The Teddy guinea pig has been getting more popular amongst guinea pig owners. They are drawn to their lovely coats, warm personalities and low maintenance.

They are often mistaken for Amercian guinea pigs but they are actually different from them.

So to get to know them, here are 30 things to know about the Teddy Guinea Pig.

1. Teddy guinea pigs get their name from their resemblance to a stuffed teddy bear. Particular in regards to their fur.
2. The teddy guinea pig is a non-self variety
3. The Teddy bear is a main classified breed
4. Much like other breeds of guinea pig, they live between 6-8 years.

5. The Teddy guinea pig has a dense and fuzzy coast and the hairs stand on end

6. Teddy guinea pigs have dryer skin than other guinea pig breeds
7. Teddy guinea pigs don’t need more than 3 baths each year because most of the time they self groom.
8. Their hair is not high maintenance.
9. They do get dirtier ears than other breeds so you will need to check their ears at least twice a month and get rid of any wax that builds up.

10. The teddy guinea pig is the result of a mutation of a tortoise shell and a white American guinea pig.

11. They Teddy guinea pig was first produced as a guinea pig variety in 1967
12. Their coat is rougher than that of an American guinea pig, shorter and does not have the rosettes that the American has.
13. The Teddy guinea pig has a coat that is kinky and thick giving it a fluffy appearance
14. Teddy guinea pigs don’t have a problem with hair matting like other guinea pig breeds

15. The Teddy guinea pig has a medium length body

16. its nose has a prominent bridge which looks like it is bent
17. They were officially recognized by the American cavy breeders association in 1974.
18. It is not possible to breed proper teddy guinea pigs by cross breeding as its now a breed in its own right
19. They have an upturned nose also found on an american guinea pig. It is much wider and curvier than other guinea pigs noses.

20. Just like other guinea pigs, their teeth are constantly growing.

21. Teddy guinea pigs need much the same food and water as any other guinea pig.
22. They much prefer to be kept indoors but can be kept outside if the temperature is right.
23. Like other guinea pigs, they prefer temperatures between 41-59 degrees farenheit.
24. They always need to chew so require a constant supply of hay so as to grind down their teeth.

25. Teddy guinea pigs need water to be constantly available much like other guinea pigs.

26. They enjoy eating veggies and some fruit.
27. Grooming a teddy bear requires a little more thought than that of an american guinea pig.
28. Try and brush your teddy guinea pig once a week
29. Using a slicker brush will also help lessen hair shedding.
30. In fact, ising a slicker brush will help to get rid of looser hair.
31. A good way to brush a teddy guinea pig’s coat is to pet and brush them head to rump (or vice versa) so that it goes flat.

1. Roan is actually a mutation.
2. The roan guinea pig is a black colored guinea pig with white hairs mixed evenly throughout its body.
3. There are types of roan guinea pig where other colors have been incorporated due to breeding
4. To be classed as a roan guinea pig, it can have just a patch of coloring or be colored all over.
5. They are often confused with dalmatian guinea pigs.
6. A roan should never be allowed to breed with another roan as they can be born with deformities often known as lethal white syndrome.
7. The roan coloration is found on many animals and is defined as a mix of white and colored hairs which don’t fade due the animal growing in age.
8. Roan is a mutation which is often found on horses..
9. Acceptable color combinations for the white hairs include any of the self, agouti, or solid colors
10. The roaning effect is often heavier behind the shoulders, resulting in a lighter shade on the rear part of the body. (source)
11. It is said that roan guinea pigs cannot be allowed to mate with one another, as a high proportion of their offspring will be born with deformities internally and externally such as tiny eyes and teeth problems and will soon die. They are given the term ‘lethal guinea pigs’ (source)
12. An animal with one copy of the gene is totally healthy. They are the ones that have the white/colored mixed patches
13. Guinea pigs with two copies of the roan gene are the ‘lethal guinea pigs.’ They are always pure white with pink eyes. (source)
14. If you have a guinea pig with dark eyes and a white coat, it is not a lethal. It may however have hidden roan, ie the white roan hairs mixed through regular white coloring – which makes it impossible to tell. (source)
15. Because ‘hidden roan’ is tricky to dicifer, a lot of breeders recommend not breeding any two animals that have any white on them unless you know their parents didn’t have roan. (source)

Looking for a guinea pig to look after can be a tricky thing sometimes, so here is a guide to help decide what breed of guinea pig should you get?

Breeds that are easy to look after

These breeds of guinea pigs are idea for beginners and those who have no experience of looking after guinea pigs. They are also great for older children to look after.

They are also ideal for owners who don’t have a lot of time on their hands.

American Guinea Pig – Short haired cavies who are very low maintenance. Elegant and sleek in appearance. Ideal for first time owners.

Crested guinea pig – A short haired guinea pig that has a single rosette swirl on their forehead. Their hair is short so does not require maintenance.

Montaine guinea pig – a cousin of the domestic cavy, found in South America. A short haired cavy that is low maintenance

Agouti guinea pigs – A wonderfully beautiful short haired cavy that are very low maintenance with their beautifully distinct short coats. Ideal for beginners of older responsible children to look after.

Rex guinea pigs – Have dense wooly hair that stands up on end and ears that droop down. Don’t require a lot maintenance and they self-clean.

Breeds that require more experience

These breeds of guinea pigs require a bit more attention but can still be looked after by relatively new owners. They are recommended as a second-guinea pig and require time spent maintaining them on a weekly basis.

Teddy guinea pigs – Have a lovely frizzy haired and dense coat however it is relatively short haired and so doesn’t need as much care as long haired cavies. Ideal for those with a bit of experience of looking after guinea pigs.

Abyssinian guinea pigs – Long haired cavies loved and adored throughout the world, require brushing regularly to ensure that they fungal infections don’t occur. They are relatively self cleaning and so don’t require regular bathing. However do watch for build up around the anus and will require bathing to get rid of this.

Himalayan guinea pig – It is an albino guinea pig that needs to be kept inside. Their short hair means that they don’t need a lot of maintenance. Can be a first guinea pig but require a little more attention due to needing to be inside.

Swiss guinea pigs – Guinea pigs with hair that stands on end. Requires brushing once a week at the most and are pretty much self-cleaning cavies.

Breeds that require experienced owners

Not for the inexperienced, these piggies require a good amount of time and care from their owners. They need thought put into their homes and the environment they live in. They need owners that have spent time with piggies before and know how to handle them.

Coronet guinea pig – They are a rare breed piggy and a long haired version of the crested guinea pig. Their hair grows backwards over their body. They are indoor guinea pigs that don’t do well outside and need to be kept in a strict temperature of between 10 degrees celcius and 25 degrees celcius. Their hair needs plenty of grooming and maintaining as their hair can become matted if not looked after.

Peruvian guinea pigs – A most beautiful breed of guinea pig. Very rare and hard to find. Hair needs consistent maintenance and trimming otherwise it can be come matted. Their living environment must also be well maintained so that their hair doesn’t pick up any unwanted debris.

Alpaca guinea pigs – Not good as a first guinea pig as their hair needs daily maintenance to stop tangling and will need trimming regularly. They also need to live in a tidy environment so that their hair does not pick up any unwanted debris.

Merino guinea pigs – Long haired cavy with curly coats of hair. They are not a common breed and like other breeds of long haired cavy require a lot of care and maintenance on a daily basis with grooming, trimming and washing.

Texel guinea pigs – Also have long haired curls that require a lot of maintenance and care. Their curls cant become matted very easily and can pick up debris. Not a guinea pig to be left alone for long periods.

Sheltie guinea pigs – Wonderfully beautiful guinea pigs who have beautiful silky long hair that sweeps back from its face. They need regular brushing and their hair needs needs trimming regularly and attention to ensure that it doesn’t matt.

Breeds that require expert owners

Specialist owners only please. Please don’t attempt to own one of these unless you have been trained to do so.

Baldwin guinea pigs – Their skin is completely bald and has a rubbery texture to it. They are born with hair but it falls out over a period of months leaving them completely bald.

Skinny guinea pigs – Like Baldwins, they are a new breed of piggy that are hairless so need to be kept inside in strict temporal conditions. They have a soft rubbery skin which is very vulnerable to sunlight.  They require expert care from owners that know how to look after them.

What kind of breed are they?

The coronet is a rare breed guinea pig which basically means there aren’t too many around.

How did they originate?

Unknown

What do they look like?

A coronet guinea pig is a long haired version of the crested guinea pig.

It has a single rosette called a coronet in the centre of its forehead and a crest.

Their long hair grows backwards over their body

They look very much like Sheltie guinea pigs but with the crest

How long do they live for?

They can live between 6-8 years if they are looked after well.

Can they be kept outside?

Coronet guinea pigs like other types of rare breeds are indoor guinea pigs and don’t do well outside.

They need to be kept in a strict temperature of between 10 degrees celcius and 25 degrees celcius.

What do they eat?

They can eat a standard guinea pig diet of fresh hay, vitamin c pellets, fresh water and veggies.

Are Coronet guinea pig’s easy to look after?

They are not a recommended for those with little experience of looking after guinea pigs due to the amount of care they need

How do you you groom a coronet guinea pig?

They need plenty of grooming and maintaining as their hair can become knotted or matted if it is not looked after.

It is best to use a plastic comb of short brush when grooming a coronet.

Try and brush in the direction of the hair. A coronet’s hair should be trimmed once or twice a month.

Extra attention needs to paid to hair at the bottom and around its backside because excrement can build up very easily, so the hair around that area needs trimming carefully and thoroughly.

Any other care requirements?

They need bathing once a month to get rid of any grime or dirt that they haven’t managed to clean off themselves.

They also need their nails trimmed once a month to keep them from growing too long.

With a coronet guinea pig, you need to keep checking under the hair which hangs over its eyes to make sure that its eyes are still bright and clear

They are not a recommended for those with little experience of looking after guinea pigs due to the amount of care they need