abyssinian guinea pig

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All About The Abyssinian

The Abyssinian guinea pig, or “Aby” as it is frequently called, is one of the oldest and most common guinea pig breeds. At first glance the Aby appears to be suffering from a serious case of bad hair day. Actually, this breed is known for having a coat covered in “rosettes” which look very much like swirly cowlicks. It is the rosettes which cause the Abyssinian’s hair to stand up all over – not a lack of grooming as this is a prized trait. The Abyssinian is only defined by their coat texture, not the color or colors of their coat, which can be varied. In general guinea pigs do not differ in personality that much from breed to breed, but the Abyssinian is rumored to be mischievous, on top of being loving and fairly trainable. The sweet and gentle personality makes it a great pet for those who are not unwilling to spend a little extra time grooming their cute and crazy hair (although not nearly as much time as a longer haired guinea pig like a Silkie or Peruvian.) If you are a family with young children and you are not sure how much time you can devote to grooming, consider getting a smooth short haired American guinea pig instead.

The “Perfect” Abyssinian Guinea Pig

All Abyssinians are perfect just as they are – of course! However, if you want to show a guinea pig there are certain breed standards to be aware of. First of all, each rosette must be clearly defined (meaning the outside edges are obvious) and have a single center. The perfect number of rosettes is one or two per shoulder, four across the bottom and four on the sides. The point where the outside edges of rosettes come together is called a ridge. Ideally ridges should flow in a straight line down and across the body. Lastly, no part of the Abyssinian’s coat should lie flat or smooth. Oh and he or she should have a cute little “mustache!”

Many people who show Abyssinians find the coat texture varies according to the color of the coat. Single colored animals tend to have softer coats which lack that desired textured look. Roans, Brindles, and Tortoiseshell seem to have more of the “ideal” look. Mind you this is just a standard for show and in no way implies Abyssinians are too rough to pet or do not make good lap pets. When prepping your guinea pig for a show avoid a bath or anything else that will cause the fur to lie flat.

Where Can I Find an Abyssinian Guinea Pig?

If you have your heart set on picking up an Abyssinian – do not despair – you can find many pure bred guinea pigs available for adoption at your local rescue or animal shelter. That’s right, you do not need to visit a breeder unless you are looking specifically for a show animal. Many perfectly good guinea pigs, including purebreds, are surrendered to shelters every year simply because their families are unable to keep them for a variety of reasons.

Abyssinian Guinea Pig Breeders

Remember, when looking for a great breeder – check to make sure he or she does not keep very many guinea pigs at one time. More than fifty guinea pigs is frequently a good sign that you have run into a mill or commercial breeder. Instead look for someone who keeps their animals in good condition and as “part of the family.” Also look for someone who is choosy about who they will sell their guinea pigs to. You don’t want to work with someone who is desperate to find owners. Finally, an offer of a “lifetime guarantee” to take back the guinea pig should you not be able to keep them for whatever reason is also a great sign.

Feinauer’s Friendly Fellows

Highland Acres Cavies

Highland Cavies of the Yellow Rose

Iverson’s Cavies and Lops

KSJ Cavies

Proffitts Hollow Cavies

Red Star Rabbit and Caviary

River City Piggies

Pictures of Abyssinians

Photo by bivoir – away for a while

Photo by Just chaos

feeding guinea pigs

Feeding Guinea pigs

Note: The key to the healthiest guinea pigs is diet variety. Try to rotate the fresh fruits and veggies as much as possible. Also, don’t be discouraged if your piggie refuses to eat certain foods. This is normal. Guinea pigs have their own tastes and preferences which one comes to know over time. Also, try to make sure greens are the center of the diet with sweeter foods like fruit and carrots playing a smaller role.

The Best Foods

Alfalfa

Timothy Hay

Alfalfa vs Hay – What is the Difference?

Alfalfa is generally higher in calories and calcium than Timothy hay. For this reason it is generally recommended for guinea pigs under one year old, pregnant or nursing mothers, and sick or thin cavies. This same rule applies when it comes to selecting food pellets as well.

The Best Pellets

Get a simple blend without any additives like nuts, seeds, sugar, dried fruit, etc. Also avoid anything with added fat or animal products. Popular high quality brands include Oxbow and KM’s Hayloft.

How Much to Feed?

About 1/8 cup pellets per day, unlimited hay and fresh veggies – say a couple large whole green leaves (think romaine lettuce sized) and a half cup of something else.

Greens (Great sources of vitamin C)

kale
collard greens
Swiss chard
mustard
dandelion
beet
spinach
carrot tops
pea shoots

Lettuces

Green
Butter
Red
Frisse
Arugula
Endive
Radicchio

Herbs

Cilantro
Parsley
Basil
Dill
Mint
Thyme
Chives

Grains

Wheat
Winter rye

Acidic Fruits (warning can cause mouth sores)

Tomato
Citrus fruits (lemon, lime, grapefruit, oranges)
Pineapple

Berries

Blueberries
Blackberries
Cherries (must be pitted)
Cranberries
Strawberries
Currants
Gooseberries

Melons

Cantaloupe
Honey Dew

Other Fruits

Kiwi
Apples
Pears
Apricot
Peach
Mango
Papaya

High Fiber Veggies (can cause gas and bloating)

Broccoli (flowers and stems)
Cauliflower
Cabbage

Veggies

Bell Peppers
Artichoke
Asparagus
Small pieces of celery
Corn

Root Veggies

Sweet Potato
Celery Root
Kohlrabi
Turnip
Parsnip
Beets
Rutabaga
Fennel

Squash

Acorn
Banana
Zucchini
Butternut
Pumpkin

From the Garden (all must be pesticide free)

Grass
Clover
Dandelions

The Worst Foods

Note: Least obvious food to avoid? Long stalks of celery! The fiberous strings will give your guinea pig a lot of digestive problems. Be sure to cut up into very small pieces if you wish to serve.

Foods Too High in Fat

Avocado
Coconut
Nuts/Peanut Butter

Foods Too High in Sugar

Fruit Juice
Dried Fruit

Foods Lacking Nutrients

Iceberg lettuce

Foods With Too Strong a Taste

Onions
Garlic
Horseradish
Hot peppers and chilies

“People” Foods to Avoid

Beverages – coffee and tea
Prepared foods, fried foods,baked items…
Meat and dairy
Pickled foods

Choking Hazards

Seeds

Poisonous Foods

Dry beans and peas
Commercially grown flowers and plants (pesticides)
Potatoes with any green spots or sprouts
Rhubarb
Raw Taro

Extending the Life of Hay

The biggest problem with buying hay in bulk is the growth of mold. Much of this can be prevented by keeping the hay as dry as possible. The fresher the hay the more moisture it contains. This means that very fresh hay cannot be stored in plastic bags or containers unless dried. For interior storage, cloth lined baskets work well such as those used as laundry bins.

Pellet Storage

Make sure you buy the freshest pellets possible. Check the bag for an expiration date to make sure. The freshness and vitamin content of the pellets is best preserved by storing in a cool, dark location.

For more great information on feeding guinea pigs, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!

guinea pigs baby

How to Care For Baby Guinea Pigs

Special Cage Requirements for Pregnant Mothers and Babies

Pregnancy can be really exhausting and stressful for the expecting mother. It is a good idea to move her to her own cage once she has become obviously pregnant or is showing signs of stress. No matter what, make sure there are no males present in the birthing cage as the mother will become fertile almost immediately following birth.

Most guinea pig cages are built with adult sized guinea pigs in mind. Babies are small enough to escape through the standard 1.5in x 1.5in grids in the average C&C cage. An escaped guinea pig baby is at risk or injury or even death. As the pigs get larger there will also be a risk of strangulation or injury if they stick their heads through the holes in the grid and get stuck. To prevent this you will want to line the interior cage walls (starting from the floor level) with about a foot of either cardboard or coroplast all around or you can double layer the cage grids and place a layer of cardboard in between. This extra layer can later be removed once the guinea pigs are large enough that there is no chance their heads will fit through the bars. Usually at around four to six months of age.

Right After Birth

Weigh each baby as well as the mother every day. Why is this? By weighing your guinea pigs you can spot health problems before they become serious. Sometimes one of the babies in the litter will experience what is called “failure to thrive” – essentially not growing as well as the others. Sometimes this is caused by just not getting enough milk. You can solve this problem by giving the smaller baby extra time alone with the mother.

Mothers can also have serious complications (infections, etc) after the birth of their litter.These conditions will likely require early intervention by a veterinarian to prevent them from becoming life threatening. Any kind of odd fluctuation in weight is a good early indicator.

Good sample weights here.

Can I Handle the Babies?

Yes, your scent will not cause the mother to abandon the babies.

Special Food Requirements

Look for alfalfa based pellets – these are great for growing babies and pregnant mothers. Check the nutrition labeling for adequate levels of vitamin C. As always avoid animal products, unnecessary sugars and fats, as well as seeds and nuts. Oxbow is generally a good reliable high quality brand.

What to Do If the Mother Dies or Refuses to Nurse?

You will then need to hand feed the guinea pig babies yourself. You will want a small needless syringe for this as well as a product like OxBow Critical Care. If you cannot get critical care try soaking pellets in water and then pureeing into a liquid product. Adding a little bit of something sweet can encourage the babies to eat it – think baby food aisle at the grocery store, something like squash, carrots, or applesauce. Feed in small amounts every couple hours. Also hand feed the babies water at this time as well. Just be sure not to be too aggressive with your feeding as the babies can either choke or inhale the food.

Don’t forget – No animal products. This means no cow’s milk!

Keep portion of normal guinea pig food out so the babies can snack a little as they become able. This will help transition them from a dependency on you and your syringe.

Important – After feeding use a warm wet wash cloth to wipe each baby’s genitals a few times. This is a signal to the baby to pass waste.

When Do I Need to Separate the Males and Females?

Ideally at three weeks. If a male puppy is not thriving, go ahead and leave him with the mother for another week. The male puppies can then be moved into a cage with the father provided he is not dangerously unwelcoming.

The Whole Family
Photo by the_beekeeper001 One day old baby guinea pigs
Photo by wstryder More baby guinea pigs

Photo by wstryder
Photo by iLoveButter

a guinea pig cage

Did You Know That a Guinea Pig Cage is the Most Underestimated Secret to Guinea Pig Health and Happiness?

This is the secret pet stores will not tell you!

Did you know -

Most of the information about guinea pigs and guinea pig care found in popular pet care books, in pet store handouts, and offered by pet store employees is either outdated, disproved, or used to encourage you to buy overpriced, unsafe food, accessories, and supplies that can be hazardous to your guinea pig’s health!

That’s right, the people who you turn to for expert advice are actually giving you information that makes you guinea pig listless, unhealthy, unhappy, causes cage odor, and actually ultimately will reduce your guinea pig’s life span!

Fact #1: A Guinea Pig Cage Needs to be Larger Than You Think

Most people think that guinea pigs don’t need a lot of space. This is true in comparison to a larger animal like a dog. However, guinea pigs need a lot more room to run around, play and express their personalities than the average person thinks. A larger cage with the right type of bedding will also prevent 100% of all unnecessary guinea pig cage odor!

A Guinea pig cage – What you need:

A single guinea pig needs a cage about two and a half feet by three feet. If you have two guinea pigs aim for two and a half feet by four feet.

While it is not common to find a cage this large in your average pet store, a lot of guinea pig owners have better luck building their own cages or purchasing kits off of the Internet.

Fact #2: A Guinea Pig Cage Should NOT Stink EVER

Guinea pig cage odor is a major complaint for many owners. The first thing you need to do to prevent odor is make sure you cage is large enough. Secondly, clean the cage at least once per week – remove all bedding and clean out cage using vinegar. If using fleece as a bedding, try washing the fleece with a little vinegar. During the week you can make a vinegar/water solution and place it in a squirt bottle and use it to spot clean.

Sometimes pet urine develops a particularly sharp smell when there is too much sugar in the urine. Try reducing sugar intake, including fruits, and see if the smell improves.

Lastly, many people have been happy with using litter box training to reduce cage odor.

Fact #3: You can Make A Guinea Pig Cage – for less money and better quality

The most commonly built cage type is known as “C&C“ which stands for cubes (as in organization cubes like you would find at Bed Bath and Beyond) and coroplast, which a strong lightweight plastic that strongly resembles corrugated cardboard. When making a C&C cage your main concern should be to buy cubes that are safe. Many stores have cubes that have fewer than 9 x 9 grids. This results in opening larger than 1.5 inches. This can pose a danger as numerous guinea pigs have been known to stick their heads through these holes, get stuck, and then die by strangulation.

Also, try not to section off the cage – you want your guinea pigs to be able to run without any obstructions. Place hiding locations and other objects in the center of the cage.

How to make a guinea pig cage – C&C

What Is a C&C Cage?

“C&C” stands for cubes and coroplast. Coroplast is actually a brand name but the product itself is basically corrugated plastic (two thin layers of plastic separated by hollow columns) and “cubes” refers to the square metal grids that one would fit together to make storage cubes (like you would see in a closet organizer system.) So, a C&C cage is essentially a custom designed guinea pigs cage using square metal grids for the walls and then the coroplast sits inside the cage to form the cage floor or bin.

What are the advantages of C&C guinea pig cages?

The main reason that guinea pig owners are drawn to making their own C&C cages is primarily due to the fact that most commercially available guinea pig cages are simply too small. Ideally a lone guinea pig would have a cage of approximately 7.5 square feet; however most commercially available cages are closer to 40″L X 18″W X 20″H.

The modular nature of the metal grids allows one to create a variety of cage sizes to suit one’s particular needs while the coroplast is easy to work with, lightweight, nontoxic, strong, and waterproof (meaning it will last and be easy to clean)– in fact some C&C cage owners have had coroplast liners last for five years. The simplicity of the materials also allows one to design more elaborate and customized cages with features like wheels and multiple levels.

What do I need to consider when choosing the materials for my C&C guinea pig cage?

When choosing the metal grid cubes for your cage, be aware that while the cubes themselves may be a standard size, the actual grid spacing can vary between models and manufacturers. Some grid layouts will be obviously too large such as a 14in square cube that has a 5 by 5 grid layout. Other grid layouts will look deceptively small enough, such as the 8 by 8 grid layout. The danger with this size is that the grid spacing is just large enough for a determined guinea pig to partially work themselves through the bars and in some cases strangulation has occurred. If you build your own C&C cage, please make sure you select a 9 by 9 grid layout (this breaks down to 1.5in spacing) as this is the safest option.

Where can I get the materials to make a guinea pig cage?
In the US any store like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Walmart is a good starting point. Online sites like guineapigcages.com and ebay will also sell the particular equipment. Coroplast can usually be obtained from stores tyat carry materials for making signs.

Outside of the US, many people seem to be struggling to get materials. I recommend contacting your local rescue/shelter/or breeder to see if they know of a good source or if they sell kits.

In the UK, many people have recommended B&Q (in-store, not always online) http://www.diy.com/ as well as Wickes http://www.wickes.co.uk/ In general these seem to go in and out of stock periodically. Guineapigcages.com maintains probably the best source directory online.

In Australia people are reporting that materials can be found at some Bunnings (called IBEX GRIDS) but not all. This seller on ebay is a good source for the coroplast.

In Singapore, people seem to have luck finding grids in Daiso.

For more information

For more information on where to buy pre-made C&C cages and how to build your own C&C cage, be sure to check out the Complete Guinea Pig Handbook!

guinea pig kids

Guinea Pigs | Kids

What is the best age to start my child with guinea pigs?

Ideally no younger than nine and no child under the age of eleven can really be relied upon to take on pet care responsibilities despite good intentions. Guinea pigs are somewhat delicate physically and younger children are still struggling with impulse control and fine motor skills. This means there’s a greater chance either your pet can be dropped or injured OR frightened and scratch your child. If you intend to be the primary caretaker of the guinea pig, you can VERY closely supervise some interaction with children above the age of five. The best sign a child is too young for pets is if he or she doesn’t fully grasp the meaning of “no.”

Another factor to consider is the lifespan of a guinea pig. You can expect a healthy, well cared for guinea pig to live as long as eight years. Its important to remember that your child’s activities and responsibilities will increase with age, especially as they move into high school as college. During those times you may become the primary caretaker.

Does the Breed Matter?

Yes and no. In general the main difference between guinea pig breeds is not temperament such as with dogs but rather appearance. Guinea pigs have been bred for a variety of different colors and hair types. The easiest guinea pig is going ot be one with short smooth hair as this will not require a lotof grooming. Look for the breed called “American”or “Self.” Longer haired guinea pigs like Silkies, Peruvian, etc really need a lotof grooming their long hair tangles very easily. One other breed related factor to consider is this – you will see some breed types described as also having “satin” varieties – this means ones with satiny hair. These types of guinea pigs are going to be more slippery and it can be easy for small children to drop them.

What About Sex?

Male guinea pigs tend to be more active while females are more docile. This is of course just a generalization. Most guinea pigs will make excellent pets for your child as long as they have been properly socialized. There is one important issue to consider – if you have young children, do not get mixed sex guinea pigs. You may intend to keep them apart, but when you are not looking your children could be letting them loose together. This can lead to unintentional pregnancies.

Age?

People have this odd tendency to think kids need “baby” pets. I think people believe younger pets are more gentle, tolerant, and malleable. This is not exactly true. Young animals share a lot in common with young children in that they are unpredictable and easily startled. A better bet for your family is an adult guinea pig.

Can I Allow My Child To Keep the Cage in Their Room?

No, this is really not a good idea. Guinea pigs really need to be kept in a common family room so you can monitor their health and living conditions. If a guinea pig becomes ill, their conditions can progress very rapidly and this is too easy to miss if they are locked away alone. Additionally, its very difficult to bond with a pet if they are not incorporated as “one of the family.” Lastly, some children can develop allergies to bedding if they live in close contact with the cage every day.

Allergies?

For most people, guinea pig allergies are not an issue – meaning they are not allergic to the animal itself. Usually guinea pig allergen is found in urine, saliva not hair or dander. If you are worried you or your child has a guinea pig allergy (signs include difficulty breathing, stuffy runny nose, or itchy eyes/skin) note that these allergens will go out into the air any time the bedding is stirred up. In addition to visiting an allergist you can also purchase a HEPA air purifier to place near the guinea pig cage. Don’t be afraid to also open windows to allow fresh air in. Lots of modern houses are actually build too airtight and you can benefit from moving the old air out.

Do not think you are limited to cleaning the cage inside. Instead take it outside and have a member of the family who is not allergic do the cleaning. If this is not possible, wear a face mask and gloves. Furthermore, now that you know its the urine likely causing allergies, its even more incentive to keep the cage cleaned out.

Don’t forget about basic hygiene – have your child wash their hands after handling their guinea pig. If you or your child are very sensitive, wear long sleeved shirts and place a towel between you and the guinea pig. Vacuum on a regular basis. There are also new pet allergy specific vacuum cleaner filters that you can try.

Handling

Teach your child the proper way to handle a guinea pig. Set ground rules like “You must be sitting to hold the guinea pig.” Or, “You can hold the guinea pig but only if they are in a cozy AND you are sitting” for the youngest child. Its important to explain to the child that to the guinea pig they appear to be giant scary creatures. Its only if they are very gentle and quiet that the guinea pig will learn that there is nothing to fear. Even petting needs to be explained. Show them how to gently pet the guinea pig, avoiding sensitive areas like eyes.

Trust

Guinea pigs are gentle creatures and they respond best to gaining trust over time. Show your children how to sit quietly on the floor with their hands folded with a delightful treat sitting in front of them (may need to be placed further away at first.) Think little cubes of apples or leafy greens. This will tempt the guinea pig to come closer. Over time you can have your child place the treats closer to them until finally they can hold the treats in their hands and have the guinea pig come eat.

Food

Make sure you supervise the feeding of the guinea pigs. Lots of children have a natural tendency to share foods they like with people or animals they like. Remember, guinea pigs cannot eat animal products at all (and some plant foods are poisonous or hard to digest.) This means no cheese cubes, no sneaked spaghetti, no long stalks of celery, no potatoes, etc.

For more great information on guinea pigs and kids, please subscribe to our newsletter!

guinea pigs games

Guinea Pig Games For You to Enjoy!

guinea pig breeders

Guinea Pig Breeders

Its amazingly difficult to find guinea pig breeders online. Most of the people who are active guinea pig enthusiasts online take a very poor view of breeders. Why is this? Honestly, most don’t seem to know what they are doing. Irresponsible breeders breed guinea pigs without knowledge of or concern for what to do with all the babies, which animals should and should not be mated, and in many circles are known for dumping animals on rescues and pet stores – where sometimes they end up as food for reptiles. Did you know that as many as 25% of all guinea pigs who are euthanized at shelters are purebred? Its true! You could go to a shelter today and get the guinea pig of your dreams for as little as $25. However, if this is not the right choice for you, then read on to discover how to select a great guinea pig breeder!

Guinea Pig Breeders – Finding one near you

The American Cavy Breeders Association is probably your best resource within the United States (if you are looking outside the US, we still have links below.) The ACBA promotes the breeding and improvement of the guinea pig, shows and exhibitions, and interest in guinea pigs as pets and research animals. Yes, research animals, that’s right. Most states have an affiliated breeders club.

Guinea Pig Breeders – Signs you have picked a good one

The breeder has way less than 50 guinea pigs. Having between 40-50 guinea pigs should raise red flags that you may be working with either a mill, commercial breeder, or backyard breeder. Mills are notorious for breeding with no concern for the animals’ welfare. Females will have litter after litter and living conditions are frequently over crowded and horrendous. Its very difficult for a single person or even a couple of people to care for more than 12-20 guinea pigs, let alone multiple pregnant mothers. Backyard breeders are people who breed guinea pigs for fun and for sale, but don’t have a lot of specialized knowledge. Frequently, a lack of knowledge about which animals can be bred results, unfortunately, in blind and deformed animals. Commercial breeders tend to raise lots of guinea pigs for wholesale distribution – including sale to research labs. Look for signs that a breeder is very choosy about who they sell to. This will eliminate the vast majority of non-responsible breeders. Look for required house visits, contracts, and detailed application forms. If at all possible you really should view the breeding facility in person. If this is not allowed, I really wouldn’t recommend working with that breeder as it appears they have something to hide. Once you are on site, check out the living conditions. The animals should be well cared for. Look for spacious, clean cages, without wilted leftover food. Also, look for breeders who keep their guinea pigs as “one of the family.” This is ideal as the guinea pigs will be well socialized and happy. Lastly, look for a breeder who happily offers a lifetime guarantee. If for any reason you are not able to keep the animal, it should be agreed that they will take them back. Responsible breeders care about the welfare of their animals for their entire lives.

Guinea Pig Breeders by Location

(US)

Grand Canyon State Cavy Club – Arizona
The Cavy Ark – Arkansas
Golden State Cavy Breeders Association – California
San Gabriel Valley Cavy Breeders Association – California
The Columbine Cavy Club – Colorado
Pioneer Cavy Fanciers – Idaho
Hoosier Cavy Fanciers – Indiana
Michigan State Cavy Breeders Association – Michigan
Mid Atlantic Cavy Breeders Association – New Jersey
New York State Cavy Fanciers – New York
North Carolina Cavy Breeders Association – North Carolina
Sooner State Cavy Club – Oklahoma
Oregon Cavy Breeders Society – Oregon
The Piggie Pow-Wow – New Mexico
Buckeye Youth Cavy Association – Ohio
Black Hills Cavy Club – South Dakota
Lone Star Cavy Club – Texas
Utah Cavy Breeders Association – Utah
River Valley Cavy Fanciers – Wisconsin

(Canada)

Ontario Cavy Club – Ontario, Canada
Majestic Cottage – BC (

(UK)

Pingley Dell Cavies – Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Graphite Cavies – Buckinghamshire (Slate blue selfs, satins, tans, and long haired.)
Kalusha’s Cavies – Cornwall (Peruvians and Lunkaryas.)
Tuscany Stud – Derby (Creams, PE Whites, Shelties, and Coronets.)
Bere-Valley Cavies – Devon (Rex, Teddies, Golden Agouti, Dalamtions, and Pets.)
Barbull Stud Cavies – East Devon
Pedrina Cavies – North Devon
Jean, Peter, and Sophie Barnard
Guinea Pigs Galore – Essex (Abyssinians, PE whites, Ivory Satins, and Merinos.)
Kirton-Lane Cavies – South Yorkshire (Tri colored, Roans, and Rex.)
Funky Pigs Cavies – Shropshire (longhair)
Chocolate Cavies – Kent
Eggstar Cavies – Nr Rochester, Kent (Rex, Cream, Dutch, and Tri-colored.)
Wheeksters Cavies – Chatham, Kent (Rex, Beige Self, and Beige Dalmation.)
Cherished Cavies - Lancashire (Alpaca, Peruvian, Merino, Coronet, Sheltie.)
Kingate Cavies – Surrey (Argentes)
Rexcetra – NE England (Rex, Teddy, and Swiss.)
Abertillery Cavies and MiniLops – Abertillery Gwent South Wales. (CH Swiss Teddy)
Galloway Guineas – SW Scotland

(Czech Republic)

OD Julie (Self and Crested in Cream, Buff, Orange, and Chocolate/White.)

(Philippines)

SJ’s Cavylandia

By Breed

guinea pig types

How Do I Know Which Type of Guinea Pig Is Right For Me?

All guinea pigs can be great pets when it comes to personality. Every guinea pig has the capacity to be loving, funny, caring, etc. The main differences between guinea pig types is frankly the length, style, and color(s) of hair. While this is largely a superficial characteristic and going to largely depend on your personal preference there is the important issue of care and grooming to consider.

The longer and more textured a guinea pig’s hair, the more grooming it will need. If you choose a breed with short smooth hair, you may not need to brush your guinea pig more often than once a week to remove dust. However, longer haired guinea pigs will need to be brushed and groomed daily to prevent serious tangles. If you choose a show breed with very long hair you will even need to wash it with a special shampoo. None of this is bad per se, it just depends on what you are looking for.

If you want an easy to care for pet and the “classical” type guinea pig – go for the American guinea pig. This type comes in many different colors and is known for its short smooth hair. This is a great choice for busy people and young children. All other breeds have longer or more difficult to care for hair. For example, the Abyssinian has hair that is only slightly longer but it grows in an exotic patterns of swirls. This can make brushing more difficult due to the hair growth patterns. Silkie and Peruvian guinea pigs are known for having extremely long hair. These breeds are only recommended for adults who are happy to put the maintenance time in.

What about other guinea pig types?

The Teddy breed is super adorable with its short wiry hair. Many people think this type resembles a teddy bear.

The Texel is covered with curly hair all over! This type is very hard to groom due to the thickness of the hair.

White Crested guinea pigs have a single white rosette on their head while the rest of their body is a different color altogether.

The remaining types of guinea pigs are just divided according to color, not hair length or type. “Self” guinea pigs are solid in color. Brindles have a combination of light and dark hair all over. Dutch guinea pigs have a colored head with a white streak known as a blaze, white the front and back halves will have the same color hair. A tortoiseshell guinea pig has rectangular patches of red and black allover. A variation of this type would be the Tortoiseshell and White, which incorporates white patches as well. The roan has a blend of dark black or red hairs all over. Albinos are white with red eyes. Dalmatian’s are white with dark spots just like the dog. Agouti’s are known for alternating dark and light bands of color all over. Finally, the Himalayan have red eyes and white bodies with dark noses, ears, and feet.

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guinea pig information

Guinea Pig Information

The Most Common Guinea Pig Mistakes

It can be both exciting AND nerve-wracking to bring a guinea pig home for the first time. I know a lot of first time (and sometimes even more experienced owners) have the following worries:

Did I get my guinea pig at the right place?
Is this guinea pig really healthy and going to be easy to care for?
Is there any chance my guinea pig is secretly pregnant and the pet store didn’t tell me?
Did I choose the right cage, food, and bedding?
What about toys? Is my guinea pig going to be bored all day when I am at work?
How do I teach my children how to properly care for a guinea pig?
Should I keep multiple guinea pigs? How do I introduce them? What about introducing my new guinea pig to pets I already own like dogs and cats?
and so on…

Here are a few common mistakes people make and how you can avoid them:

Avoid getting your new guinea pig at a pet store if at all possible. Pet store guinea pigs tend to have a few problems you should know about before you buy. First of all, frequently the animals are kept in overcrowded cages in substandard conditions. This means you could be inheriting a guinea pig with preexisting problems such as parasites (mites and lice) and respiratory problems (from being kept in poorly ventilated aquariums or from exposure to harmful bedding.) This means trouble and expense for you later if your guinea pig becomes ill and needs veterinary treatment. Buying guinea pigs from pet stores also increases the likelihood that that you accidentally buy a pregnant guinea pig. Frequently the staff in pet stores are just regular people, not guinea pig or even animal experts. Guinea pigs become fertile after a few weeks of age and it could be really easy for a non-expert to misjudge the sex of a guinea pig and place a few females in the cages with the males.
Buying Guinea Pig supplies that are not safe! Stores in general are interested in selling more products to customers, not necessarily making sure you buy the best products for your pets. It turns out lots of products marketed for guinea pigs are actually very dangerous. Pine and cedar bedding will cause respiratory problems and possibly liver failure. This can means a short lifetime of infections and breathing problems for your much loved pet (and veterinary bills for you!) Hamster wheels are regularly recommended for guinea pigs as exercise toys when in fact these can easily injure a guinea pig’s spine. The same with hamster balls. Avoid at all cost. Many people also get excited about the idea of taking their guinea pig outside to play and they buy those special “guinea pig leashes.” Again, these can actually injure your pet as a guinea pig has a delicate inflexible spine. Be sure to avoid!
Unhealthy cages. I see a couple types of guinea pig cage setups on a regular basis that are really unhealthy and the owners don’t even know it. In general you want to avoid most pet store cages as they are simply too small. Cages that are too small will cause both the cage AND your guinea pig to stink! Many people also use aquarium style cages as they think this will keep bedding from falling out. This is actually really bad as there isn’t going to be enough free flowing air to prevent the build up of moisture and this can lead to lots of health problems. Finally, copying any kind of rabbit cage set up is a big “no-no.” Wire cage floors can really injure a guinea pig. Feet can get scraped up and develop life threatening infections and legs can even be broken if you pet manages to fall through. Instead, look for cages made for guinea pigs. There are lots of excellent options for guinea pigs online, on eBay, and made available through rescue groups.
Guinea pigs need company. Did you know that most people give up their pets to rescue groups because they feel they are too busy to care for them properly? Believe it or not, all your guinea pig needs to be happy is the company of another guinea pig.

To learn more about how to improve your guinea pig’s life, click here.

guinea pig names

Guinea Pig Names!

Picking the best name for your guinea pig can be tricky. Sometimes the best names come to you or family member right away and it seems like magic. Other times it seems like nothing sounds right. Don’ feel like you have to rush naming your guinea pig. Take the time to get to know your new furry friend. Learn his or her personality quirks and before you know it, a name will seem just right.

Brainstorming Ideas

Does your guinea pig have distinctive physical features? A particular color coat or unusual markings? What about interesting personality traits? Are there certain activities, games, or foods that he or she really loves? Is there anything about your guinea pig that reminds you of a particular person?

Don’t think you have to be ridiculously original or creative with your guinea pig names if you don’t want to. At least 50% of all pet receive people names. Think of names that you particularly enjoy or movie/tv show characters that are favorites.

Start by making a list of all the names that appeal to you. Include anything that seems interesting or that has special meaning to you – this can be based on your own interests or even include a favorite family name. If this is going to be a family pet, run your list of names past other family members. People can have emotional reactions to names and you don’t want to pick a name for your pet that reminds anyone of an unpleasant person or time in their life.

Once you have your short list look at each name and see if an obvious shorter nickname comes to mind. By nature, many of us will switch to using shorter nicknames for those we love and talk to all the time (and sometimes its just easier to say!) Make sure you still like the shorter nickname and that it doesn’t change the whole tone of the original name in a bad way.

Example Guinea Pig Names by Category

Sweet names: Angel, Baby Girl,Blossom, Bambi, Bunnie, Daisy, Honey Bee, Bubbles, Buddy, Coco, Princess, Pudding, Puddles, Sweet Pea Sweetie, Tiny, Violet

Descriptive Names:Blondie, Butter, Midnight, Brownie, Caramel, Chocolate, Chubby,Cinnamon, Cloudy, Cotton Ball, Cruncher, Flash, Fluffy, Freckles, Fuzz Ball, Goldie, Hoppie, Inkie, Jumper, Muncher,Nibbles, Patches, Sky, Sleepy, Snow, Snow Ball, Snuggles, Sunnie, Squeak, Squeaker, Tiny

Food Names:Bacon, Cheddar, Cheeto, Cherry, Custard, Biscuit, Blueberry, Strawberry, Chili, Coffee, Cookie, Cupcake, Cream Puff, Fudge, Lemon, Onion, Oreo, Pea, Peanut, Skittles, Twinkie, Twix

Fun Names: Cosmo, Comet, Gizmo, Lucky, Mr. Pig, Ms. Pig. Scooter, Vegas, Zipper

Music inspired names:Banjo, Bongo, Bono

Mythology inspired names: Zeus, Apollo, Venus, Hera, Cupid

Famous TV/Disney/Movie Names:Buffy, Lucy, Marilyn, Mickey, Pinnochio, Simba

Names for males:Benny, Bailey, Beckham, Chip, Ernesto, Jack, Max, Zeek, Timmy, Wallace, Zack

Names for females: Betty, Bee, Charlotte, Chloe, Dixie, Dolly, Ella, Lucy, Polly, Victoria

If you keep more than one guinea pig consider naming them after famous couples:

Abott and Cosello

Albert and Victoria

Archie and Jughead

Bert and Ernie

Betty and Veronica

Bill and Hillary

Bonnie and Clyde

Brad and Angelina

Charles and Camilla

Charles and Diana

Dagwood and Blondie

Donald and Daisy

Elvis and Priscilla

Frank and Ava

Fred and Wilma

Frida and diego

George and Barbara

Gomez and Morticia

Homer and Marge

John and Loreena

John and Yoko

June and Ward

Katie and Allie

Ken and Barbie

Laurel and Hardy

Laverne and Shirley

Lisa and Bart

Lucille and Desi

Mickey and Minnie

Ozzie and Harriet

Posh and Becks

Rhett and Scarlett

Romeo and Juliet

Roy and Dale

Samson and Delilah

Sigfried and Roy

Sonny and Cher

Tom and Nicole

Wallace and Gromit

Reader Suggested Names

Checkers

Do you have a name you want to suggest? If so let us know!

More Guinea Pig Name Ideas

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Guinea Pig Names in Other Languages

French: le cobaye

Italian: il porcellino d’India

Spanish: Cobaya

Polish: Swinka morska

Hungarian: Tengerimalac

Estonian: Merisiga

Swedish: Marsvin

Irish: muc ghuine

This should help you get started picking the best guinea pig name!


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