Argente Guinea Pig

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, smooth, evenly ticked coat

A soft, silky, short-coated cavy whose coat is evenly ticked over the head, body, chest and feet, with a soft-toned undercolour of lilac, beige or slate reaching right down to the skin. The belly is a plain tone matching the ticking and the top colour should look bright and glossy. Most colours pair with pink eyes and ears, giving a gentle, pastel look.1

Personality what they are like

The Argente is a colour variety, so it shares the everyday guinea pig nature: social, talkative with its companions and usually gentle with regular, calm handling.43

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Guinea pigs stay active for much of the day and night, resting in short naps. Give them daily time in a bigger, safe space with tunnels and hides to explore. Happy guinea pigs often jump and twist in the air, which owners call 'popcorning'.43

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

An occasional brush keeps the short coat neat. Check nails regularly and trim when needed, and give unlimited hay for natural tooth wear.46

Home where they are happiest

A spacious enclosure with a solid floor and a deep layer of dust-free bedding, tall enough for the guinea pig to stand up on its back legs. Offer at least one more hiding place than the number of guinea pigs. Keep them in a comfortable room temperature of about 17-20 C, shield them from heat above about 26 C, and bring outdoor guinea pigs indoors when it drops below about 15 C. Spot-clean daily and clean thoroughly at least once a week.7

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Plenty of good hay, available all the time, should form most of the diet, with fresh grass where possible. Add a measured daily portion of grass-based guinea pig pellets and a daily mix of fresh vegetables and herbs. Guinea pigs need vitamin C from their food every day because their bodies do not make it. Keep fruit as a small, occasional treat and make sure clean water is always available.843

Company who they like around

A very social animal that should share its home with at least one compatible guinea pig; pairs or small groups suit them best. In the wild, cavies live in small family groups.47

The story where it all began

Guinea pigs were first domesticated in the Andes of South America and reached Europe with traders in the 1500s, where they became popular pets. The Argente was developed as a softer-coloured relative of the ticked Agouti and was for years shown in Britain as a rare variety. The British Cavy Council promoted it to a full standard on 1 January 2025.312

Recognised by the official bits

British Cavy Council

Promoted to full standard on 1 January 2025. Points: head, eyes and ears 20, body shape 20, ticking 30, colour 20, coat 10. Large patches of unticked hair disqualify.1

British Cavy Council

Looked after by the Rare Varieties Cavy Club, which lists nine Argente colours.2

British Cavy Council

Argente colours are also accepted for Dalmatians and Roans.9