The Peruvian first arrived in Paris around 1886 and was found in England shortly afterwards. Initially there were only three recognized breeds when these guinea pigs were first shown in America (the Angora, the American,and the Abyssinian). But in the 1930s, the Angora was renamed the Peruvian.
The Peruvian is noted for it’s long, silky hair. Peruvians should have two rosettes on each side of the rump. Optimally (for showing this breed), the sides and rear sweeps should be of equal length that can be fanned out to create a large circle of hair. This is the look that judges seek when they evaluate Peruvian show guinea pigs. Ideally, you should not be able to determine the front from the back!
Since their long hair can be a grooming challenge, it’s not a breed generally recommended for small children. Consider one of the shorter-coated cavy cousins for a pet.
The Peruvian is a long-haired breed like the Silkie Guinea Pig, but unlike the Silkie, the hair does not “sweep” around the facing like a mane. Rather, the Peruvians have a long sweep of hair down their back and it naturally “parts” along the spine. In fact, they look remarkably similar to the popular Tribbles made famous in Star Trek!
Peruvian Satin
The Peruvian Satin also has long hair, but its coat is denser and glossier. It is recognized as a separate breed by the ACBA. These guinea pigs have the same general appearance as the Peruvian, but the coat has a glossy sheen, and feels like satin to the touch.
Grooming
Peruvians have two coats and can be very challenging to groom due to their long, thick hair, which can easily become tangled and matted. You will need to brush them several times a day. It’s very important that you get them accustomed to regular grooming at an early age. Be sure to remove any tangles when you brush them out and be very gentle so they look forward to the event.
Oftentimes, it’s recommended that you trim their coats for easier care as its top coat can reach over two feet in length! Usually its undercoat grows no longer than 7 inches. The hair parts naturally straight down the back and naturally parts at the spine.
[bt_taglinebox style=”top” width=”500″ font_size=”12″ text_color=”#5b5b5b” title=”Guinea Pigs Like Routines” title_color=”#259b9a” align_center=”no” bgr_color=”#f6f6f6″]Once you get your pet into a schedule of being brushed, they’ll begin to look forward to the task.[/bt_taglinebox]Bathing is not recommended for most guinea pigs, but in the case of longer-haired breeds, such as the Silkie or Peruvian, spot cleaning can be very helpful to keep their hair shiny. Use a clean, wet rag to gently wipe down their coat rather than give them a bath. You can do this every few weeks, but be sure you get them used to the technique at an early age or you’ll be causing them undue stress.
Colors
Peruvians can be found in a wide variety of colors, but the tri-colored Peruvians tend to be most favored for showing. Although, the bi-color and Self colors are very stunning.
[bt_taglinebox style=”top” width=”500″ font_size=”12″ text_color=”#5b5b5b” title=”Roan Absynians” title_color=”#259b9a” align_center=”no” bgr_color=”#f6f6f6″]The color of Roan Abyssinian guinea pigs are due to a genetic deformation, and should never be bred with another roan. [/bt_taglinebox](This is just a cute little stuffed toy that we fell in love with and thought you may enjoy!)
Diet
Improper diet is the leading cause of illness in these pets. Be sure you’re feeding them a high-quality pellet food that is specifically designed for the breed, such as Oxbow Cavy Cuisine Adult Guinea Pig (Timothy Based). Commercial guinea pig pellets should make up the bulk of your pet’s diet as they are nutritionally complete, easily found at pet supply stores, and made from plants, seeds and veggies. Guinea pigs need to be fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Research the needs of your guinea pigs as they all require different things. Fresh fruit and raw vegetables should be offered to your guinea pig each day, as they make great chews and your guinea pig needs plenty of things to chew on as their teeth grow continually.
Guinea pigs need fresh hay available at all times. Timothy hay
Housing
Paper or pine bedding should be provided to allow your guinea pig plenty of comfortable nesting. Clean the cage at least once a week (twice a week is better) to remove any soiled bedding, food, or droppings. Each week, you’ll need to remove the old bedding, scrub the cage with warm water and rinsing thoroughly. This will help reduce odor and eliminate possible health problems.
[bt_taglinebox style=”top” width=”500″ font_size=”12″ text_color=”#5b5b5b” title=”Bedding” title_color=”#259b9a” align_center=”no” bgr_color=”#f6f6f6″]AVOID cedar shavings as they contain phenols which can be toxic to your guinea pig.[/bt_taglinebox]
Training
While they are very personable animals, Peruvians are quite intelligent and fun to work with, but their long hair can often trip them up. Be patient and remember not to place them in a position where they will be caught up or become tangled.
Despite being shy, they are very intelligent, so be sure you keep them mentally stimulated with plenty of toy, raw blocks of wood they can chew on, and offer plenty of ways they can get exercise. They are very sensitive to heat and cold, so be sure you keep them in an area that is away from windows and near a consistent form of heat or air-conditioning, without having it blowing on them.
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