Rex guinea pigs have stunning, upright fur that feels coarse to the contact. These guinea pigs could 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 speak all concerning the Rex guinea pig, from what they seem like to the place to undertake one so as to add to your herd!
What do Rex Guinea Pigs Look Like?
Rex guinea pigs have quick, curly coats. This makes them look extremely cute and fuzzy! The fur stands up straight, reasonably than smoothing down in a single route 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.
In addition they word that, ideally, Rex guinea pigs have curly fur on their tummies as nicely—however the fur may additionally be straight.
A Rex guinea pig’s fur could 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 combined in with one other coat colour.
How Large do Rex Guinea Pigs Get?
Rex guinea pigs are massive piggies! They will develop as much as 18 inches, in comparison with your common guinea pig
that measures round 8-12 inches.
How huge 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.
Find out how to Groom a Rex Guinea Pig
Rex guinea pigs don’t want an excessive amount of grooming, however they’ll 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 except 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 would possibly anticipate from a canine or cat.
Whereas Rex guinea pigs are typically stated 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 a large predator species that reaches in from above to pet and raise them!
Nevertheless, there are methods to socialize your guinea pigs, and consistency is the easiest way to realize their affection. Listed here are some suggestions:
- By no means method from above. Reaching from above to scoop them up or pet them, or strolling over your piggies throughout flooring time, is frightening! You look and act like a predator while you do that.
As an alternative, method them from the aspect so your actions aren’t as threatening. Throughout flooring time, sit or lie on the bottom quietly with some veggies or treats to encourage them to method you. - Use beds or cuddle cups for lifting. This protects your guinea pig loads of stress! Make sure you assist their physique weight together with your palms, and use one hand to dam them from leaping out. They’re small, and even a brief fall can harm them!
- Give them decisions. Consent issues, even with piggies! Sitting on the ground or holding your hand nonetheless within the cage provides your guinea pig the possibility to work together in the event that they need to—and to decide out in the event that they don’t.
The place Can I Discover a Rex Guinea Pig?
First, I all the time suggest adopting guinea pigs over buying from a pet retailer or breeder—even when it means not getting the precise breed you need.
It’s because pet shops buy their animals from breeding mills, that are like puppy mills however for different animals like guinea pigs. Breeding mills abuse the guinea pigs of their care, permit 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 of 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 unhealthy for the infant guinea pigs who may be born with preventable well being situations, or mistreated as soon as they’re within the breeders care.
As an alternative, hold 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 may also attempt to discover a good breeder, however that is onerous as a result of respected breeders aren’t breeding many piggies—they care extra concerning the well being and wellbeing of their animals than mass breeding.
Respected breeders additionally don’t make a revenue from breeding—they really nearly all the time lose cash—so that they should be very passionate to spend cash on bettering the Rex guinea pig breed!
Listed here are some issues to search for in a good Rex guinea pig breeder:
- A ready record. When you can undertake a piggy in the present day—run! Moral breeders have houses lined up for his or her piggies earlier than they’re even born. They need to know that every child will go to an excellent residence.
- Information. The breeder ought to provide you with good recommendation about elevating guinea pigs. They need to know that piggies want fixed entry to hay, restricted pellets, and day by day recent greens. They need to advise you retain your guinea pigs in an enclosure that’s at the very least 8 sq. ft (or the minimal in your herd dimension), and to all the time have two or extra guinea pigs residing collectively.
- An excellent setting. You need to see the place the guinea pigs are housed. They need to have a big cage, recent hay, and a clear setting.
- Restricted litters. In case your breeder has a number of litters of guinea pigs directly, particularly if they’ve all kinds of breeds, they probably 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 purpose. Respected breeders need their piggies to have good houses. They’ll have you ever signal a contract stating that in the event you can’t care in your guinea pig, you’ll return them for the breeder to both hold 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 could 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% likelihood of getting lethal white offspring. That is one other lethal situation for piggies. - Common veterinarian visits. Respected breeders ought to deliver their piggies to the vet commonly 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 had been first domesticated in South America as pets and, sadly, livestock.
All domesticated guinea pigs come from a now-extinct species that used to dwell 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 wrong way, towards the top. Nevertheless, the fur on their head grows towards the again. You’ll be able to particularly see this proper above their brow the place the fur meets.
Rex guinea pigs are distinctive and cute! Except for their coarse, upright coat, they’re like some other guinea pig. You shouldn’t anticipate a lot distinction in dimension, lifespan, or temperament.
