English Crested Guinea Pig

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, smooth, silky coat with a single forehead crest

Picture a sleek English Self guinea pig, short broad head, big bold eyes and drooping petal ears, then add one neat whorl of hair on the forehead. The crest is the same colour as the rest of the coat, which sets it apart from the American or White Crested, whose crest is a contrasting white. The coat itself is short, soft and glossy.126

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Guinea pigs are busy animals that can be on the go for up to 20 hours a day, napping in short spells. Offer daily time in a larger, safe run or room with tunnels, hides and things to explore. Contented guinea pigs often leap and twist in the air, a habit owners call 'popcorning'.43

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The short, smooth coat needs only a light brush now and then to stay neat; show animals are groomed so the coat is clean and free of stray guard hairs.12

Home where they are happiest

A roomy enclosure tall enough for them to stand up on their hind legs, with solid floors and a deep layer of dust-free bedding rather than wire grids. Provide one more hiding place than there are guinea pigs. Indoors aim for about 17-20 C; protect them from heat above about 26 C and bring outdoor guinea pigs inside when it falls below about 15 C. Spot-clean daily and do a full clean at least weekly.7

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Good-quality hay available at all times should make up most of the diet, plus fresh grass where possible. Add a daily portion of grass-based guinea pig pellets and a daily mix of fresh vegetables and herbs such as parsley, bell pepper, celery, cucumber and romaine. Guinea pigs cannot make their own vitamin C, so it has to come from food every day. Fruit only as an occasional small treat, and fresh water always available.843

Company who they like around

Very sociable: guinea pigs should live with at least one other friendly guinea pig and do best in pairs or small groups.47

The story where it all began

Guinea pigs were domesticated in the Andes of South America and reached Europe with traders in the 1500s, where they became popular pets. The English Crested was developed by British fanciers as a crested version of the English Self, keeping the crest in the body colour. Crested cavies were also crossed with the Sheltie in the 1970s to create the long-haired Coronet. Today it has a full British Cavy Council standard alongside the contrasting-crest American Crested.3129

Recognised by the official bits

British Cavy Council

Full breed standard: judged as 80% of the English Self standard (head, eyes and ears 24, body 20, colour 24, coat 12) plus 20 points for the crest. The crest must be a deep, even rosette radiating from a pinpoint centre between the eyes and ears, its lower edge well down the nose; an open centre or differently coloured hairs in the crest are penalised.1