Texel Guinea Pig
The Texel Guinea Pig has a long, curly or wavy coat — the result of crossing Rex and Silkie guinea pigs in the UK in the 1980s.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United Kingdom
Lifespan
4–7 years
Weight
700–1,200 g
Height
20–30 cm
Diet
Herbivore — unlimited hay, fresh greens, pellets, daily vitamin C.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Caviidae
Genus
Cavia
The Story
The Texel Guinea Pig has a long, curly or wavy coat — the result of crossing Rex and Silkie guinea pigs in the UK in the 1980s. It combines the long coat length of the Silkie with the curl of the Rex, producing a uniquely three-dimensional coat effect unlike any other guinea pig breed. The curl in the Texel's coat is more pronounced than in the Rex and more dramatic than in any other long-coated breed. Show Texels are considered among the most visually striking guinea pig breeds. The curly coat tangles more readily than straight long coats and requires at least as much maintenance as the Peruvian or Silkie.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
Long, curly or wavy coat distributed across the entire body with significant curl or wave throughout — unlike the flat, straight coat of the Silkie or the straight long coat of the Peruvian. The curls are pronounced and give the coat a three-dimensional quality. The face has shorter, curly hair. In show condition the coat fans out dramatically from the body in all directions.
Grooming
Very High
Shedding
High
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Gentle and social — same temperament as other long-coated breeds. Patient with handling, which is important given the grooming demands.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •Same as Peruvian and Silkie in terms of daily grooming requirement. The curly texture tangles more readily than straight long coats — never use a fine-toothed comb, use fingers and a wide-toothed comb to separate curls. Regular trimming of the perianal area is essential. Pairs, hay, vitamin C.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Same as American Guinea Pig. Coat-related skin infection risk from matted curls is elevated compared to straight-coated long breeds. The curly texture traps debris more readily.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Texel was only standardised as a breed in the late 1990s in the UK and early 2000s in the US — one of the most recently recognised guinea pig breeds by major cavy registries.
Texels are now one of the most frequently entered breeds at US cavy shows — their dramatic curly long coats make them visually distinctive and crowd-pleasing in the show ring.
The Texel's curls continue to develop and become more pronounced as the guinea pig matures — young Texels may appear to have only mild waviness that develops into full curls by adulthood.
Also Known As
Related Tags
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Abyssinian Guinea Pig
South America — breed type developed in Europe
Alpaca Guinea Pig
Developed in USA — cross between Peruvian and Texel guinea pigs
American Guinea Pig
Andes Mountains, South America — domesticated 3,000+ years ago
Baldwin Guinea Pig
Spontaneous mutation in a White Crested line in California, USA (1980s)