Intro
Silkie and Abyssinian guinea pigs are friendly, active
little fellows that greet you with excited squeaks when you visit them. The
main difference between a Silkie and Abyssinian guinea pig is their hairstyles.
The Silkie and Abyssinian diet, behavior and communication methods are the same
as the other 11 breeds of guinea pigs recognized by the American Cavy Breeders
Association.
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| Silkie Guinea Pig by Christine Majul |
Silkie Guinea Pig
The unique characteristic of the Silkie guinea pig (Caviidae
porcellus) is his soft, silky, floor length hair. It you enjoy brushing hair,
then the Silkie would be a good match for you. Silkie guinea pigs need their
hair brushed daily to keep it free of mats, bedding pieces and food remnants. In
England, Sheltie is another name for a Silkie guinea pig.
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| Abyssinian Guinea Pig by Just Chaos |
Abyssinian Guinea Pig
One of the most popular guinea pig breeds, the Abyssinian
has whorls of hair on both shoulders, across the back, on both hips and on his
rump. The thick, rough hair grows to 1.5 inches. You can keep your Abyssinian’s
short coat healthy with weekly brushing to remove dander, bedding particles and
food.
General Facts
There’s a color for everyone when it comes to guinea pigs.
You can choose white, red, black, chocolate and sandy in striped patterns,
tricolors or bicolor . A guinea pig lives from five to
seven year but can live one or two years longer with good nutrition and
veterinarian visits. A healthy guinea pig should weigh from 1.5 to 2.5 pounds
and grow to 8 or 9 inches.Guinea pigs are small,
inquisitive pets with big personalities.
Diet
When feeding your guinea pig, keep in mind that he needs to
eat constantly. Don’t let his small size fool you. Unlike dogs or cats that you
feed once or twice per day, a guinea pig’s speedy metabolism keeps him munching
all day. Providing a nutritious, vitamin rich diet of high-fiber plant food,
such as hay, leafy greens, vegetables and guinea pig pellets will keep your
guinea pig happy and healthy . One unknown fact to many
new guinea pig owners is that these little guys eat about 40 percent of their
own poop, according to veterinarian, Anne Fawcett . This
is normal and provides your guinea pig with healthy bacteria for digestion,
although many guinea pig owners are squeamish about this habit.
Communication
Guinea pigs like to talk a lot. You'll hear your guinea pig
chirp, purr, rumble, squeak, chatter, whistle and whine When your guinea pig squeals or squeaks, he is hurt or afraid. When you feed
him, he may whistle and chirp, indicating that food is available. Sometimes
guinea pigs chase each other and may whine when the chase is over.
If you decide to add guinea pigs to your family, learn as much as you can about them. This way, your family and your guinea pigs will be happy.
If you decide to add guinea pigs to your family, learn as much as you can about them. This way, your family and your guinea pigs will be happy.
References:
Animal Diversity Web: Cavia Porcellus Guinea Pig
2013 Annual Critters USA: Eating Well the
Guinea Pig Way: Anne Fawcett, BA, BSC, BVSC, CMVA
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