In a wild guinea pig, there is only one breed of piglet, a single color (grey). However, the guinea pigs of domestic indies have been bred for thousands of years and there are different breeds, colors and types of fur.
There are even official associations that promote different breeds of this species, such as the ACBA (American Cavy Breeders Association) in the United States and CAPI (Clube de Amigos dos Porquinhos da ‘ndia) in Portugal.
- Curious about the different guinea pigs that exist and what breeds of pigs in India? In this article by Animal Expert we will explain all the breeds of guinea pigs that exist and their characteristics.
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Before talking about the different breeds of domestic cuyes, it is important that you know the ancestor of all, the wild cuy (Cavia aperea tschudii). Unlike the domestic guinea pig, this guinea pig has exclusively nocturnal habits. Its body is elongated just like its nose, unlike the domestic guinea pig that has a much rounder nose. Its color is always gray, while the domestic guinea pigs are found in many colors.
There are different breeds of guinea pigs that can be organized according to the type of hair: short, long and lampiño.
Here’s a little bit about some of the most popular breeds, so you can quickly identify the breed of your guinea pig.
The Abiss-nio guinea pig is a breed of short hair known for its thick hairs. Their fur has several swirls, which gives them that sloppy and very fun look. When young, the hair is silky and, as it grows, the hair becomes rough.
The short-haired English guinea pig is the most common and most commercialized breed. There are several colors and patterns of piglets of this breed. Her hair is silky and short and has no swirls.
There are two guinea pigs, with long hair and short hair. Most guinea pig associations do not officially recognize short hair.
The Peruvian breed was the first of all long-haired guinea pigs. The hairs of these animals can be so long that it is impossible to distinguish the pig’s head from the back. If you have a pig of this breed as a pet, the ideal is to cut the front hairs for easy cleaning. Pigs of these breeds who participate in beauty contests can reach 50 cm of hair!
As we mentioned, the American guinea pig Teddy is very similar to the Rex. American Teddy is originally from the United States, as the name suggests, while Rex is originally from England. The fur of these piglets is short and rough.
A breed originating in Switzerland, as the name suggests. These little piglets have a short, rough coat, no swirls. These small pigs are slightly larger than other breeds, reaching up to 1400 kg.
Most associations do not recognize the race of angora guinea pig. Apparently, these piglets look like a cross between the Peruvian race and the Abyssinian. The hairs of these piglets are short on the belly, head and legs and long on the back. It has a whirlwind on the back, which gives them a very funny look.
The Coronet guinea pig has beautiful long hairs and a crown on the head. This breed was born from the cross between the Coroados and the Shelties. Due to the length of the hair, it is important to brush the pig regularly and cut the tips when necessary.
The Lunkarya guinea pig is very similar to Texel. Her hair is long and curly.
It is a variant of the short hairs of the Lunkarya breed, which we will talk about later. This breed is not yet officially recognized by guinea pig associations.
We’ve already told you about the Angora race. This piggy, Mohair, is essentially an Angora with curly hair. It was born from the cross between an Angora and a Texel.
The skinny guinea pigs and Baldwin have virtually no hair. Thin girls can have certain areas of hair (nose, legs, head), while Baldwin has no hair anywhere on the body.
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