How much should I spend on my guinea?

- When buying a guinea pig you should first look into how much you will need to spend. The average guinea pig bought from a pet store could range anywhere from $5 to $15 per guinea pig. Buying a guinea pig from a breeder you should expect to spend up to $45 or more.

My Guinea Pig’s Home!

- A cage for your little friend will cost from $30 to $60 if you go to a supply store. If you choose to make your own cage, it could be done for as little as $35.

Don’t forget to groom your piggy!
- Grooming tools may cost up to $15. Don’t forget brushes, nail-clippers, and other tools you may need, especially if you are planning on buying a long-haired guinea pig.

Food

- Vegetables and pellets for feeding will be around $10 per bag.
- Hay and other beddings aren’t particularly expensive, about $5-10 per bag.

How many Guinea Pigs Should I get?

Typically since you are first starting out, get just one to be certain you can take care of a second and/or third.

What type of Guinea Pig?

There are many different breeds of Guinea Pigs. It can be difficult to know exactly which one you are looking for. So I will list a few for you to help you get a better idea of who you want.

American (English Cavy)
The American Guinea Pig has a smooth short coat that lies flat to his body. He is the most popularly and commonly seen. American Guineas are found in a wide variety of colors and color combination’s. They have a wide, rounded nose and a medium length body.  He is also one of the oldest breeds of guinea pig.

Abyssinian (Aby, Abby)
The Abyssinian Guinea Pig has a very distinctive appearance. He is very fuzzy and his coat is made up of swirl-like patterns called rosettes. The fur is very coarse and rough. He also has a bit of raised fur around his nose, like a mustache! The Abby comes in many colors and color patterns.

Peruvian
The Peruvian Guinea Pig has a smooth and straight coat. Their coats can grow to several inches in length. The hair tends to grow over their head as well as their body. The thick, soft Peruvian’s coat requires much attention and grooming. Many owners tend to trim the hair to keep it from becoming too unmanageable. The Peruvian Guinea Pig was the first piggy recognized as a long-haired breed. This breed is typically not recommended as a pet because of the amount of maintenance involved, but some find it easy to take care of their Peruvian just so long as they remember to trim his hair.

Silkie (Sheltie)
The Silkie Guinea Pig, originally called the Angora, has a very long, silky coat. Unlike the Peruvian, the Silkie’s coat grows backwards from the head. From above, the Silkie looks tear-shaped, because of the way his hair falls. Like the Peruvian, the Silkie’s hair needs daily maintenance, but his coat tends to be smoother and more shiny than the Peruvian.

Crested (American Crested, English Crested)
The Creasted Guinea Pig has a single rosette on his forehead. There are two types of Creasted Guinea Pigs. The White Crested Guinea Pig, also known as the American Crested, who has a white crest on his forehead. Then there is the Self Crested Guinea Pig, also called English Crested, who’s crest is the same color as the rest of his coat.

Teddy
The Teddy Guinea Pig is a short haired guinea pig characterized by his short, thick coat with kinked hair that makes the coat look fuzzy, like a teddy bear! The Teddy’s coat is risilient, meaning it maintains its shape. He is about the same length as the American Guinea Pig and has a wide, rounded nose, like the American, as well.

Texel
The Texel Guinea Pig is highly uncommon and has a very distinctive long and curly coat over its entire body. The Texel Guinea Pig requires a lot of grooming and maintenance. His body is short and compact, while his head is broad and rounded. The Texel Guinea is among the hardest to groom.

Coronet
The Coronet Guinea Pig is yet another long haired piggy, but this one has a single rosette in the center of its forehead, like the Crested Guinea Pig. Like all long-haired Guinea Pigs, this one will need a lot of grooming. He has a wide and rounded nose.

Other Breeds
There are other less recognized breeds of guinea pigs, such as the hairless guinea pigs called Skinny Pigs. Keep Looking! There are many!  I’ve posted pictures of each breed on my blog come on over and have a look.

Click here to learn more about Guinea Pig Breeds

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