a rounded head and nose, hanging ears. Teddy's cheeks are large and round. These pigs are shaped like a soft plush ball. Teddy's fur is thick and grows perpendicularly upward, which creates the effect of a teddy bear.

Crested

This is a rodent with a glossy, shiny coat. The weight of a representative of this breed reaches one and a half kilograms, and the body length is up to 35 cm. Another feature of this breed is a flat rosette on the head. Crested comes in American and English varieties. The difference between these subspecies is the color of the rosette. For the “Americans,” the rosette is always white, regardless of the color of the rest of the cover. The “Englishman” has a rosette that is always the same color as the color of the rodent.

Rex

Rex pigs have a large build. These are powerful, muscular animals with large bones. A distinctive feature is the large, round, drooping ears. Their posture is enviable. The Rex's fur is short, curly, and stands on end. The color is monochromatic or combines several colors, which creates a unique shade.

Self

Large animals. Their body length reaches 32 cm, and their weight is almost 2 kg.

An important feature of the breed is the completely uniform color of the coat without rosettes or curls. Selfies have a straight and glossy coat.

The presence of inclusions of other colors and curly hair are considered deviations from breed standards.

Coat color can be:

red;
black;
beige;
brown;
red-orange.

The color of the ears and paw pads is soft pink or golden. Eyes black or red.

Satin

These pigs have the shiniest fur. This is explained by the peculiarity of the structure of the wool: the hairs are hollow inside. This creates less absorption but increases light reflection. Due to this effect, the fur shines.

The build of these breeds is average. The muzzle is slightly elongated, the ears are close to the head. The color of the paw pads and ears corresponds to the general color.

There are subspecies of the breed:

spotted;
agouti;
tortoiseshell.

The fur color is red, from light to dark shades, and black and white options.

Guinea pig varieties: breed classification

Longhair

Peruvian (Angora)

Guinea pig with a spectacular and amazing appearance. The hair covering is thick and silky. It resembles a lapdog or a miniature Yorkshire terrier. The fur grows towards the head, forming a parting on the back. The fur falls on both sides of the body in even, silky strands.

The Peuran animal has the following features:

colors. It can be different - one-color, two-color or three-color. Popular colors are white with red and brown ;
weight and length. The weight of the pig does not exceed 1.5 kg, and the length of the body is 30 cm;
character of the coat. The coat is silky, long, thick. The hairline is 15-50 cm long. The fur is easy to care for, wash and comb ;
Habitat: South America.

Breeders love the Angora guinea pig because of its docile, peaceful nature, trustfulness and good nature. With proper care, the animal lives next to a person for 5 years.

Sheltie is the most good-natured guinea pig

Sheltie

This is the most good-natured and affectionate guinea pig. Sheltie prefers to be near a person all the time and demand attention from him. With good care, the pig will safely live up to 7 years.

Distinctive features:

colors. Red, sandy, brown-haired and golden animals are more common;
weight and length. The animal reaches a length of 30 cm and weighs up to 1.5 kg;
character of the coat. It gradually lengthens, starting with a short pile on the nose. Caring for a fur coat will not be difficult if you know the basic rules;
habitat. This is the oldest breed that appeared in England. At first the pigs were called Angora, and then Sheltie.

Sheltie is a real “royal person” with a fashionable hairstyle. Easy to learn, quickly remembers the name and owner. If the animal wants to eat, it will call the person with a melodic whistle.

Coronet - non-aggressive guinea pigs

Coronet

Similar to the Sheltie breed. It is distinguished by the presence of a rosette-crest on the top of the head, similar to a crown. This is where the name came from. A non-aggressive animal can live up to 6 years.

Distinctive features:

colors. Plain, spotted, two-color and three-color coats are considered popular;
weight and length. Adults reach a length of up to 30 cm and a weight of 1.3 kg;
character of the coat. The fur coat is smooth, soft and silky to the touch. Parted along the entire length of the body;
Habitat: Eastern Europe, England, USA.

Important! The Coronet was developed in the mid-70s as a luxury show breed. Today these animals are difficult to find. You can only buy pigs from breeders.

Alpacas have pile lengths up to 30 cm

Longhair curly

Alpaca

This guinea pig has a beautiful, thick and long coat from nature. Seeing it for the first time, you want to quickly touch this miracle. The breed has the following characteristics:

colors. It is diverse. There are black and golden colors, two-color and three-color coats;
weight and length. The female animal reaches a mass of 700-800 g, and the male one - 1 kg. Body length 25 cm;
character of the coat. The length of the pile reaches 30 cm. The hairstyle resembles a fluffy and neat wig. The fur grows from the rump to the head and often curls, taking on the shape of spirals;
Habitat: Peru, Bolivia.

Attention! Alpacas are unpretentious animals in food and care. However, they value personal space. A person will not be able to place a guinea pig in the same cage with other animals.

Merino requires a lot of attention

Merino

She has long curly fur and a rosette on her head between her ears. The head is covered with a small fluff, allowing you to see the cute little muzzle and beady eyes. The breed is unique in the following characteristics:

colors. There are brown, gray or white animals . Various color combinations are allowed;
weight and length. Males are heavier than females, and the average weight of individuals reaches 1 kg. The body length is 20-30 cm;
character of the coat. Merino is the only pig breed that has the appearance of sheep's wool. Juveniles resemble lambs. The fur coat is soft, silky, and light to the touch;
Habitat: England.

Advice! It is not recommended to purchase Merino as your first pet. The animal requires attention and special care.

Texels have curly fur and live in all parts of the world.

Texel

These are strong, muscular representatives of the Pig family. They have broad shoulders and chest. The body length is 30 cm, and the weight is from 1 to 1.8 kg. Gray, brown, red and black animals are more common.

Rodents have curly fur that is pleasant to the touch. Curls neatly and beautifully cover the back. It seems that a professional stylist worked on the pig's hairstyle.

Habitat: Europe, some Asian countries, Russia and the USA.

It is not necessary to wash the crested

Shorthair

Crested (crested)

Cheerful, trusting animals have captivated adults and children with their perky character, original appearance and ease of care. Animals reach a length of 35 cm and a weight of 1.5 kg. Habitat: South and North America, Canada, Europe, Russia.

White, black, golden, gray fur coats with a glossy surface look extremely beautiful. Agouti, tortoiseshell, and brindle colors are popular.

There is no need to wash the fur. The rodent independently performs hygiene procedures. But you need to comb out the fur coat with a special brush to prevent the appearance of unwanted parasites.

Selfies are popular all over the world

Self

These guinea pigs are popular all over the world. There is an opinion that this breed is chosen by gourmets, true connoisseurs of beauty. The coat is shiny, short and smooth. The eye color matches the coat. The animals have only a single-color coat:

white or beige;
brown or saffron;
black, gold, lilac;
white with dark or red eyes.

The length of the body reaches 35-40 cm, and the weight of the animal is 1.5 kg. Has a playful character. Self is not a boring pig, and you can get a lot of pleasure from playing with her.

The satin guinea pig has hollow hairs.

Satin smooth

The animal has a unique shiny coat. The hairs have an unusual hollow structure, due to which incoming light is reflected. The fur is soft and delicate to the touch. The animals always have a single color - white, cream, red, brown, black, beige .

The habitat of the guinea pig is America, Europe, Russia and Asia. The length of the body can reach 25 cm, and the weight is 1.3 kg.

Baldwins are born furry

Bald

Baldwin

The hairless guinea pig is considered a rare and unusual breed. If you look at the animal for the first time, it will resemble a small hippopotamus. Animals are born fluffy, like ordinary piglets. After some time, the fur falls off. The differences from other breeds are as follows:

color - white, black, gray, brown;
weight - from 900 g to 1.3 kg;
body length - 20 cm;
pigs are tender and soft to the touch. Do not require special care;
Habitat: America, North America and Eurasia.

The body is covered with folds, the ears are shaped like a rose petal. Some representatives of the breed are covered with hairs on the bottom of the head and near the feet.

Skinny resembles a donkey

Skinny

These pigs retain sparse hair near the nose, on the shoulders and on the ankles. The first individuals had red eyes, but over time, breeders achieved better natural qualities and increased the immunity of the animals. The differences are as follows:

color can be varied: from pink to black;
body length - 30-35 cm, weight - 1 kg;
The pigs are soft, rubbery, velvety to the touch. The folds are located near the paws and head;
Habitat: Canada, America and Europe.

Skinny's appearance resembles a donkey, a hippopotamus, or a tapir.

Attention! Hairless breeds require special care and attention. The mutation is not predictable, and today individuals are found in poor health.

The American Teddy can have several colors

Wirehaired

American Teddy

A beautiful and delightful breed of guinea pigs. The appearance resembles a small bear cub. The animal has the following features:

coat color can vary from light sand to chocolate;
weight is 1 kg, body length 30-35 cm;
the fur is thick, erect, soft and slightly harsh;
Habitat: America, Canada, Europe and Asia.

The rodent is easy to care for and willingly makes friends with children and other pets.

The Abyssinian fur grows in rosettes

Abyssinian

This pig is easily recognized by its unique coat. The fur has several growth points in the form of symmetrical rosettes of regular shape. One individual can have from 13 to 25 such rosettes. The differences are as follows:

The color can be one-color, two-color or three-color. Various shades;
weight - 1.2 kg, length - 30 cm;
The fur is hard, but pleasant to the touch. On the neck, the fur forms a pronounced collar;
Habitat: Central and South America.

The bizarre appearance only adds to the effectiveness and beauty of the Abyssinian guinea pig.

Rex fur does not require special care

Rex (royal)

This pig resembles an oval soft toy. Individuals have a length from 20 to 35 cm, and a weight of 1.8 kg. Popular colors are black, red, gray, Dalmatian, agouti. Habitat: England and Europe. The animal has a funny appearance. The fur does not require complex care and retains its attractiveness throughout its life.

Would you choose a hairless guinea pig?

The Himalayan guinea pig has an unusual appearance

Rare breeds

Himalayan

Massive and clumsy guinea pigs that originated in South America. Today they are popular in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. They have an elegant appearance. The color is white with black or chocolate spots on the face, paws and ears.

They weigh 1 kg, body length 25 cm. The fur coat is soft and silky to the touch. The Himalayan guinea pig delights children and adults with its mobility and playfulness.

Ridgebacks have a smooth, short coat.

Ridgeback

This is a new and unfamiliar breed of guinea pig. Officially recognized only in the UK and Sweden. The animals have smooth and short fur. The uniqueness lies in the presence of a characteristic ridge along the entire length of the back. Individuals weigh from 1 to 1.5 kg. Body length is 25-30 cm.

Swiss Teddies reach 1 kg in weight

Swiss Teddy

These animals have a Teddy color, dense fluffy fur, and a “hairstyle” sticking up. Pigs weigh 1 kg and body length is 30 cm. Popular in all European countries. Very lazy creatures. To make your pet run, you need to use treats and toys.

Quite large

Kui

The cute rodents are large in size. These animals were raised for food, but in some countries they are purchased for pet keeping. The most massive representatives are capable of gaining weight up to 4 kg . The length of the body can be from 30-45 cm. The animals have different types of fur and colors - plain, spotted, two-colored, and three-colored. Habitat: Europe and South America.

The shades of the tortoiseshell guinea pig's fur are distributed like a chessboard.

Tortoiseshell with white (cakes)

These are smooth-haired animals with smooth and soft fur. The color is an unusual and bright pattern of black, red (rich red) and white. The shades are distributed in the form of a checkerboard. Pigs weigh from 1 to 1.5 kg, and their body length is 25 cm. Animals are popular all over the world.

Lunkaria habitat - Sweden

Lunkaria

Nature has endowed these pigs with tightly twisted spiral curls. They cover the entire body and give the animals a resemblance to small lambs. The color can be any color, and color combinations are common. The body length is 25-30 cm, and the weight is up to 1.5 kg . Habitat: Sweden.

Mini-yak looks like a dog

Mini-yak

This breed cannot be found in Russia. Habitat: Australia. Guinea pigs resemble a miniature long-haired dog. Pronounced rosettes on the fur make the animal unique. The color can be any - plain or combined. Body length is 25-30 cm, weight - up to 1.8 kg.

Curly's wool is similar to sheep's

Curley

Guinea pigs have short, curly coats in single or bicolor colors. The uniqueness of the breed was achieved by crossing Teddy and Rex. Curlies are animals with dense sheep's wool, large sideburns and a curly belly . The length of the body is 25 cm, and the weight is 1.3 kg. Habitat: Europe and America.

Somalia has soft fur

Somalia

The main difference between this breed is its unusual coat structure. Pigs look like rosette Rexes. The fur coat is soft and pleasant to the touch. One individual can have up to 10 rosettes. The color can be monochromatic or combined, like cakes. The body length is 25-30 cm, and the weight is up to 1.3 kg. Habitat: Germany.

Breeding

Puberty in guinea pigs occurs at 8 weeks, but the first mating should be delayed. At this age, the female is still too young to become a mother. Reproduction can begin when she is 5-6 months old.

Estrus in a guinea pig occurs every 13-20 days and lasts up to 48 hours. The most favorable time for fertilization of a female is the first 5 hours of estrus. Its beginning is indicated by the behavior of the female - she arches her back and raises her butt. Mating takes place on neutral territory or in the male's cage.

The absence of another estrus indicates that pregnancy has occurred. A guinea pig bears its young for 64-72 days. The period depends on the number of embryos and breed. There are from 2 to 5 cubs in a litter.

Little piglets are born with fur, they see, hear, and already on the second day they can eat chopped vegetables, since they have teeth. However, mother's milk is vital for them - it contains antibodies that protect babies from dangerous diseases. The cubs are separated from their mother at the age of 3 weeks and sorted by gender.

A guinea pig is an ideal pet for those who for some reason cannot have a dog or cat and do not like rats and hamsters. This animal is capable of filling the lives of its owners with pleasant emotions and at the same time requires almost nothing in return.

How to care for guinea pigs?

This animal is easy to care for, but it will still require your attention. His cage needs to be ventilated, the bedding changed and the animal fed.

Once a week, the pig's cage is completely cleaned. As part of this cleaning, it will be necessary to disinfect the drinking bowl, feeder and cage.

The animal is also examined weekly for diseases and injuries. Long-haired breeds are recommended to be constantly brushed, and the pig's nails should be trimmed every six months.

Rare breeds

Among the varieties that have not yet become widespread, there are also white individuals.

Kui guinea pig

A giant rodent weighing up to 4 kg. Cui pigs live in South America and are not considered ornamental animals there. They are bred by local residents along with llamas and alpacas.

Cavies of this breed often have dewclaws. But polydactyly does not affect the animal’s life in any way. The Kui guinea pig can be a solid white color. But representatives of the breed are also characterized by other colors.

California

The breed has not yet received official recognition. This means that there is no single standard either. California guinea pigs are covered with smooth, short hair. And their fur has a color-point color. There are dark markings on a mostly flawless white, cream, gold, saffron or red background.

The points are localized on the ears, nose and feet of the animal. And around the eyes of the Californian guinea pig there are characteristic dark “glasses”. The points are chocolate, black, beige or purple, the eyes are dark or red.

Ridgeback (Rhodesian)

These animals appeared relatively recently and are easily recognizable by the low crest located on their back. Due to this feature, Ridgebacks always have an aggressive appearance. Representatives of the breed are characterized by different color options, including immaculate white.

Himalayan

Cavey of this breed has red eyes. Due to this feature, the animal is considered a partial albino. The body of the Himalayan guinea pig is immaculately white with black or brown markings located around the eyes, nose, ears and paws of the animal.

Curley

A short-haired animal with curly fur and well-defined whiskers. According to the standard, a Curly guinea pig can have not only a pure white color, but also any other single or combined color.

Lunkaria

A beautiful exotic animal with uneven curly fur. The lunkaria guinea pig is completely covered with hair. Only the muzzle remains ungrown. Lunkaria fur can be not only perfectly white, but also almost any other color.

Decorative caves with a perfectly white coat and shiny beady eyes immediately attract attention with their fragile and delicate appearance. However, behind the external vulnerability of rodents lies a playful and friendly disposition.

Therefore, charming and cute animals are able to conquer even the harshest hearts and quickly turn into favorites of adults and children.

Short-haired Kavy breeds

A short-haired guinea pig is less demanding to care for and often animals with short hair are the best choice for a novice breeder. Cavias can be fluffy or plush, with smooth and shiny fur or even shaggy.

Satin

Satin guinea pigs differ from any other breed in the structure, gloss and special shine of their coat. Satin Cavies have smooth and very soft hair, and the colors are most often one-color or two-color. The rarest are golden, lilac and buffalo satins.

Himalayan

The Himalayan guinea pig has a very recognizable appearance and a color characteristic only of it. The main color of the Himalayan's fur is white or beige. The nose, ears and paws are colored even brown or black. Brown can have several shades - the uniformity of color and smooth transition from the lightest to the darkest are important. Any other colors are not allowed in the breed. The Himalayan is a breed of Russian selection and is very good for the first experience of breeding purebred pigs for exhibitions and shows.

Agouti

The agouti guinea pig is also one of the most popular. The colors of the animal are often monochromatic, but there are also two-color and three-color ones. Agouti have one distinctive feature - the tips of the hairs of the coat are lighter than the main color. The most common varieties you can find are silver, golden, lemon and chocolate agoutis with pink, ruby or dark eyes.

Abyssinian

The Abyssinian guinea pig also has a second name - rosette. Cavias of this breed are distinguished by the presence of characteristic rosettes of wool. Thoroughbred animals should have 8 - 10 symmetrical rosettes. The hairs in the rosettes grow in a circle and form a kind of funnel. The color of the Abyssinian can be solid, piebald, or tricolor.

Dutch

The common or Dutch guinea pig is one of the most common. Once brought from Holland, they gained wide popularity as an unpretentious breed.

These cute lop-eared animals are lighter than all other cavy. The Dutch have a two-color color: the head of the animal is darker, the paws and middle of the body are white, and the color of the back of the animal matches the color of the head. Most often, the head and back of the pig are colored black or brown, but the breed standard allows any color.

Guinea pig selfie