Guinea Pigs
Silkie Guinea Pig- Breed Profile
Jun
Silkie Guinea Pig – Breed Profile
Silkie Guinea Pigs are one of the most popular Guinea Pig breeds in Australia. They are recognised for their long hair, which draws the attention of breeders who would like to use them as show animals, as well as people who would like to keep them as pets.
The Silkie Guinea Pig breed is rather a novel Guinea pig variety, which was developed during the 1970s. It was created by cross breeding the Self Black Guinea Pig and the Peruvian Guinea Pig.
Silkies are also commonly known as Shelties.
Care
This breed are soft and gentle, which makes them a perfect contender as a pet for children, however we wouldn’t recommend them as a childs pet unless an adult is on hand to look after them each day. In order to keep their silky smooth hair healthy, they require constant grooming on a daily basis, making for a high maintenance pet. So, if you’re a responsible adult or adolescent willing to handle all the grooming for the children, a Silkie may just be for you.
Silkie Guinea Pigs require daily Grooming
If you find your Sheltie is very dirty, you can spot clean them rather than bath them because guinea pigs are not that fond of being bathed. Spot cleaning your cavy is a lot less stressful for them.
Be sure to provide your guinea pig with a good home and a proper diet. This will keep it happy and healthy and ensure a great pet for a long time. Silkies need plenty of exercise and they also love to play. You can let them outside or run around in the house for short periods of time under supervision. They love to explore and need at least one hour of supervised ‘floor time’ every day.
This guinea pigs diet should be comprised mostly of Timothy hay, food pellets, water, Vitamin C and delicious fruits and veggies. Proper cage setup and exercise are still the same as any other breed. Somerzby range of Guinea Pig hutches has a great set of features that are sure to keep your guinea pigs happy and healthy. Make sure to give them plenty of space for exercise and keep them entertained so that they’re happy little critters.
Somerzby guinea pig cages can be purchased online from our website, click here for more information.
Features:
A Silkie has long hair, sometimes up to 24 inches, that flows back over its body. When viewed from above it should be a teardrop shape.
They have long straight hair like the Peruvian, but instead of having hair cover their head, the Silkies hair sweeps back over their head. It actually looks like the hair had been styled that way on purpose. In a way, it resembles the mane of a lion.
Silkies can grow from 7 to 10 inches and live 5 to 7 years if cared for correctly.
Temperament & Behaviour:
Among all the guinea pig breeds, the Silkie is known for being the most gentle. They have a very laid back personality and may appear like shy creatures in the beginning. It may take them a bit longer than other guinea pigs to warm up to you.
Coat & Colours:
The Silkie Guinea Pig is habitually confused with the Peruvian Guinea Pig. Though these two guinea pig breeds have elongated hairs, there are a lot of differences between them. The hair of the Silkie Guinea Pig breed is slightly smaller than that of the Peruvian Guinea Pig breed, and it falls in a dissimilar pattern. The hair of the Silkie Guinea Pig breed is extremely soft and glossy and it produces back from its neck, looking like mane and leaving its face exposed. The front hair of the Silkie Guinea Pig breed is slightly longer than the hair at the back. Due to this, this breed comes out to have a teardrop form.
This guinea pig breed is high-maintenance, so it is most likely not the best option for a young child. Even adults who maintain Silkie Guinea Pigs as their pets will need to trim their hair regularly to keep them from having to groom them continuously.
Like the other breeds of guinea pigs, Silkie Guinea Pigs come in a variety of colours.
SEE ALSO:
- A Comprehensive List of all the Guinea Pig Breeds
- Interesting & Amazing Facts about Guinea Pigs
- The Ulitmate Guinea Pigs Hutch For Any Backyard
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