Let’s talk about guinea pig breeds today. Guinea pigs also known as Cavy are a very popular pocket pet, that originated in South America. They have been domesticated from the 16th century in Europe and most parts of America and gradually other continents. The main reason for their fame or demand is that they are very friendly, small extremely adorable, easy to handle, and require relatively less maintenance and care.
Guinea pigs are herbivores (plant-eating). They have been bred by scientists and breeders over the years and have created many types of Guinea pig breeds, These guinea pig breeds vary basically in their fur type, size, and color and their behavior in most cases remains the same.
Guinea pigs are so adorable pet and lovely and their amazing varieties will surely make it hard for you to choose any one particular breed.
So, the most common guinea pig breeds are as follows:
White Crested Guinea Pig
White Crested guinea pigs are named because of the “crown” like a crest on its head, this breed is almost similar to the American guinea pig in shape, size, and color. So they can be only spotted or differentiated by the white crest on its head. The White Crested comes in a range of coat types, such as brindle, roan, and agouti.
They are really calm and gentle and easily associate with other breeds and become very friendly with people. They are easy to take care of and do not require much grooming. But another factor is that they are not as common as the American breed you need to really look over places if you actually want one.
Texel Guinea Pig
If you want a show stopper or Princess Diana-like exotic and elegant guinea pig, Texel guinea pig is that grade breed. They are extremely graceful and friendly. Unlike other guinea pig breeds, this breed requires the most effort in maintenance which starts from its beautiful locks and curls of hair all over its body.
Their coat consists of long soft and wavy hair that must be properly and carefully groomed or else it could get tangled easily and tangled hair could be really irritating for the cavy as well as the owner. This makes it unsuitable for the kid to play with or raise it as a pet.
Texel guinea pig life span: Texel can live up to 5-7 years.
Texel guinea pig is the best competitor for any pet show or if you are an exotic pet lover this is for you!
Teddy Guinea Pig
The name Teddy is given due to its uncanny resemblance with the teddy bear toy in terms of coat and shape of the nose. Teddy Guinea Pig has a very short coat and dense coat. Unlike the Silkie or Texel, they do not need regular brushing or grooming. And this makes it ideal for kids and people who aren’t a fan of grooming pets.
They can be easily distinguished due to their unique type of inverted nose which is also known as “RomanNose”. Just like most breeds, they are also very polite and friendly!
Skinny Guinea Pig
The most unique breed among the guinea pig. They are almost completely hairless except they have little patches of hair in some areas of the body. They do not require grooming and no hair issues. However, their skin is sensitive and needs to be taken care of.
Skinny Guinea Pig has a very sweet personality, they socialize well they are very loving and friendly. Some people may not like it because of their appearance but the ones who want the personality go for the Skinny. The baby skinny pig looks so adorable.
Silkie Guinea Pig
Silkie and Peruvian guinea pigs are very much alike as they have similar coats and long straight hair. But they are distinguishable as they differ in body shape and size. The most unique feature of the Silkie is that the hair over its head grows backward directed towards its back which in Peruvian is very messy as the hair grows in a dismantled direction.
This unique style of the Silkie makes it more appealing and groomed naturally. But some may also prefer the messy hair. Silkie Guinea Pig is very gentle, calm, and friendly, but may require a little extra time to get along. Silkie Guinea Pig is also nicknamed “Hollywood Cavy” because of its style and charm.
Rex Guinea Pig
Rex has a very short haircut. Their coat is dense and rough like the Teddy. Their unique feature is that they have drop ears. The coat, however, has a con that is, they do not have the guard hair that almost all breeds have.
Tips on choosing a guinea pig breed
- Always purchase more than one pig because most of them do not like living a solitary life, they may need a companion.
- If you are planning to get it for a young kid and let it raise it on its own without your much involvement, always go for the ones requiring less care and maintenance teddy, or American or maybe the hairless ones like Baldwin or skinny
- Long-haired breeds like Silkie or Peruvian are for older kids or best for adults. They should be regularly groomed or you may also trim the hair if required or according to your preference.
- There is no right or wrong breed of guinea pigs. It’s that you have to choose what you think is perfect for you. Almost all the breeds have similar characters or personalities. They will only differ in appearance that’s it.
We hope we have helped you by providing enough information on the different breeds of guinea pigs!
So, best wishes in choosing the right breed. We hope you find the one that is perfect for you or the dedicated person!