Rex Guinea Pigs: Breed Information, Character & Moral Methods to Undertake

Rex guinea pigs have lovely, upright fur that feels coarse to the contact. These guinea pigs might be any coloration or mixture of colours, together with roan and agouti. Apart from their fur, they’re much like different domesticated guinea pig breeds.

On this article, we’ll discuss all concerning the Rex guinea pig, from what they appear 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 brief, curly coats. This makes them look extremely lovable and fuzzy! The fur stands up straight, fairly than smoothing down in a single route like a regular American piggy or rising in rosettes like an Abyssinian guinea pig.

Based on the British Cavy Council, younger Rex piggies might have smoother coats that stiffen with age. Their fur ought to keep upright even when stroked ahead.

In addition they notice that, ideally, Rex guinea pigs have curly fur on their tummies as effectively—however the fur may additionally be straight.

A Rex guinea pig’s fur might be any coloration. This consists of 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 coloration.

How Large do Rex Guinea Pigs Get?

Rex guinea pigs are massive piggies! They’ll 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 relies on them as a person, and a few Rex piggies measure simply eight inches.

Rex guinea pigs can weigh anyplace from 1-3 kilos.

The right way 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 occasions weekly with a soft-bristled brush. Like different guinea pigs, Rex piggies shouldn’t be bathed until it’s needed.

Temperament: Do Rex Guinea Pigs Prefer to be Held?

There aren’t essentially temperament variations in piggies relying on breed, such as you may count on from a canine or cat.

Whereas Rex guinea pigs are generally 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, in order that they’re certain to be afraid of people. We’re a large predator species that reaches in from above to pet and carry them!

Nevertheless, there are methods to socialize your guinea pigs, and consistency is one of the simplest ways to realize their affection. Listed below are some ideas:

• By no means strategy from above. Reaching from above to scoop them up or pet them, or strolling over your piggies throughout flooring time, is horrifying! You look and act like a predator while you do that.
  As a substitute, strategy 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 strategy you.
• Use beds or cuddle cups for lifting. This protects your guinea pig plenty of stress! You should definitely assist their physique weight along with your fingers, and use one hand to dam them from leaping out. They’re small, and even a brief fall can damage 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 wish 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 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 a lot 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 circumstances, or mistreated as soon as they’re within the breeders care.

As a substitute, 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.

It’s also possible to 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—in order that they need to 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 checklist. In case 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 wish to know that every child will go to a very good dwelling.
• Information. 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 recent greens. They need to advise you retain your guinea pigs in an enclosure that’s no less than 8 sq. toes (or the minimal to your herd dimension), and to all the time have two or extra guinea pigs residing collectively.
• A great setting. It’s best 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 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 motive. 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 may 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 commonly and advise you on good unique pet vets in your space as effectively.

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 actually been round for a very long time!

Rex vs Teddy Guinea Pig

Whereas Rex and Teddy guinea pigs might 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 count on, 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 may particularly see this proper above their brow the place the fur meets. 

Rex guinea pigs are distinctive and lovable! Apart from their coarse, upright coat, they’re like every other guinea pig. You shouldn’t count on a lot distinction in dimension, lifespan, or temperament.