Guinea pigs are considered unpretentious pets. They are not aggressive, very funny in behavior, suitable for children's games. Due to their small body size, they are comfortable to hold, iron or caress. Guinea pigs were domesticated by the Americans, therefore they are also called overseas or guinea pigs. There are many types of guinea pigs, among the variety of which it is sometimes difficult to make a choice.
General form
Guinea pigs are about the size of a well-fed kitten. Their body length can reach up to 35 cm. The weight of male pigs is up to 1.5 kg, and of females - up to 1.2 kg. The body of these rodents is large and more rounded than that of wild relatives. Guinea pigs have no tail. Their muzzles are dull, their ears often hang. The color can range from dirty gray to golden red. The length of the coat varies greatly from breed to breed.
The character of the guinea pigs is wonderful. They are good-natured, friendly and trusting. It is advisable to keep them in pairs, because the pigs cannot stand loneliness. Do not drop these animals from a height, this can lead to unpleasant consequences. The sounds made by the pig are similar to the grunting of ordinary pigs. But at some moments, these animals can purr, purr or even chirp. Guinea pigs feed on grains, hay and vegetables. They need to be treated with vitamin C frequently because it is not produced in the body of these rodents.
There are many different breeds of guinea pigs, which differ in the length of the coat and its structure. Caring for different breeds of gilts will also vary. Some species were only bred artificially. Such breeds will not survive in the natural world, because their body is not adapted to various air temperatures, they do not know how to get their own food and build a warm home.
Short-haired guinea pigs
The most common guinea pig species are short-haired or smooth-haired guinea pigs. These are Teddy, Self, Rex and American Satin breeds. Their coat is short and smooth, without curls. They come with colored spots or stripes on the body. Their color is very diverse, combinations of two or three colors are allowed. The body of short-haired guinea pigs is small, the ears are erect and wide, they have little wool. This breed reproduces quickly and easily naturally.
Long haired guinea pigs
Long-haired guinea pig breeds are also popular. These are Sheltie, Pixel, Merino, Coronet, Peruvian and Alpaca breeds. Representatives of these breeds have long hair, and the length of rodents sometimes reaches 20 cm. In the Coronet, Sheltie and Peruvian breeds, wool is straight and soft, while in other species it is more wavy or curly.
Care for long-haired breeds must be meticulous. The animals need to be combed out often so that mats do not form. The long fur of the guinea pigs can be trimmed to give the desired shape to the "hairstyle". The fur of the representatives of these breeds can be so long that the entire muzzle of the pigs is covered, and hangs down from the back like a train. In nature, such a breed does not occur, it is an artificially bred species.
The color of long-haired breeds is often monotonous, but there are pigs interspersed. The most common color is red or brown. Albino guinea pigs are also found among these breeds.
Rosette guinea pigs
Rosette pigs have a short, coarse coat, but it is not smooth, but as if disheveled. All over the body of rosette guinea pigs there are small rosettes made of wool. These pigs include the Abyssinian and Rosetti breeds. The wool of these animals is about 4 cm long, which grows from the center of the rosettes. There should normally be about 10-12 outlets throughout the body. Rosette guinea pigs look disheveled, but in reality their body looks like a square due to the symmetry of the rosettes. The color is varied. There are whitish pigs, ginger, chocolate and red. Colors are most often combined. Caring for these breeds of guinea pigs is minimal. You need to brush the coat once a week to get rid of dead hairs.
"Bald" guinea pigs
Skinny and Baldwin are considered to be rare breeds of guinea pigs. These breeds differ from the rest in that they have no hairline. If the Skinny breed has some hairs on the tip of the nose, then the Baldwin breed is completely absent. These two breeds were developed in the laboratory; and in nature they not only do not occur, but also do not survive. Bald pigs need special care. Their thin and velvety skin is constantly in need of hydration. In the summer, these pigs need to be treated with sunscreen, and in the winter, dressed in something warm. The color of hairless guinea pigs is also varied, but the most popular natural color is pink.
