Guinea Pig Care

Smooth Coated Breeds

The smooth coated guinea pigs are closer in looks to their ancestors than the other varieties.
They are now divided in to two categories, the Self (single colour) are Black, Cream and Chocolate, and the patterned varieties, such as Tortoiseshell.

Self Varieties.
The Black is the most popular colour in this group, due to its beatiful glossy coat. For showing purposes the coat must be completely Black all over. Breeders say that any white or red patches is a seious flaw.

The Chocolate Self is the colour of milk chocolate with dark eyes to match.

As the new colours are emerging, some of the old colours are dissapearing. One of these is the Self Red, which is a rich mahogany with ruby red eyes.

The colour of the Self Golden, is the verge of being red , although the preferred shade is Ginger. The eyes for this would be Pink although a rarer dark eyed form is possible too.

Lighter shades of the Self group would be, Cream and a colour much more yelow called the Self Buff. The Cream is sometimes known as the 'Champagne Cavy'.to describe the show stock, paler colouration preferred.

Self White are usually slightly smaller than their Self colours. Especially the Albino with its red eyes. The stipulation here is for the coat to be white absolutly without a yello hue. The White Guinea pigs are not to be confused with Himalayan form which is pure White, but is choclate or black area on the nose.and ears. The Chocolate is the the lighter version of the two Himalayan varieties.

New varieties of the Self are evolving including the Blue - a bluey shade of grey developed in the States, which marks a departure in the solid Self colours in the past.

Patterned Varieties

The Tortoiseshell & White is a stricking example of a Short haired patterned guinea pig, which has black, white and red colouring on it's coat.

The Dutch form has a strong likeness to a rabbit of the same name. The colours must be clearly defined. Darker colours such as red or black are preferred for the contast they have to the rest of the coat. Other colours are seen even Agouti Dutch combinations. Agouti markings obviously will result from light & dark bands running down each hair.

There are other varieties called the Dalmation, so called because of the Dog breed's black & White patches.

With Long Haired & Rex Coats Guinea Pigs

The Abyssinian
For a long time, the Abyssinian & Peruvian breeds were the only long haired breeds that were recognised. The Abyssinian has a coat with a series of rosettes & ridges. The ridge being formed at the edge of the rosettes, meeting the nest rosette. There should be 4 symmetrical rosettes running down the back & 4 running down the sides, leaving no area flat. The hair is short at about 4cm.
The rough look of the Abyssinian is genetically dominant, & will result in rosettes on the babies if paired with a short haired cavy. Although not as well defined as true Abyssininan. Self Reds & Self Blacks as well as Tortoiseshell and Roans and Brindlesare the most common colour of the Abyssininian breed. It can take up to 18 months for their coats to reach their full extent.

Peruvian
Not recommended as a pet due to its coat reaching 50cm! For the dedicated owner who can brush it daily. Hay is good to have as a snack from a holder, due to it matting in its hair in the bedding area.

Sheltie.
The Sheltie is the long haired form of the smooth coat guinea pigs. Distinguished from the Peruvian by its fur which lies flat, not swept forwardsover its head. Also there is no parting down the back. He satin has been introduced in to this breed which means that as they get older their coats stay shiny.

Rex Mutations
This is a fairy new varient popular in North America & Europe, where its described as a Teddy. The Rex's fur is slightly coarse to the touch & slightly curly. Its a recessive mutation, so Rex Guinea Pigs have to be paired together for the same look to continue. The Rex are nw in a range of colours, and its been possible to combine it with the Sheltie, to create the Texel. The Texel has a curly coat, but shoter than the true Sheltie. The Merino has been the result of the cross between the Rex & the Peruvian Guinea pig.

Crested Mutation.
The crested mutation has a wide range of colours. The crest should be circular in shape, and even in its size. Its located at the front of the ears The English Crested , the crest matches the surrouding hair & is always White. With the American Crested , when combined with the Texel it becomes the breed known as the Alpaca.

I have lots of photos and heaps of Information on the different Breeds & much more for you to to look through at

www.guineapigsupplies.blogspot.com