Guinea Pig Species Guide

American

This breed, additionally known as the English cavy, has a clear, temporary coat that lies flat in opposition to the physique. It is essentially the most well-liked and customary breed.

The Satin American might be acknowledged by the American Cavy Breeders Affiliation (ACBA). Satin refers again to the sheen of the coat; the satin breeds have very shiny, shiny coats.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig

The Abyssinian guinea pig has a selected look attributable to its quite a few hair swirls, commonly known as rosettes. The dense, coarse hair radiates from quite a few physique components, forming whirls and ridges. For current, an Abyssinian might want to have at least eight symmetrical rosettes. These guinea pigs usually have a perpetually raveled look.

The Satin Abyssinian, that features a shiny coat, might be acknowledged by the ACBA.

(The Abyssinian image above is courtesy of Odd Fellows Caviary.)

Peruvian Guinea Pig

The Peruvian’s coat is clear, straight, and grows quite a few inches prolonged. It naturally elements down the once more’s center and grows forward over the head.

The Peruvian’s dense, delicate coat requires important grooming, most important many householders to trim the hair for manageability. For current capabilities, wraps can cease the hair from becoming tangled or soiled.

The Peruvian Satin might be acknowledged by the ACBA.

Silkie Guinea Pig

The Silkie, moreover generally known as the Sheltie, has a extremely silky, prolonged coat. In distinction to the Peruvian, the Silkie’s delicate coat wouldn’t naturally half alongside the once more and grows backward from the head.

The Silkie Satin might be acknowledged by the ACBA.

(This Silkie image is courtesy of Sunflower Cavies.)

The Crested Guinea Pig

It’s a temporary haired guinea pig incorporates a single rosette, or swirl, on the forehead. There are two types: the White Crested guinea pig (additionally known as American crested), with a white crest contrasting the rest of the coat, and the “self” crested guinea pig (commonly known as English crested), with a crest matching the coat’s shade.

The Crested guinea pig image is courtesy of Odd Fellows Caviary.

The Teddy Guinea Pig

This short-haired guinea pig is characterised by a dense coat with bent or kinked hair shafts, making the coat stand on end, giving it a fuzzy look.

The Satin Teddy, with a coat that has a deep sheen, is one different variant.

Texel Guinea Pig

The Texel guinea pig, with its distinctive prolonged, curly coat, is an uncommon and high-maintenance pet.

Coronet Guinea Pig

The Coronet guinea pig might be long-haired, that features a single rosette, or coronet, throughout the center of its forehead. Like completely different long-haired guinea pigs, coronets require intensive grooming.

(This Coronet image is courtesy of Sunflower Cavies.)

Completely different Types of Guinea Pigs

Completely different a lot much less widespread varieties embody the Merino, with prolonged curly hair and a crest on the head, and the Alpaca, with prolonged curly hair rising forward over the head. Furthermore, guinea pigs are typically described by their shade variations along with their breed.

There are moreover two types of hairless guinea pigs. The Baldwin guinea pig is completely hairless, though it may very well be born with some hair that is misplaced as a result of it matures. “Skinny pigs” normally will not be completely hairless; they might have patches of hair on the face and paws, along with fantastic hair on completely different physique elements. For additional knowledge, see “Hairless Guinea Pigs.”