Guinea Pig Breeds
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Guinea pigs come in a wide variety of breeds and colors. The baby guinea pig’s parental genes and selective breeding are responsible for at least 25 different types of guinea pigs in three separate categories:
- Long-haired
- Short-haired
- Rough-haired
As the names imply, these categories refer to the texture and length of the guinea pigs’ coats.
Long-haired guinea pigs, and their different varieties, have very silky hair that more often than not grows so long that it touches the ground. Common varieties within this category are to choose from are:
- Peruvians
- Shelties
- Cornets
- Silkies
- Texel
- Merino
- Alpaca
Although short-haired guinea pigs have soft and smooth coats as well, they never grow very long. A number of selections of these guinea pigs to choose from are:
- Teddy
- Crested
- American
- Rex
Abyssinians or rough-haired guinea pigs, the most popular and recognizable type of cavy, actually have an uncommon coat. The hair is not smooth and sticks up along the animal’s body.
Selfs or solid color guinea pigs come in different ranges of colors including those listed below:
- Black
- White
- Lilac
- Chocolate
- Cream
- Golden
- Beige
- Blue
- Red
These solid color guinea pigs come in a variety of combinations as well:
- Tortoise-shell
- Himalayan
- Agouti
- Dutch
- Dalmatian
- Roan
- Albino
There are guinea pigs which do not have set patterns and come in combinations of two (bicolor) or three (tricolor) colors.
While not yet popular, some guinea pigs are being introduced that have little or no hair at all. They represent one of several variations that today’s guinea pig breeders are trying to make fashionable.
If you’d like to see what these lovely creatures look like before choosing one, just do an image search in Google for any of the descriptive types above.
Guinea Pig Care Bible is a book with literally hundreds of guinea pig care tips. This information only comes from years and years of hands on experience and a lot of research. You can get the book here.
Guinea Pig Cages
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Once you’ve decided to bring a guinea pig or two into your family, you need to prepare a complementary living environment for them.
Before we look at the different guinea pig cages options, the first thing you need to consider is whether or not to keep your guinea pig inside or outside.
The choice is debatable. And, in fact, some owners opt for creating both an indoor and an outdoor home for their guinea pigs – but initially you’ll probably want to settle on one or the other.
In either case, the decision on where to place your guinea pig should be made before you choose a cage, so you’ll know exactly how much space you will be working with, particularly if you will be keeping your guinea pig indoors.
One of the best reasons to house guinea pigs outside is space. So if the weather in your area permits and you have limited space in your home, then outdoors may be your best option. Keep in mind that guinea pigs are very sensitive to drafts and extreme temperature fluctuations. Ideally your guinea pig should remain in an environment between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 25 degrees Celsius). In fact, if the temperature in their environment falls to 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) your guinea pig could suffer from hypothermia and could quickly die.
Ideally, guinea pig cages should be at least 2 square feet per guinea pig, but the more area you provide for your pet, the happier he or she will be. The height of the cage is not as important. Guinea pigs don’t really climb much because of their size, so 18 inch walls should be high enough to keep them safely inside a cage.
Many guinea pig owners prefer to have multi-level cages for their pets. The addition of ramps, tubes and other levels may be fun and interesting for the guinea pig. But it isn’t necessary.
When most people purchase their guinea pig cages, they need to be aware of two things:
- You may have to do additional modifications on the cage to make it inhabitable for your guinea pig.
- Your cage should not have an exposed wood interior as it soaks up the smell of their urine or an exposed wire bottom (it can hurt their sensitive feet).
Remember that for one guinea pig, you need at least 2 square feet of cage space. Each additional guinea pig requires between 2 to 4 extra square feet of space. Also, you need to factor in the space for toys, hiding places, and food dishes.
Be aware that many cage manufacturers will try to fool you by quoting only the exterior size on the box but, because of how it is measured, that can be a foot or less than the actual amount of room your guinea pig would have inside the cage. Be sure to also figure on giving them lots of room to run around on the floor.
A final word of caution on choosing a cage: many pet stores sell aquariums and fish tanks as ideal homes for guinea pigs and other small pets. This is a definite no-no. Guinea pigs need a well-ventilated cage because the ammonia vapors from their urine can make them ill. Obviously, an aquarium is not well-ventilated and, therefore, should never be used as a home for your guinea pig.
Guinea Pig Care Bible is a book with literally hundreds of guinea pig care tips. This information only comes from years and years of hands on experience and a lot of research. You can get the book here.
Guinea Pig Tips
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Many people mistakenly think that guinea pigs are simply larger versions of so-called pocket pets like hamsters and gerbils, but this is just not the case.
While a hamster can live in a relatively small cage, guinea pigs do require more room. They won’t take up as much space as a German Shepperd but you need to be prepared to have adequate room available in order for your cavy to lead a hale and hearty, comfortable life
Another thing to keep in mind is that guinea pigs are likely to live longer than hamsters or gerbils. On average, a guinea pig lives 4-6 years and at least one has lived to the ripe old age of 11. This means that if you purchase a guinea pig now, you need to be ready to make him or her a member of your family for an extended period of time.
Remember that long-haired guinea pigs shed a lot; the areas around their cages need to be cleaned up regularly. Rough-haired guinea pigs also shed quite a bit, although not as much as the long-haired varieties. However, smooth-coated guinea pigs do not. Most shed very little, so they are perfect for families that don’t want to spend most of their time vacuuming up after their new pet. Although easier to clean, avoid wire mesh cage bottoms. They’re easier to clean, sure but they cause sores on your pet’s tender little feet.
Lots of people choose a guinea pig because they are allergic to cats and/or dogs. They figure a cavy will be a better alternative for their families. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. While an allergic reaction to other animals does not guarantee that you will have a similar reaction with guinea pigs, it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t either. Furthermore, some people who are fine around dogs or cats may have allergies to guinea pigs.
Keep in mind that this is a living thing which can’t be returned to the pet store if someone in your family develops and allergic reaction to it. If so, consider looking for a rescue (search Google for “guinea pig rescue”) venue. Many of these places will supply the cage, water bottle, food bowl and of course the unwanted piggies to other loving families.
If you decide to purchase a guinea pig, read about the proper diet and care for guinea pigs first. Generally the sales person at the pet store is going to steer you toward buying products, rather than what is necessary and proper for your guinea pig to live a happy, healthy life.
Guinea Pig Care Bible is a book with literally hundreds of guinea pig care tips. This information only comes from years and years of hands on experience and a lot of research. You can get the book here.
