Varieties

English.



There are several varieties of Cavies, distinguished mainly by their

fur. The ones most commonly raised and most widely known are the English

or smooth-haired. These are the ones you should raise for commercial

purposes. They may be in color: white, black, red, fawn, cream, gray,

brindle, brown, or a mixture of these colors. The whites are usually

albinos and have pink eyes.


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Peruvian.



The Peruvian has long silken hair and may be called the aristocrat of

Cavydom. They are raised principally by fanciers and for general

purposes are no more valuable than the short haired ones, are not as

hardy and are more trouble to handle as their coat needs careful

attention.





Abyssinian.



This, like the Peruvian, is also a fancy breed. It has longer hair than

the short-haired, and it stands out in curious little rosettes. These

are more hardy than the Peruvian and are more common.





The Kind to Raise.



If you expect to raise Cavies for commercial purposes the English is the

kind that should pay you best. They are easier to take care of than the

long-haired varieties. For laboratories, experimental purposes, etc., it

is the smooth-haired Cavy that is in most demand. If you are a Guinea

Pig fancier or are raising them for pet purposes it is merely a matter

of taste and choice. The long-haired ones are usually more expensive and

sell for more, as they are scarcer and are generally sold for pet and

fancy purposes. It is usually well to have a few Abyssinian among your

stock if you are raising many, as many people prefer them for pets.