The white-crested guinea pig is the most uncommon guinea pig color available. These creatures have a variety of coats, however, the majority of them are gold in hue. White-crested guinea pigs are particularly easy to groom due to their short hair.

Otherwise, the Santa Catarina guinea pig, Cavia Intermedia, is the world’s rarest guinea pig, existing only on the tiny island of Santa Catarina in Brazil. Their cylindrical bodies are dark or grey in color and are carried by short limbs.

Cavies of diverse breeds come in a variety of colors and patterns. Most colors in short-coated cavies are breed variations that are bred and shown independently from other colors. All colorations should be consistent throughout the coat, with the same shade at the roots and tips.

The coloring of broken-colored cavies, meaning any cavies with color combinations that aren’t independently recognized, is explained in order of magnitude.

While speaking of colors, guinea pigs can be of various different colors – some common, some rare. For instance, one of the most common guinea pigs is Seifs. The coat of these guinea pigs is smooth and non-wiry, and its the same color all over. They come in a variety of colors, the most prevalent of which are black, lilac, and chocolate.

But in this article, we’ll know not about the common types, but some of the rarest types. There are also some crazy guinea pig colors that are very rare. Let’s know about them.

5 Of The World’s Rarest Guinea Pig Color

The all-time adorable tiny pets, guinea pigs, live for several years, allowing you to enjoy them for a longer period than most other rodents. They have distinct personalities and are extremely amiable, making it simple to recognize and bond with them. They’re a lot of fun to play with and keep you entertained.

These little docile rodents are also charming to people because of their luminous colors and exuberance. That is why people also wish to own a guinea pig of an uncommon color. If you also fall into that category, worry not. Here are 5 rare guinea pig colors that you can opt for.

1. The White-Crested Guinea Pig

A somewhat rare breed with a unique appearance, the White Crested Guinea Pig is also known as the American Crested. Despite the fact that some people believe their crest makes them look angry all the time, they have the same bright personalities as other guinea pig breeds.

The American Rabbit Breeders Association first recognized the White Crested Guinea Pig in 1974. However, the breed remains rather uncommon, owing to the difficulty of producing show-quality progeny. Satins have been introduced to the breed, although they do not meet the ARBA requirements.

White-crested guinea pigs are self-colored animals with a single hair tone. They have a golden tint and come in a variety of coat types. The cavies, on the other hand, have a white tuft or crest of hair on the top of their heads. 

The majority of white-crested guinea pigs are marketed as pets because of the strict requirements for showing them. These creatures almost always have coveted crests on their heads, despite their non-conforming markings.

Because they have such short hair, grooming is simple. They are calm creatures who want to be alone. The crested pattern is uncommon due to the rarity of the white-crested guinea pig breed itself.

2. The Teddy Guinea Pig

Teddy guinea pigs are extremely attractive and fluffy, making them a popular pet, particularly among children. These cavies, with their rough, dense coats and upturned noses, resemble cuddly stuffed animals, hence their name!

They reach a length of about 12 inches and weigh between 1.5 and 3 pounds. They are sociable and amiable animals who enjoy being around humans and other guinea pigs.

The Spanish are thought to have brought the guinea pig to Europe, where they became popular pets amongst the people.

They have been kept as pets and employed for study in laboratories in recent times. It’s possible that their work in the lab contributed to the development of this particular cavy breed.

The Teddy Guinea pig’s coat is available in a variety of colors, including black, brown, chestnut, gold, grey, red, orange, and white, as well as patterns combining two or more of these hues. The fur is rich and soft, with more hair than any other pet Guinea pig breed.

Speaking of a bit about care and grooming, they don’t require much maintenance on a regular basis, other than a weekly brushing to keep their fur clean. They should also have their ears cleaned on a regular basis with a warm wet towel because they tend to build up wax.

3. Santa Catarina’s Guinea Pig

The Santa Catarina guinea pig is one of the world’s rarest animals, with only 42 individuals reported to exist.

It also has one of the smallest geographic distributions of any animal, occupying only around 4 hectares of a 10.5-hectare island. Following the seclusion of Moleques do Sul Island due to rising sea levels 8,000 years ago, its ancestors diverged from mainland guinea pigs. 

This species developed various adaptations to island living during this period, including a high population density, a stable age structure, and a restricted home range area. This species is particularly sensitive to challenges such as hunting and natural catastrophes because of its small population size and low reproduction rate.

The maturation rate of these insular guinea pigs is substantially slower than that of other cavies. By distinguishing ossified sutures, researchers discovered four distinct classes within C. intermedia: Age 1 is classified as a young without any ossified sutures, Age 2 is classified as one ossified suture weighing less than 400g, Age 3 is classified as a subadult missing one ossified suture and weighing 400-500g, and Age 4 is classified as an adult with all three ossified sutures weighing over 500g.

These guinea pigs have long, coarse fur with longer hair near the neck, which is usually grey or brown in color. Their bodies are stocky and cylindrical, with no external tail, short limbs, and hairless ears. Each forefoot’s four digits and each hindfoot’s three digits are equipped with strong, gripping claws.

4. The Peruvian Satin Guinea Pig

The Peruvian guinea pig has the longest hair of any guinea pig breed. The guinea pig with the longest hair has been measured at 20 inches. Peruvians have straight hair that is devoid of curls.

Guinea pigs were first selectively bred about the year 1200. Originally raised for nourishment, the focus switched about the 15th century to producing ideal pets and show animals. The Peruvian Cavy is one of the original three breeds recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association.

The Peruvian, like most other cavy breeds, may be a kind and gentle animal. They’re naturally outgoing little piggies who get along with both humans and other piggies.

Because their hair is so long, they require a lot of grooming. Some pet owners want to cut their guinea pigs’ hair so that they don’t have to worry about grooming them every day. Getting a Peruvian breed and cutting the hair makes no sense because there are other breeds with short hair.

Only consider getting a Peruvian guinea pig if you have adequate time to groom them. This breed of guinea pigs is known for being both curious and alert. If properly groomed, they are excellent pets for families with children.

5. The Merino Guinea Pig

The Merino is a curious, outgoing, and laid-back guinea pig breed with long curly hair similar to a Coronet’s. In fact, it resembles the Coronet so closely in appearance and attitude that the untrained eye has a hard time telling the two apart.

The Merino’s long, curly coat, as well as the short forehead crest, are its most distinguishing features. While some have normal coats, others have voluminous coats that make them look like miniature sheep.

The Merino sheep is one of the smaller breeds, with adults ranging in size from 4 to 11 inches. Males, on the other hand, are frequently larger than females.

A plastic comb should be used to groom the fur on a regular basis. This guinea pig will also clean its own fur, but because of its lengthy hair, it won’t be able to reach everywhere. 

We should not use a metal comb because they are too inflexible and will tear out our guinea pig’s lovely fur. Trim the coat once or twice a month with rounded scissors to leave a “safety buffer” of 0,4 inches (1 cm) from the ground.

However, due to its high-maintenance nature, this breed is not suitable for everyone. To stay healthy, a Merino must be groomed on a regular basis. If you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be delighted you adopted a Merino guinea pig.

Conclusion

Guinea pigs come in a variety of hues, as we have discovered. These differences distinguish the creatures and make them interesting to see. Whether you want a cream-colored or a tri-colored guinea pig, your pet will always adore you and squeal with delight as you enter the room.

While it’s true that white crested guinea pigs are probably the rarest, other colors or guinea pigs can also be considered as ‘rare’. When choosing a guinea pig one should consider not only the color but also the grooming process as per their convenience.