Albino or Pink-Eyed White "PEW"
It is debatable whether a true albino guinea pig exists. It is believed that white is actually a color in guinea pigs, not a lack of pigment, and therefore Pink-Eyed White, or PEW, is the correct name. These guinea pigs are white, sometimes there is a Siamese like darkening around the ears and/or nose. They have beautiful ruby red eyes, shown in the below pictures. These ruby red eyes can exist on guinea pigs of other colors too, such as the White Crested pictured below.
Above photo of "Snowball" courtesy of ZiXiuphotos.
Above photo of "Rosie" courtesy of Tiffani Ralph.
Agouti
This is a very pretty wild type color that is common in guinea pigs. Agouti guinea pigs have a two tone coat with a peppered look. The two tones can come in a variety of colors. You can see the brown/black ticked agouti below. The second picture is a lemon agouti broken cream guinea pig.
Above photo of "Chewy" courtesy of Tiffani Ralph.
Above photo courtesy of Alysianne Fay DeSha.
Abyssinian
These cute guinea pigs have all kinds of character in their hair. They have multiple rosettes all over the body that create twirls of fur sticking up in all directions. They look like they just rolled out of bed at all times of day. Their fur should be a uniform medium length, although in Abyssinian mixes, it's not uncommon for them to have longer hair.
Above photo of "Tigger" courtesy of Kellie McMurray.
Peruvian
These gorgeous guineas require lots of grooming. The guinea pig below has had her hair trimmed, which is quite necessary for regular maintenance. The untrimmed hair on a Peruvian can extend several inches flowing from the body. This is prone to tangling and matting, so a well trimmed Peruvian like the beauty below is a happy Peruvian.
Above photo of "Sky" courtesy of Lisa Savino.
Silkie
A Silkie, also called a Sheltie, has a thick medium length soft coat that flows away from the head. It requires a moderate amount of brushing to keep the coat clean and healthy.
Above photo courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
Skinny
Skinny pigs are very much like the name sounds, covered in skin! They have a little bit of course curly hair on the nose or feet sometimes, but other than that, they're quite bare. Skinny pigs may not need brushed, but they do need extra attention to stay healthy. Keep them warm and away from drafts, as they are more prone to getting sick.
Above photo courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
Above photo courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
These are stunning! They have long curly ringlets that are soft and abundant all over the body. These breed requires a substantial amount of grooming to keep the coat clean and healthy.
Above photo courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
Above photo courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
Teddy
The teddy guinea pig has a coarse and wirey type coat that is short in length, but the hairs tend to stand outward rather than lie down. There is also a breed called a Rex guinea pig, that looks very much like a Teddy, but the gene is not the same. I am not able to discern one from the other by looking at them.
Above photo of "Wilma" the expectant mother, courtesy of Lisa Swatsky/ Moonlight Caviary.
Above photo of "Cookie" courtesy of Bridget Montoya.
Above photo of "Buttercup" the baby Teddy, courtesy of Bridget Montoya.
American
This is likely to be the most common type of guinea pig you see. They have short and smooth hair. They require little grooming of the fur and are quite soft.
Above photo of "Gizmo" courtesy of Kellie McMurray.
Above photo courtesy of Alysianne Fay DeSha.
White Crested
The white crested guinea pig is smooth like the American guinea pig, but with a single rosette, called a crest, on the forehead. Like the name indicates, it is a White Crested, if the crest is white. If the crest is the same color as the rest of the guinea pig, it is an English crested.
Coronet
A Coronet guinea pig has long hair like a Peruvian, but a crest on the forehead like the Crested guinea pigs.
*If you have a picture that shows a Coronet well that you would submit to have posted here as an example, please provide it here: https://www.facebook.com/guineapigscavyclub.
Roan and Dalmation
*If you have a clear Roan or Dalmation photo that you would submit to have posted here as an example, please provide it here: https://www.facebook.com/guineapigscavyclub.
Satin
Satin guinea pigs can come in nearly any color or breed listed above, however the hair has a very high gloss shine. This appearance is caused by the light that shines through the hollow hair shaft.
*If you have a picture that shows a Satin coat well that you would submit to have posted here as an example, please provide it here: https://www.facebook.com/guineapigscavyclub.
Health Concerns in Breeding
There will be another article coming soon on breeding guinea pigs, risks, and why I suggest adopting, however I will touch on some of the reasons here that directly pertain to certain kinds of guinea pigs. Roan and dalmation guinea pigs have what is called a lethal gene. Breeding these guinea pigs together creates a risk of a micropthalmic baby, or "lethal white" guinea pig. These guinea pigs are white in color, but their eyes and teeth are not viable. The guinea pig has little chance for survival. For this reason, Roans and Dalmations are typically bred to solid colored guinea pigs, however if you do not know the history of your guinea pigs genetics, it is possible that you're breeding guinea pigs that carry Roan or Dalmation genes, even though you do not see it, and a lethal white can still be produced.
Satins are another cause for concern in breeding. These guinea pigs have beautiful shiny coats, but there is a darker side to this pretty hair. They are very prone to get an unpreventable and incurable disease called Osteodystrophy that doesn't present itself until the guinea pig is one to two years old. This painful disease causes brittle bones, limping in the hind legs, and problems eating due to a weakened jaw. Little can be done for the guinea pig, and pain medication is the best relief. There has been some reports of increased calcium slowing the effects of the disease, however this would need to be carefully monitored by a vet because high levels of calcium is hard guinea pigs.
When you adopt guinea pigs, chances are you will end up with a mixed breed guinea pig. They are every bit as fun and cute, however it isn't likely that you will ever know the origin of their genetics.
If you would like to have a specific breed of guinea pig for showing or other reasons, please search for an ethical breeder. The breeder you choose should be passionate about their guinea pigs and the care of them, rather than see the animals as an object for profit. A good breeder will take great care of their guinea pigs and ask you questions to make sure you understand how to care for a guinea pig.
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