Breeds of guinea pigs - photos and brief descriptions

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02/19/2019 Long-haired guinea pigs are popular as pets due to their beautiful, silky coat. They have special needs regarding grooming. If these needs are ignored, pets will lose their healthy and beautiful appearance and will begin to get sick. Studying detailed information about keeping and caring for the animal will help the owner take proper care of it.

Description and appearance

The long-haired guinea pig was bred for decorative purposes: for home keeping and participation in competitions and exhibitions. All wild ancestors of the animal have short hair.

The body of a long-haired pig is the same in parameters as other varieties: oval body, short neck, rounded muzzle. The ears are “envelope-shaped” - slightly drooping. The paws are short, with 4 toes on the front and 3 on the hind. The length of the body and weight vary from breed to breed, but on average they are 25-35 cm and 1-1.2 kg.

The pet's coat grows up to 50 cm. There are both solid colors and multi-colored ones. The most common color is red in different shades. The rarest is tortoiseshell. Exclusive colors are obtained after crossing a large number of animals (100 or more individuals) belonging to the same breed.

Among the long-haired pigs there are pigs with straight, curly, wavy strands. The presence and location of rosettes, partings, direction of hair growth, etc. vary.

Lifespan

Depending on the conditions of detention, pigs live on average about 5 years. Under favorable conditions, an age of 7-8 years is possible. If a healthy pedigree is added to this, the pet will live up to 10 years.

Character and behavior

The Sheltie guinea pig has a surprisingly good-natured and flexible character. These pets are very sociable, they become attached to their owner, in extremely rare cases they show aggression and simply adore affection. In response, they also behave affectionately.

Having become attached to the owner, they show joy from the meeting by rising on their hind legs. They also behave relaxed when held, allowing the owner to scratch their belly or play with their cheeks.

For communication, they use a whistle, which is used to greet the owner or warn that it is time to feed. The voice is pleasant, melodic, and does not hurt the ear.

Keeping and caring for a long-haired guinea pig

Pigs have a calm and friendly character, but it is better not to have them in a family where there are preschool children: children do not always calculate their strength correctly and are capable of accidentally causing harm to the pet. But for children of primary and secondary school age, pets are quite suitable. You should also carefully introduce the rodent to dogs, cats and other pets. Depending on each pet's personality, they may be reluctant to get along with each other. Guinea pigs are often purchased in pairs (of the same or different sexes) so that they do not get bored in the absence of the owner. They get along well with each other.

Buy a cage that is spacious and roomy. The appropriate size for one pig is 60x40x60 cm. The home is located away from windows, balconies, radiators and doors to avoid drafts and direct sunlight. Pets are sensitive to temperature changes: it should be kept in the range of 18-22 degrees.

These rodents are easily injured when falling, so the cage should be one-story or include one additional low floor. Required equipment for the cage:

• Bowl;
• drinker (preferably ball);
• feeder or manger for hay and grass;
• toilet tray;
• mineral stones or twigs for grinding teeth;
• house (placed on the lower tier).

The floor of the cage is sprinkled with sawdust or filler. If the pet is litter box trained, it is enough to change the bedding once a week, and if not, 2-3 times. In addition, bowls and drinking bowls must be washed daily.

It is not recommended to keep your pet in a cage all the time. At least several times a week, he is allowed to run around the floor, having previously removed dangerous or necessary things from the access area: wires, books, indoor plants, clothes.

The fluffiest of fluffies

Rex

Rex is considered one of the newly developed breeds. They should not have rosettes; the hair on the head is usually coarser than on the back and sides. Due to the nature of the Rex guinea pig's coat, they sometimes need to be brushed with a special brush. Interestingly, this is one of the most intelligent breeds that can be trained. They need the company of their relatives more than others.

American Teddy

This breed is also one of the fluffiest and largest. They can be identified by their drooping ears and predominantly coarse coat.

The thickest wool is Alpaca

The Alpaca breed has a very thick, long, curly coat. They were bred back in the 19th century in South America. The main external differences are that there are several rosettes on the muzzle and the back of the body, and the growth of the cover on the legs from bottom to top. Alpacas are very friendly even towards strangers and have a calm character.

Left - Rex, middle - Teddy, right - Alpaca

Feeding

Pigs eat plant foods. Their diet contains both dry food and succulent food. There should be more of the latter, but not too much, otherwise it will lead to diarrhea. Juicy foods include grass, greens, and vegetables. Sometimes fruits or berries are offered in small quantities as a treat. A variety of vegetables are offered. A large amount of one product will lead to negative results. For example, too much white cabbage will cause flatulence in your pig. Feeding is carried out at the same time, because The animal’s gastrointestinal tract needs regular portions of new food, which “moves” the previous one through the intestines. The pet may die if it does not receive food within 18 hours.

Pigs, like other rodents, periodically eat their own excrement. This is due to the fact that vitamins K and B remain in the primary, soft feces, which are necessary for maintaining health. Therefore, it is better not to purchase a cage with a special tray. This is convenient in terms of hygiene - long hair gets dirty less, but then the pet will not be able to take doses of natural vitamins and will have to buy them additionally at the pharmacy.

The pig's water is changed every day. Use filtered or boiled at room temperature. Cold water leads to colds or pneumonia. On average, a pet drinks up to 80 ml of water per day. If your pig drinks little, most likely she needs enough fluid from succulent food.

Sheltie

Sheltie guinea pigs are very similar to Peruvian guinea pigs in that they have long, smooth coats. However, there is a difference between them. The Sheltie's coat on the head looks like it's combed back. It is on this basis that the breed is difficult to confuse with any other.

The Sheltie's long, beautiful coat requires proper care, so you'll want to take that into account if you're considering getting one. The breed has many colors and is perfect for small children, but not for grooming, but just for playing. As with other long-haired breeds, the parents must take on most of the grooming.

Hygiene and grooming

Owners of long-haired pigs pay a lot of attention to hair care. Your pet should be brushed daily with a soft brush. This prevents the formation of mats and some skin parasites. During combing, the hairs are saturated with oxygen, which makes the fur look shiny and well-groomed. In addition, the process of combing calms the pet and brings him pleasure.

It is better to cut off the resulting tangles, because... unraveling will cause unnecessary anxiety for both the owner and the animal. Many pigs do not like water treatments. If the pet gets dirty, do not bathe it, but carefully wash the stained area, then dry it with a towel and then with a hairdryer at low power.

If there is no need or desire to leave long hair, it can be trimmed regularly, especially in the summer - this will keep the pet cooler and more comfortable. Or at least trim the bangs above the eyes so that the pig can see better and not spoil his vision. Wearers who like long locks use small elastic bands, clips or curling irons to hold their hair together, avoiding tangles and messes. In addition, this makes it easier for the animals to move around.

In addition to the fur, it is necessary to take care of your pet’s claws and ears. Growing claws are regularly trimmed with scissors or a special nail clipper. The ears are cleaned with cotton swabs, first lightly moistened in vegetable oil - to prevent infections.

Preparation for exhibitions

Not only immediately before exhibitions, but almost every day, a guinea pig must be bathed, since its fur cannot help but get dirty. Regular human shampoo will also work, which then needs to be washed out along with a separate hair conditioner. After bathing and drying, the wool is sprinkled with dry talcum powder, which makes it even silkier. Long hair can (and should) be wrapped in curlers, however, they will fall off if the length of the hair does not reach 4.5 cm.

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Pet health

The animals have strong immunity, so infectious diseases rarely bother them. They usually appear if the pet often walks outside or if one of the household, including other animals, gets sick. Common infectious diseases include:

• skin infections;
• salmonellosis;
• toxoplasmosis;
• ringworm;
• coccidiosis.

In addition, a pet can be harmed by physical injury or a violation of the diet: spoiled or poisonous foods, intolerance (allergy) to some component. In this case, cystitis, conjunctivitis, and neoplasms are possible. Foods prohibited for pigs include:

• dairy products;
• products of animal origin;
• sweets;
• flour;
• cooked food from the common table.

The first sign that your pet is feeling unwell is a decrease in appetite or refusal to eat. In such cases, you should find out the reason for this behavior as soon as possible and take action. Prolonged hunger strikes lead to exhaustion of the body and worsening of the disease.

Wirehaired pigs

Their second common name is rosette. The wool is hard to the touch and should form rosettes, with the hair in it spreading from the center of the circle to its circumference.

All “piglets” in this category are characterized by a quarrelsome character, as well as the ability to live in a cool climate. For example, in Europe, many owners keep their pets outside all year round.

The most ancient representative of the group is the Abyssinian guinea pig, which is also called Japanese. The hair should stick out in all directions, be very stiff, no more than 3 cm long. In this case, the rosettes are distributed evenly over the entire surface of the skin and in no case should merge with each other.

The color can be mottled (alternating red and black hair), tortoiseshell or plain.

Reproduction

Pigs reach sexual maturity at 2-3 months. At this age they are able to reproduce. Repeated mating is possible just a day after the last birth. But from a health point of view, such sexual activity does not lead to positive consequences. Early pregnancy in pets causes complications and health problems in females. Therefore, it is recommended to arrange the first birth no earlier than 5-6 months of life. In addition, it is recommended to arrange pregnancy no more than twice a year. And in males, frequent sexual intercourse leads to infertility.

Parents must not be closely related. This circumstance increases the risk of genetic diseases in offspring. For the purity of the breed, it is better if the adult pigs belong to the same species and are the same age.

During the first birth, the female often gives birth to only one large cub. The average number of fruits is 2-4, medium in size. Pregnancy lasts 10 weeks. Small animals are born sighted and fully formed. The mother chews the amniotic sac and licks the babies dry. It is better not to leave animals unattended at this time in case of an emergency. The owner must be prepared to wipe the cubs himself if the female for some reason does not do this.

If everything went well, half an hour after giving birth, the female drinks plenty of water (the owner takes care of a sufficient amount of liquid in advance) and begins feeding the offspring. Cubs feed on milk for the first three months of life, but are able to consume regular food 1-2 days after birth.

Long haired guinea pig price

The average price of a pig starts from 1000-1500 rubles. The following factors influence the cost of a pet:

• floor;
• age;
• breed;
• pedigree;
• region;
• class of animal (for keeping, breeding or exhibitions).

Animals are purchased at pet stores, from breeders or online. Each method has risks and benefits. In a pet store, it is convenient to immediately purchase the necessary supplies with your pet: a cage, drinking bowls, food. Breeders guarantee health and provide a detailed pedigree of the animal. In addition, they give advice on the correct content. Purchasing on the Internet turns out to be the most budget-friendly way, since pets are often given away for free or for a nominal fee. For example, in case of allergies, a sudden move, or if you need to give away cubs.

Crested

These little furry pets have many fans all over the world. Crested pigs are very easy to recognize because they have a kind of “crown” of rosette wool on their heads. Guinea pigs that have a white “crown” and a different general color than white are known as white Crested, or American Crested.

With the exception of the "crest", these pigs are very similar to the American guinea pig. They have short, smooth hair, which makes them fairly easy to care for. They are also great for kids. Although Cresteds are much more difficult to find than American pigs, they are essentially the same.

Owner reviews

Experienced pig owners often share tips and tricks for caring for their pets. Many people warn that it costs about 1.5-2 thousand rubles per month to maintain an animal, not counting visits to the veterinarian, if such are required. The pet will need bedding material, dry food and vegetables. The latter are given cut into large pieces so that the animal can grind down its incisors while feeding.

Trimming nails requires care and patience - not all pets like this procedure. In some cases, the help of a second person is needed to firmly hold the struggling animal. Additionally, use coarse material for bedding or let the pig run around more often so that the claws wear down naturally. Overgrown claws prevent the pet from moving and deform the feet.

You need to be prepared that pigs, especially long-haired ones kept indoors, shed all year round. Therefore, you will have to not only clean your pet’s cage, but also regularly clean clothes and furniture.

Shorthair breeds

The second name for this large group of rodents is smooth-haired. Representatives of this population can most often be found among ordinary people; animals are no less popular in scientific circles, where they are used as experimental animals.

All breeds in this category are characterized by the presence of smooth, even coat; the hairs fit tightly to the body. According to the type of color, they are divided into plain and variegated.

1. Ordinary. In appearance it resembles a ball, it is so compact and stocky. The eyes are round, large, and black. The ears are set wide apart, hang down, and have no hair. The color can be any, mainly spots of black, white, and red are scattered throughout the body. There are also single-colored individuals.
2. Self. Characterized by uniform coloring of the entire fur coat. At the same time, there can be a great variety of color variations: albino, black, gold, red, cream, saffron, purple. Eye color - black or red. The hair grows back, the “hairstyle” is always neat, like a real English queen.
3. Satin, in other words - satin. The charm and beauty of these pigs lies in the incredible shine of their hair, which is especially pronounced in the spotlight or in the sun. In principle, this type can be classified in the previous group of monochromatic ones, because the difference lies only in the structure of the hair - in “satin” it is hollow inside, which is why it shimmers in bright light.
4. Russians. Sometimes pigs are also called Himalayan, although they have nothing to do with the Himalayas and were bred in our country. The peculiarity of the “piglets” is their snow-white body with black (chocolate) paws, ears and muzzle. This coloring appears well in cool climates, but if the ambient temperature is too high, the pigment will lighten and the animal will be completely white.
5. Motley. Not one breed, but includes several.
   Dutch. It is distinguished by its unusual color, characterized by the presence of dark spots on the cheeks and the back half of the body. In this case, the white spot on the muzzle should have the shape of a regular wedge. The Dutch weigh slightly less than their relatives, have a soft, easy-going character and get along well with children.
6. Agouti. The most common species are golden and silver. There are also chocolate, cream and brown. Each hair is divided into three color zones, while the abdomen is monochromatic. The breed is considered one of the hardiest and most prolific. By the way, there is an opinion that agouti are the progenitors of all currently available breeds of pigs.
7. Speckled. Alternating black and red stripes throughout the fur coat. The latter look like spots with a clear separation boundary. Sometimes there are variations of the three-stripe color, when white is also added.
8. Tortoiseshell. The presence of clear spots of black, red and white colors, alternating in a special order. At the same time, the fur coat looks like a patchwork quilt or even a chessboard. By the way, in Russia these rodents are often called “cakes”, which is similar to the English name of the breed - torty&white.

Breeds of pigs with long hair

Varieties of long-haired animals differ in the quality of their fur and such features as the number of rosettes, the location of the parting, and the length of the bangs.

Angora breed

Angora pets are distinguished by their strong, muscular bodies and stocky necks. The fur is soft and silky, reaches 15-20 cm in length and evenly covers the entire body. Some individuals have small rosettes near the nostrils. The presence of tanks, a narrowed spout and an asymmetrical shape of sockets are considered unacceptable.

Peruvian breed

The Peruvian pig is one of the oldest varieties of these animals. The first mentions of it date back to the mid-19th century. Features of the breed: long, straight hair that evenly covers the body, including the head. In everyday life, animals have a tail on their heads so they can see.

Other distinctive features of Peruvian pigs, established by the breed standard in 1930:

• even parting along the back;
• two irregularly shaped rosettes in the sacrum area are a sign of a pure breed;
• presence of thick undercoat.

Alpaca guinea pigs

The ancestors of the animal were Peruvian pigs and rexes. According to breed standards, it resembles the Peruvian variety:

• presence of undercoat;
• Evenly long hair over the entire body.

The main difference is that alpaca wool, when it grows to a certain length, begins to curl. The length of the strands is shorter - up to 30 cm, versus 50 cm for the Peruvians. The fur grows at a rate of 2.5 cm per month. Rare and expensive colors are silver, golden and tortoiseshell.

Guinea pigs coronet

Coronets are bred by crossing Shelties and Cresteds. The breed was officially registered in 1995, although it appeared earlier. The body of the coronet is shorter than that of other varieties. The coat is thick and straight, with an even train and a “ridge” along the back. Distinctive feature: a small rosette on the top of the head. The breed standard allows for different colors.

Pig Lunkaria

It first appeared in 1986 as a result of a random mutation. Lunkaria pigs have an unusual shape and texture of their coat: twisted and tangled curls, as if they have been styled with hairspray. The coat cannot be straightened or thoroughly combed. Features include two rosettes in the croup area and the absence of partings.

Merino

English pig, born as a result of crossing the Texel and Coronet breeds. It has long curly hair that makes it look like a sheep. The breed is young and not officially registered. There is currently no standard.

Texel guinea pig

Texels stand out among long-haired species because of their curls. Their ancestors were Rex and Sheltie. The breed was officially recognized in 1998. The animals have expressive sideburns hanging down the sides of their heads and a hump on their nose. Texels do not require daily combing, but before participating in the exhibition, the coat is combed, trying to prevent the formation of curls. The average hair length is 12-18 cm, different colors are allowed.

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.

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