Rex guinea pigs have lovely, upright fur that feels coarse to the contact. These guinea pigs might be any colour or mixture of colours, together with roan and agouti. Aside from their fur, they’re just like different domesticated guinea pig breeds.
On this article, we’ll discuss all in regards to the Rex guinea pig, from what they appear to be to the place to undertake one so as to add to your herd!
What do Rex Guinea Pigs Look Like?
Rex guinea pigs have brief, curly coats. This makes them look extremely cute and fuzzy! The fur stands up straight, moderately than smoothing down in a single path like a typical American piggy or rising in rosettes like an Abyssinian guinea pig.
In accordance with the British Cavy Council, younger Rex piggies could have smoother coats that stiffen with age. Their fur ought to keep upright even when stroked ahead.
Additionally they observe that, ideally, Rex guinea pigs have curly fur on their tummies as nicely—however the fur may also be straight.
A Rex guinea pig’s fur might be any colour. This contains strong, bi-color, tri-color, agouti, and roan. Agouti is when every strand of fur accommodates two colours, making it look ticked or speckled. Roan guinea pigs have white hairs blended in with one other coat colour.
How Huge do Rex Guinea Pigs Get?
Rex guinea pigs are giant piggies! They will develop as much as 18 inches, in comparison with your common guinea pig
that measures round 8-12 inches.
How large your Rex guinea pig grows additionally will depend on them as a person, and a few Rex piggies measure simply eight inches.
Rex guinea pigs can weigh anyplace from 1-3 kilos.
Easy methods to Groom a Rex Guinea Pig
Rex guinea pigs don’t want an excessive amount of grooming, however they may require barely extra care than your commonplace American guinea pig.
Brush them one to 2 instances weekly with a soft-bristled brush. Like different guinea pigs, Rex piggies shouldn’t be bathed until it’s crucial.
Temperament: Do Rex Guinea Pigs Wish to be Held?
There aren’t essentially temperament variations in piggies relying on breed, such as you may anticipate from a canine or cat.
Whereas Rex guinea pigs are generally mentioned to be extra cuddly and social towards people than different guinea pigs, I can’t discover any research pointing towards this—solely anecdotal proof.
Bear in mind, all guinea pigs are prey animals. We can’t breed this out of them, so that they’re certain to be afraid of people. We’re an enormous predator species that reaches in from above to pet and raise them!
Nonetheless, there are methods to socialize your guinea pigs, and consistency is one of the best ways to achieve their affection. Listed below are some suggestions:
- By no means strategy from above. Reaching from above to scoop them up or pet them, or strolling over your piggies throughout ground time, is frightening! You look and act like a predator once you do that.
As an alternative, strategy them from the aspect so your actions aren’t as threatening. Throughout ground time, sit or lie on the bottom quietly with some veggies or treats to encourage them to strategy you. - Use beds or cuddle cups for lifting. This protects your guinea pig numerous stress! Make sure to help their physique weight together with your fingers, and use one hand to dam them from leaping out. They’re small, and even a brief fall can harm them!
- Give them selections. Consent issues, even with piggies! Sitting on the ground or holding your hand nonetheless within the cage offers your guinea pig the possibility to work together in the event that they need to—and to choose out in the event that they don’t.
The place Can I Discover a Rex Guinea Pig?
First, I at all times suggest adopting guinea pigs over buying from a pet retailer or breeder—even when it means not getting the precise breed you need.
It is because pet shops buy their animals from breeding mills, that are like pet mills however for different animals like guinea pigs. Breeding mills abuse the guinea pigs of their care, enable illness to unfold all through their piggies, and infrequently breed guinea pigs with genetic illnesses.
Most particular person guinea pig breeders aren’t significantly better. The bulk are thought-about yard breeders, which implies they’re both in it for the cash (not the piggies’ wellbeing) or they don’t know sufficient to breed responsibly. Both one could be very dangerous for the infant guinea pigs who is likely to be born with preventable well being situations, or mistreated as soon as they’re within the breeders care.
As an alternative, maintain a watch out in your native shelters and rescues. One of the best place to begin is a guinea pig-specific rescue in your space.
You too can attempt to discover a good breeder, however that is exhausting as a result of respected breeders aren’t breeding many piggies—they care extra in regards to the well being and wellbeing of their animals than mass breeding.
Respected breeders additionally don’t make a revenue from breeding—they really nearly at all times lose cash—so that they must be very passionate to spend cash on bettering the Rex guinea pig breed!
Listed below are some issues to search for in a good Rex guinea pig breeder:
- A ready listing. Should you can undertake a piggy at this time—run! Moral breeders have properties lined up for his or her piggies earlier than they’re even born. They need to know that every child will go to a great residence.
- Data. The breeder ought to offer you good recommendation about elevating guinea pigs. They need to know that piggies want fixed entry to hay, restricted pellets, and each day contemporary greens. They need to advise you retain your guinea pigs in an enclosure that’s not less than 8 sq. toes (or the minimal to your herd dimension), and to at all times have two or extra guinea pigs residing collectively.
- atmosphere. It’s best to see the place the guinea pigs are housed. They need to have a big cage, contemporary hay, and a clear atmosphere.
- Restricted litters. In case your breeder has a number of litters of guinea pigs without delay, particularly if they’ve all kinds of breeds, they seemingly aren’t a good breeder.
When contemplating this standards, give it some thought like this: can they take care of this variety of piggies correctly? If the reply is not any, stroll away. - They’ll take your piggy again for any cause. Respected breeders need their piggies to have good properties. They’ll have you ever signal a contract stating that in the event you can’t care to your guinea pig, you’ll return them for the breeder to both maintain or rehome.
- DNA testing. Your breeder must know that they’re breeding wholesome guinea pigs. They need to have each dad and mom examined for the satin trait, which might trigger Satin Syndrome—which is excruciatingly painful and infrequently lethal to guinea pigs. Because it’s a recessive trait, guinea pigs might be carriers with out having satin fur.
They need to even be testing for roan and Dalmatian genes, as two guinea pigs with roan or Dalmatian genes have a 25% probability of getting deadly white offspring. That is one other lethal situation for piggies. - Common veterinarian visits. Respected breeders ought to deliver their piggies to the vet repeatedly and advise you on good unique pet vets in your space as nicely.
Historical past: The place do Rex Guinea Pigs Come From?
Rex guinea pigs have been bred for round 5,000 years! They have been first domesticated in South America as pets and, sadly, livestock.
All domesticated guinea pigs come from a now-extinct species that used to reside in South America. Whereas Rex guinea pigs aren’t the oldest breed, they’ve definitely been round for a very long time!
Rex vs Teddy Guinea Pig
Whereas Rex and Teddy guinea pigs could look comparable, they do have their variations! These embrace:
- Rex piggies have a coarser coat, whereas Teddies really feel smoother.
- Rex guinea pigs’ fur grows such as you’d anticipate, towards the again. Teddy guinea pigs have fur that grows in the other way, towards the pinnacle. Nonetheless, the fur on their head grows towards the again. You possibly can particularly see this proper above their brow the place the fur meets.
Rex guinea pigs are distinctive and cute! Other than their coarse, upright coat, they’re like another guinea pig. You shouldn’t anticipate a lot distinction in dimension, lifespan, or temperament.