The Crested guinea pig is a short-haired animal with a neat crest on its head, which is called a rosette. The breed itself is extremely interesting, leads an active lifestyle, is easy to care for, and is also extremely sociable. All these qualities attract people to get this animal. In this article you will learn all the advantages and disadvantages of this guinea pig.
Description of Crested Guinea Pig
This rodent has short hair, a cheerful disposition and a memorable appearance. These are significant advantages, which is why the breed is relevant among guinea pig lovers. Cresteds are similar to the English or American Self breed, but they have a distinctive feature - a rosette on the forehead.
There are two varieties of this rodent:
- English Crested. The rosette of this type is of regular shape - roundish and matches the main color of the animal.
- American Crested. This type has a white rosette of irregular shape in the middle of the forehead; the rest of the body should not be white.
Although these are different varieties, apart from the socket, they are for the most part similar.
The breed is not very popular in Russia and is found more often in Western countries, especially in Europe and the USA.
Features of coat and color
The pig looks impressive thanks to its wavy, silky coat and elegant rosette on its head. The quality of the wool directly depends on what the rodent eats. In order for the fur to remain thick and soft, the diet must contain all the necessary microelements.
The white American Crested is extremely beautiful. Animals of the English variety of the breed look great: black, golden, gray with a rosette of a contrasting color. Agouti, tortoiseshell and tiger rodents are popular.
Crested tricolors are rare; most often there are two primary colors.
Appearance standards
This breed is smooth-haired and similar to Selfies, but Cresteds are judged according to different criteria:
- Body shape. An animal of this breed has a short body with good density, while the shoulders and neck should be higher according to the standard. The rodent has a slightly curved profile. The pig's head is short and also wide, and its size is more than 25% of the total body length. The breed has a dull nose.
- Ears. Large, without folds, and also hanging freely - this is how the ears of an animal should be. Their location is also important. Cresteds often have a distant landing and a horizontal position.
- Eyes. The breed has symmetrical, round eyes.
- Wool. In this matter, at exhibitions they check with the standards established for selfies. The fur should be smooth, soft, short and shiny. The length of the hairs should be in the range of 2-4 cm.
- Fur color. There are no strict requirements for coat color; many colors are allowed. The main thing is that there are no inclusions of rosette color on the rest of the body.
- Rosette color. The American White Crested should have a contrasting, clearly defined white rosette color, while the English Crested has a rosette color that matches the rest of the body.
- Rosette shape. There are slight differences between the species of this breed, but the rosette should be in the center of the forehead, roundish, wide and deep.
Lifespan
In captivity, pigs live longer than their rodent relatives, as they are surrounded by care and attention. The American Crested and the English Crested guinea pig live on average 7-9 years. Sometimes you can find an animal that has lived to be 15 years old. In the wild, animals barely reach the “venerable” age of 5 years. Their life is not only full of dangers, but the rodent does not always have enough food.
By choosing an animal such as the Crested guinea pig, you will not regret it; it will fill your home with joy and happiness.
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Features of fur
The fur of Cresteds is shiny, soft, and also wavy. It fits tightly to the animal’s body. Due to its silkiness, the fur is less clogged. The healthy appearance of the coat depends on the pig's diet. If you feed your pet a balanced diet, the fur will always be in good condition.
The American species has fur colors: brindle, tortoiseshell, and also plain, except white. The English species can be seen in black. Gold, white and smoky colors.
You can often find two-colored individuals, but three-colored ones are extremely rare.
Owner reviews
Natalya, Russia, Aleksandrovsk
My husband and I chose a Crested guinea pig as a pet for our children. They called it Funtik. When we brought him home, it turned out that the animal was very scared. We had to gradually adapt it to new conditions. It took us 3 days to tame it.
Take it in your hands carefully, but you can’t hold it for a long time, return it to its place, and after a while you can pick it up again. Be sure to pet them, put them on the sofa with you, cover them with a blanket. This will be a kind of home for the pig, he will no longer be afraid of the new environment. You will hear a quiet purring.
It is important to consider that these are herbivores. We feed him fruits and vegetables. In summer he loves to eat grass, and in winter he loves to eat hay. You should not experiment on guinea pigs in terms of food, otherwise the animal may die.
We only walk with him when it’s warm outside. He doesn’t run away from us, he likes to walk on the grass. On cool days, walks take place in the apartment.
I read that these little ones live for about 8 years, but I heard from friends that they live only 3-4 years. I think it all depends on the conditions in which the animal is kept and its diet.
Ekaterina, Russia, Moscow
Our Lisa is smooth-haired, with a charming “crown” on her head. Breed: American Crested.
Very sweet, kind creature! She is affectionate and tame. She loves to be picked up and stroked.
Many people get guinea pigs for their children. I am categorically against this trend. A child can easily harm the baby, and she will only squeak, so much so that no one can hear her. Guinea pigs are quite fragile, delicate creatures. Falling is harmful to them; they should not be squeezed too hard or twisted upside down. This could all end badly for her.
Caring for them is easy, but it requires money and time. Guinea pigs need to be fed fruits and vegetables, which is quite an expensive proposition these days.
Crested guinea pigs are considered to be a good option for new breeders. In addition, it is an excellent pet, affectionate, gentle and funny.
Character of the pig
The Crested guinea pig has a very good-natured and easy-going disposition. Cresteds are extremely curious and also really like people. They love to be in the hands of their owner, being scratched and petted. Each time they will greet you with a loud sound, this is their way of expressing joy.
Since pigs themselves are social creatures, they do not tolerate loneliness well. It is recommended to keep rodents in pairs, and if offspring are not planned, it is better to have same-sex ones. In general, pigs get along well with each other, but you should know some nuances. Females easily tolerate similar neighbors in any number, and males in some cases can quarrel with new pigs in order to defend their territory.
Feeding Cresteds
Feeding a Crested guinea pig at home should be done with caution, since improper feeding in exceptional cases leads to the death of the animal. Fresh vegetables and grains should be given to your pet twice a day. To do this, it is better to have two feeders (for dry and wet food). Water and hay must be in the public domain, which means constantly.
When choosing fresh grass, you should pay attention to plantain, dandelion leaves, clover, sedge, nettle or wheatgrass. You should not experiment - other types of herbs can be poisonous, which means your pet will die if they eat them.
Conditions of detention
Considering the size of the rodent, you should choose a high and spacious cage. A good option is one that has a plastic bottom and a removable ceiling.
Since pigs are very active, it is recommended to place some obstacles or toys in the cage. It is also recommended to let the animal out of the cage to run around. The main thing is to carefully monitor the safety of your pet while walking.
Rodents' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, so it is important to take this feature into account and place a mineral stone in the cage. Without it, the animal will begin to gnaw everything around it, including the house and the feeder. If your Crested guinea pig cannot grind down its teeth, you will need to visit the veterinarian frequently.
Rodent communication
The animal is endowed with a kind character, but at the same time, it is extremely timid. Based on this, the Crested is introduced to guests or other pets living in the house with caution.
While the Crested guinea pig is not able to speak, individuals communicate with each other using certain sounds. Pigs are quite smart animals, and they can be taught to understand humans quite easily. And the owner, in turn, after observing the animal for some time is able to understand the unpretentious needs of his pet.
Snorting, for example, indicates that something is bothering the pig, and if the sniffing is combined with whistling, the animal is asking for food.
Rumbling has several meanings:
- a relaxed guinea pig purrs with happiness;
- the rodent is tense or trembling, and the rumbling has a high pitch - the animal is irritated by something;
- if Crested pigs purr abruptly, this means that they are scared;
- the animal opens its mouth wide and grinds its teeth - the pet is angry.
Frequent and attentive contacts with the rodent will allow you to understand your ward not only by sounds, but also by movements. Animals love to sit in your arms. If you cannot give your pet enough attention, give him a same-sex friend.
Hygiene and coat care
The pig of this breed does a good job of caring for its fur. She uses her claws and teeth to clean and comb the fur to look great. However, during shedding, you should help your pet by combing the fur with a special brush a couple of times a week. Instead of bathing the rodent, you can simply wipe it with a dry cloth from time to time.
Satin (satin)
A variety of guinea pigs bred in the USA in the second half of the 20th century. It has become widespread in Europe. The breeders really liked the short and silky-to-the-touch fur of these animals, which resembles satin fabric in appearance. Such a brilliant, both literally and figuratively, effect is due to the special structure of the hairline. Each hair is hollow inside and can reflect sunlight well.
Photo of a satin smooth-haired guinea pig:
Health and nutrition
English and American Cresteds are herbivores, which is why their diet should include fruits, vegetables, and plenty of grass or hay. Fiber and carbohydrates are the basis of rodent nutrition.
A rodent’s body cannot produce vitamin C on its own, which is why it is necessary to provide it to the animal in the required dose. Modern foods contain the required intake for a rodent, so they are required for purchase. We must not forget about vegetables that contain a large amount of this vitamin: cabbage, lettuce or bell peppers.
It is important to remove leftover food from the cage every day and wash the feeder twice a week.
Pigs of this breed have good health and rarely get sick.
Conditions for reproduction
Rodents become sexually mature at 4–5 weeks. The optimal age for reproduction is 10–11 months. Cresteds can be crossed with pigs of other short-haired breeds.
Future parents should not be obese. If a female or male is overweight, the amount of grain in the diet should be reduced and the amount of greens and hay increased. The food is enriched with vitamin supplements. The animals are given the opportunity to move actively. The female carries the cubs for 60–70 days.
Rex
In the second half of the twentieth century, another breed emerged among guinea pigs. This variety was distinguished by a special wool structure. She was dense and curly. This made the guinea pig very similar to a plush toy. The breed was named Rex. The second feature of this variety of guinea pigs is their ears. They are quite large and droopy, which gives them a resemblance to rose petals. The fur of pigs does not exceed 2 cm in length. At the same time, it is quite elastic. The eyes are large and clear. The color is very diverse.
Photo of a Rex guinea pig:
Sheltie
The result of targeted selective selection, the purpose of which was to obtain individuals with long hair, was the development of a new breed of guinea pigs. The Sheltie differs from other representatives of its species by having a long and silky coat. The breed received official recognition in 1978. Despite the long strands of wool, the animal’s muzzle is never hidden under thick bangs. This gives each individual a special charm and charm, which is so valued by breeders.
All this splendor is complemented by lively and shiny eyes, which have a slightly convex shape. The animal's ears are triangular in shape and drooped to the bottom. The body has a strong build, with well-developed muscles. Particular attention is paid to the non-standard direction of hair growth. Unlike other breeds, hair growth occurs in the direction of the animal's head. The color of the individuals is varied. The most popular are those with cream, red, lilac, chocolate or golden coat colors.
The photo shows a Sheltie guinea pig with a golden chocolate color:
Important! Sheltie is a breed of guinea pig that requires special care from the breeder. This is due to the long and non-standard fur of the animal, which makes it unlike other representatives of its species. Therefore, due to the increased requirements for caring for the animal, it is highly recommended that beginners keep Sheltie guinea pigs!
Luxurious and original rosette guinea pigs
Guinea pigs with the exotic prefix “Abyssinian” are of great interest both to breeders of these animals and to ordinary people. Everything about these pets is excellent, from their appearance to their simple maintenance. Unfortunately, there are not so many real Abyssinian pigs in the modern world. How to distinguish them from other breeds? How long do they live? Let's talk further.
Rare breeds
You should definitely pay attention to rare breeds; among them there are very unusual and interesting representatives of rodents:
Skinny pig . A characteristic feature is that the animals have almost no hair on their body. But the presence of rare fluff is allowed, as well as short fur on the face and paws. Color may vary;
Kui . Rodents are large. Kui are prone to obesity; body weight can be at least 1.5 kg. The weight of Kuya pig can reach up to four kilograms;
Baldwin . These rodents do not have hair on the surface of their body; they are completely hairless. In this case, animals are born with hair, which after a while completely falls out.
The types of guinea pigs are quite diverse and there are several dozen of them. Above we looked at the most popular ones that are often started at home. Representatives of these breeds have a beautiful appearance, varied colors and unpretentious character. The main thing is to know the peculiarities of the care and nutrition of these animals, then the pet will be able to live for a long time and produce healthy offspring.
