Tortoiseshell and White Guinea Pig

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, smooth coat in black, red and white patches

A smooth-coated cavy patterned like a three-colour chequerboard. The ideal show animal has square-edged patches of jet black, rich red and clean white, at least three per side, lined up along each flank without crossing the centre line of the back. The head is ideally split down the middle into two different colours.1768

Personality what they are like

Being a colour pattern rather than a separate type, the Tortoiseshell and White has the usual guinea pig nature: sociable, talkative with its companions and generally gentle once used to calm, regular 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, smooth coat tidy. Check nails regularly and trim when needed, and offer unlimited hay to keep the teeth in trim.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.9

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.1043

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.49

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. Show breeders in Britain later worked to arrange black, red and white into neat, evenly placed patches, and the result was standardised as the Tortoise and White. The pattern is so hard to fix that the standard asks judges to reward good attempts, and a national specialist club supports the breed.312

Recognised by the official bits

British Cavy Council

Full standard as the Tortoise and White, looked after by the National Tortoise and White Cavy Club. Points: head, eyes and ears 10, body shape 10, markings 60 (head 5, line and distribution of patches 30, shape and clarity of patches 25), colour 15, coat 5.1

British Cavy Council

Specialist club: National Tortoise and White Cavy Club.2