Buyer question
Is an Abyssinian guinea pig good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Abyssinian guinea pig 4 out of 5 for beginners (good family first pet).
Source: the Abyssinian guinea pig page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Abyssinian guinea pig in the Animal Library
The detail
The Abyssinian has a rough, wiry coat set in whorls called rosettes, ideally eight to ten arranged evenly for show. The coat stays short and needs little grooming, and Abyssinians are known as lively, curious cavies.
- Best fit
- Families, show beginners
- Handling
- 4 out of 5 (Calm, rarely bites)
- Care load
- 3 out of 5 (Daily hay, veg, spot-clean)
What to weigh
Show-quality rosettes are hard to breed and a pet may have uneven ones. Otherwise care is the same as any short-haired guinea pig, including a companion and daily vitamin C.