All About Abyssinian Guinea Pigs
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The Abyssinian guinea pig is one of the most popular and recognizeable breeds of guinea pig in the world. They can be any color in the guinea pig rainbow and breed readily with other breeds of guinea pigs. The only difference between an Abyssinian and other breeds of guinea pigs is the coat texture and growth pattern.
Rows Of Rosettes
The main characteristic of the Abyssinian's coat pattern is that it growth in whorls officially called "rosettes". They come in varying stages of recognizeability. Most Abyssininans look like they have moustaches, a cap and a tutu on.
Show Abyssinians have to have a minimum of eight clearly defineable rosettes about the body. The edges of the rosettes should be "crisp" or look like an easily defined line. The rosettes should be symetrically placed along the body (ideally, if you are looking to show Abysinian guinea pigs).
The coat texture is usually described as "rough" and "harsh", but it still is a lot softer than sandpaper, which is usually what I think of as the definition of "rough". Abyssinians are very pettable and, with gentle training, very affectionate. Some even develop as "lap pigs".
The Abyssinian Personality
Or "pig-inality", in this case. Although no guinea pig has read any of the books about how they normally behave, Abyssinians have a tendency to be friendlier and cheekier and a bit more mischievious than other breeds. There is no scientific proof of this -- it just seems to happen.
For example, my late Abyssinian Cocaine (she had a thin white line going up her nose) was a comical character. She learned to sit up, learned to jump into her cage on command, came when called (when she felt like it, not necessarily when I felt like it), played her water bottle like a musical instrument (wasting a lot of water) and "popcorned" even late in life.
It is only fitting that the breed of guinea pig with a highly overactive imagination that starred in a series of children's books should be an Abyssinian. Olga da Polga was based on a real Abyssinian guinea pig that belonged to author Micheal Bond's daughter. Later on, when more guinea pigs were added to the Bond family, there was always an Olga, who was always a multi colored Abyssinian. They all lived up to their infamous name.
Where'd The Name Come From?
The real mystery surrounding Abyssinian guinea pigs is just why they are called Abyssininan guinea pigs. They are not and never were from Abyssinina (which is the old name for Ethiopia). They also share no resemblance to an Abyssinian cat.
All domesticated guinea pigs are from South America, spefically Peru and Patagonia. The first guinea pigs to reach Europe were in the sixteenth century and cost a fortune (perhaps a guinea?) Perhaps anything exotic was given a foreign name of a foreign country fashionable in England at the time -- Abyssinia. Then again, all guinea pigs are neither from Guinea nor are they pigs (they are rodents).
Perhaps the Abyssinans themselves thought they were from Africa and whispered there stories in the ears of humans as they slept. Well, I think that's how Olga explained it.
However they got the name, it has stuck. I used to have a book on guinea pigs written in the early 1900's, and the breed Abyssinian was prominately mentioned.
Abyssinian Care
Abyssinians aren't known to be any more prone to illness than other guinea pig breeds. They are easy to groom with a soft cat or bunny brush, or even an old toothbrush. They like to keep themselves clean. Bathing is only necessary in emergencies, or if the piggy has trouble keeping their hind ends clean when they get older.
Abyssinian guinea pigs are considered great pets for those who have never kept guinea pigs before. For many of us (myself included), an Abyssinnian guinea pig was our first pets.
Abysinnians have a lot to say. Film of Squeaky by Kdeliso
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Comments
Ah, you just haven't met the right guinea pig yet, Whitney :-)
my abyssinian guinea pig actually isnt friendly at all i was wondering why because i have a med. haried one and he is very firnedly
I have one too and he's not friendly,as a matter of fact,...he freaks out BIG TIME every time I try to pick him up or touch him. He is very cute but very mischieveous as they state here....he dumps his food all the time,he is forever trying to dominate our other american 3 year old male,including not letting him eat or drink..even though they have THREE water bottles and a huge bowl of food to share in their cage. I love him dearly but he's a brat and is very hard to 'play with or pet.
As far as training or teaching him tricks..How do u train something that has an anxiety attack everytime u go near it?!
This is so cool and cute
trhe
I have on to and he is the best natured guinea pig i have ever known. He is friendly, cute and loves to picked up and played with.
I have two piggies and they are the sweetest things. I was wondering if the younger one(3 and a hlf months) was allowed to eat the same veggies as my two-year old pig.
I just bought a 4 month old Abyssinian and she's a sweetie. Once I pick her up she's fine just sitting on me or happier up in my hair. She shares her home with a 4 month old Teddy and is very generous with her friend. They already have their favorites of the veggies and friuts I give them.
I had an Abyssinian guinea pig who was not social,cute or sneaky?
we have 3 abyssinians who do not like beng picked up, when we do they have bit me before. However we have now trained them to jump in and out of their hutch themselves so we do not to handle them. They are very friendly however and love to talk to you through the cage wire
I have one abyssinian guinea pig and she would never hurt or bite anyone. She is the cutest, fluffiest little thing I have ever seen, in my opinion, and loves to be held!
I have 2 guinea pigs one is a Rex and the other is Abyssinian and they are both lovely, cheeky in an adorable and they have also learned to use their water bottle as an musical instrument.
I have eight guinea pigs! They are adorable! I have three short haired ones called Thistle and Lupin and Domino. (Her nickname is Domino Wee! =3) Oh and I have five Abyssinians. They are all very nervous. Their names are Nosy, Daisy, Mitzi and Camel and Dandi. Camel and Dandi are Mitzi's children and are still feeding from her. She was pregnant when I brought her, as I have no male guinea pigs. (Although Camel and Dandi may be boys, I haven't checked yet!)
I have an Abyssinian! During out of cage time, she is the most mischevous pet I have ever seen!She eats everything from the sofa to candy wrappers, runs like a rabbit, and seems to be everywhere at once! She is NOT lap guinea pig (unless you held her at like 9:00 at night) but she IS a sweetie!
I have at least 5 Abyssinians and all of them are sweet and cudly and they all love to do tricks for lettace or any type of veggie. Their names are Mittin, Guenise, Mi Mi, Max, and my newist one Smokey.
I have an abyssinian, he's the friendliest pig ive ever met. He normally just sits on my lap waiting fro pats. Im hopefully getting a female soon.
We just got our first 2 Abyssinian Guinea Pigs both are now very friendly only after 2 days of having them. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how long they wil be when full grown. The other Guinea pigs in with them at the pet store was double their lentgh and size. their coats were very straight and smooth. Just didn't know if these was a smaller Guinea pig than most. thanks
I have 1 abyssinian boy.He would never hurt anyone he is 4and a half months old he is so sweet and cuddley he'z never bit me before.when i bought him he was in a cage with 6 other diffrent breeds he was the only abyssinian there.Soon if i persuad my MUM i will get another REMEBER ALLWAYS IN PAIRS.........my guinea pig is called cappuccino i no sooooooooo cute if they are in pairs you will see there attaude change in a good ay if you have 2 boys or 2 girls or a boy and a girl.
i really want a guinea pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but i have a hamster a bunny a cat and 2 dogs.my dad says if my hamster dies i might get one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!but my mom says never going to happen.but i just beg.
I have two guinea pigs, porky and piglett, and they are the sweetest things ever! They know how to hop in their cage, stand up, and shake with there littlee paws. they will soon have babies:( my mom says i have to give away the babies. im sad...
I LOVE PIGS!! Oh wait I am a pig! HEHEHEHEHEHHE! I also love ANDREW WILSON!! But I hate CAMERON CARLE!! HEHEHEHEHEHE! Guinea Pigs RULE! Go Guineas!
i have a young abyssinian guinea pig and have had several in the past..i love all animals and didnt think that on a site where i would go to look at these lovely little animals you would show videos of snakes killing and eating them..IM DISGUSTED..not on these pages please..there is enough depravity through out the internet and what if my young neice had been looking at the same time\ as this is a site i would think she should have been ok looking at with me..have we know even got to monitor pages that should be child friendly such as those with pets on?
i have a peruvian guinea pig and i am planning to have a abyssinian but im afraid it will be naughty and not as sweet as my peruvian.
i have a 6 month old abyssinian guinea pig - Georgie, she is the sweetest thing out (:
I am going to buy a guinea pig very soon. I was wondering what else I should buy such as a small hut for it to sleep in.I think it would be cute to watch it play with toys, but kind of toys to guinea pigs need? I have never owned one before and don't know many people who have.
me n my sister r gettin guinea pigs sooon im so excited i cant wait my sister is going crazy!
im going to get an abyssinian guinea but my sister wants a normal straight haired 1. yay go me! my bro sux cause he h8s guinea pigs! he says they are ugly n smell but they dont!
We have owned an abyssinian guinea for 3 and a half years. This pig was named Abby. She was the cutest and most cuddly. Her favorite place was to nestle up under our neck. She would just lay there and purr, and occasionly give you little kisses on our cheeks. She loved to run around the floor and hide under the coffee table. Often when called out to, she would come to you. Every time we would cut veggies she would squeak loudly for us not to forget her share. Every morning she would greet us with a happy squeak at breakfast. Unfortunately on Wednesday she had a prolapsed uterus and what seemed to be a respirtory problem and we had to put her to sleep. She will be missed a great deal. We plan to purchase two more in the fall, also to be abyssinian, the best pet ever!
i have an abyssinian guinea piggy. he is sooooooooo cute
I really want a guinea pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooooooooooooo shour I'm getting 2 for my B day.I LOVE GUINEA PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GUINEA PIGS ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! i'M GONNA GET TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 ABYSSINIAN AND A SELF BLACK! :)
i am currently asking my parents for 1 and saying i will do good in school if i get1 and i have decided that i want one of these abyssian guinea pigs 2 me there just so cute!!!!
just got 2 sooooo cute gineapigs
i have 1 Abyssinnian named willy. he is the cutest thing you would ever meet. He is only 9 months old... but he like to bite your shirts and eats pretty much nothing but timothy hay and oranges.. he really doesnt like guinea pig food..
my ambyssinian can jump up wwen i say urgh
My Guinea pig, Lily started to flip out when she heard the youtube video. XD She is an Abyssinian too.
well...IM GETTING TWO IN.. 2 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i have a 18weeks old abssynian guinea pig, and she jumps out of box all the time but she is very small. do they get bigger and fatter or not ? her name is mitzy =) love her too bits
My abyssinian is all black is loving, but out of his mind. Everytime I turn around he tips his foodbowl over flips his house over and can popcorn better than an olympic athlete. I've even witnessed him do frontflips b4. I'm wondering if I should get another email me at sweet_yeahthatsright@yahoo.com.
Thank u
I am getting an abyssinian tomorrow and i am so excited i"ve learned everything about abyssinians and now i can finially get one tomorrow i am so excited!
I guess it kind of varies because I have an abby named Harmony who's really mellow. He also doesn't sit up ever, but that might be due to a back injury in his first seven months. Oh btw, shelter guinea pigs are often much nicer than pet store guinea pigs. Harmony is our shelter pig, and he's really nice and doesn't bite. Toby is our pet store guinea pig. He bites and he runs and he gets lost. HE'S CRAZY!
i have one, and his names luie.
hes the sweetest pig ever,
& loves to talk& play.
I just got an abyssinian and i love him to peices!!!!!! He IS more mischifous then my other 2 but sooo sweet and adorable. He loves to popcorn, and when i put my hand in his cage he runs right up to it, even tho i've only had him for less then 2 weeks. my other 2 are terrafied when i put my hand in there and i've had them for like 6 months. :)
My abyssinian is so cute. She is really big and chubby. She turned 25 (1 year old) in september. Right now she's sleeping on me. I'm trying not to move to much. Her name is Dorothy Jean after my past baby sitter, we call her D.J. She answers to D.J. more than her full name. She mainly eats salad and other veggies. When she drinks her water she twits her head in all directions just to drink. We sometimes call her curly fires because her nails are so long and curly. We try to shorten but sadly it's no use. D.J. is white, fuzzy, and has a black oral eye ( a black spot circling her eye). I just woke her up and she is biting my shirt. She just ate and she already used the bathroom. When she's sleepy her ears always flap. When she yawns it is so cute! Her tounge sticks out and she makes a little sound like a whistle. She kind of gets along with my sister's guinea pig Pheobe (an american). Pheobe is 3 months younger than her. Pheobe always starts fights with D.J. and all D.J. does is cry and squeak as loud as she can ,in the middle of the night too. Ther at first didn't like eachother at all but now whenever they hear my phone ring Pheobe runs beside D.J. Pheobe is white, brown, lght brown, and dark brown. She one time had a problem with her foot and stated biting it everyday and we didn't realize it until her foot was pitch black and covered in dried blood. We took her to the vet and they said her foot was paralized. They said that Pheobe bit her vains and knawed her bone away. They had to cut off her foot and it cost $300. That was a good price because another vet we went to for Pheobe said that the surgery would cost $850. It took so long to find a good hospital for Pheobe becuse guinea pigs are exotic pets. Anyway... Pheobe is fine now. She sometimes gets mad about her foot and squeaks very loudly out of nowhere. Well I'm getting tired now. I'll try to write about Pheobe and D.J. daily or weekly to keep you updated on them. Awwwwww D.J. just yawned! Well bye now! (Finally)
My abyssinian is so cute. She is really big and chubby. She turned 25 (1 year old) in september. Right now she's sleeping on me. I'm trying not to move to much. Her name is Dorothy Jean after my past baby sitter, we call her D.J. She answers to D.J. more than her full name. She mainly eats salad and other veggies. When she drinks her water she twits her head in all directions just to drink. We sometimes call her curly fires because her nails are so long and curly. We try to shorten but sadly it's no use. D.J. is white, fuzzy, and has a black oral eye ( a black spot circling her eye). I just woke her up and she is biting my shirt. She just ate and she already used the bathroom. When she's sleepy her ears always flap. When she yawns it is so cute! Her tounge sticks out and she makes a little sound like a whistle. She kind of gets along with my sister's guinea pig Pheobe (an american). Pheobe is 3 months younger than her. Pheobe always starts fights with D.J. and all D.J. does is cry and squeak as loud as she can ,in the middle of the night too. Ther at first didn't like eachother at all but now whenever they hear my phone ring Pheobe runs beside D.J. Pheobe is white, brown, lght brown, and dark brown. She one time had a problem with her foot and stated biting it everyday and we didn't realize it until her foot was pitch black and covered in dried blood. We took her to the vet and they said her foot was paralized. They said that Pheobe bit her vains and knawed her bone away. They had to cut off her foot and it cost $300. That was a good price because another vet we went to for Pheobe said that the surgery would cost $850. It took so long to find a good hospital for Pheobe becuse guinea pigs are exotic pets. Anyway... Pheobe is fine now. She sometimes gets mad about her foot and squeaks very loudly out of nowhere. Well I'm getting tired now. I'll try to write about Pheobe and D.J. daily or weekly to keep you updated on them. Awwwwww D.J. just yawned! Well bye now! (Finally)
As I saide before I was going to try to keep everyone with an update on D.J. and Pheobe so here I go. Right now D.J is looking out the window munching on some salad and Pheobe is skipping around in the cage because she is by herself. D.J. is just hipnotized. She looks sleepy so I'm going to out her back in the cage now. BRB
Okay I put D.J. back and now Pheobe is upset. When Pheobe is mad she shakes her butt and makes these wierd vibrating sounds. D.J. just ignores it but then a fight starts. I'm watching them though. D.J. is drinking some water now and Pheobe is just staring. D.J. is done now and she is just walking aroung the cage. Sometimes Pheobe follows her. They always play follow the leader and D.J. is mainly the leader even though Pheobe bosses her around. I can't wait until Pheobe's birthday she looks small but she is going to be 25. D.J. is kinda huge for a 25 year old or Pheobe is just small for a 25 year old. Anyway... They are both chewing some salad and itching theirselves. I feel abd that i have to leave them 5 days a week for 7 hours to go to school. They are all alone but not hungrey amd they are so bored. Usually they play with bouncy balls abd chew toys which keep them buisy but they only seem to do it when I'm here. I guess they think there is no point to play if they can't show it off to someone. Well I guess i could play with them now. So i have to talk or write to you later because right now d.j and pheobe are having fun with me! Awwww Pheobe just nibbled on my finger! Well bye now! (Finally)
my abyssinian is very cheeky indeed. He loves playing on the piano and climbing over my shoulder :D
I just bought 2 Abyssinian Guinea pigs.
We are piggy sitting for a friend and have fallen in love with her piggies, not sure of the breeds. One of them just absolutely adores me. If my wife picks her up and I sit next to her, she will go nuts trying to get to me. She just loves me to death and almost licks my face off with piggy kisses. The other piggy we a sitting for is much more reserved and just lays there when you pet it, but in the cage she will squeak and hop and stand on her hind legs.
Because these 2 were so much fun and we really iked them, my wife and I decided to buy our own. We just got them today, so they are understandably nervous. But they took to being picked up and petted pretty nicely. We used the two older piggies that we are sitting for to help acclimate them.
I look forward to many years of enjoyment with my 2 new piggies.
I just bought 2 Abyssinian Guinea pigs.
We are piggy sitting for a friend and have fallen in love with her piggies, not sure of the breeds. One of them just absolutely adores me. If my wife picks her up and I sit next to her, she will go nuts trying to get to me. She just loves me to death and almost licks my face off with piggy kisses. The other piggy we a sitting for is much more reserved and just lays there when you pet it, but in the cage she will squeak and hop and stand on her hind legs.
Because these 2 were so much fun and we really iked them, my wife and I decided to buy our own. We just got them today, so they are understandably nervous. But they took to being picked up and petted pretty nicely. We used the two older piggies that we are sitting for to help acclimate them.
I look forward to many years of enjoyment with my 2 new piggies.
I just got a guinea pig on October,25,2009.she is a Abyssinian.She is seven weeks old.She is adorable!I named her Bailey Grace.Isn't that cute!She is tan,dark brown and white.She is soooo loving.But there is one problem.Every time I pick her up she screams!But its a cute scream.Once I comfort her shes fine.She also has a room mate.His name is Ziggy James.He always tries to dominate her but she doesn't let him.Anyway,my 2 guineas rock!
I just bought one after my Vet hounded my for awile. I always goes in for crickes for my 12 fire bellied toads. Their cages are next to eac other and they do fine, I also have 3 hermit crabs, 3 cats,and a dog.It's like a zoo here.I just cna't turn down an animal.And he is the cuteset thing. He is 4 months old which is good cause my son is learning more resposibility taking care of animals. And they get to grow together. It's his new bst fried. I am very happy with him I would reccomend that breed to others.
I just bought one last week. He was the cutest thing I saw and besides my Vet would hound me everytime I came in for crikets for our red bellied fire toads. He wouldn't stop. He claimed he wouldn't get along with the other but that was fine because if I got 1 is was only gonna be one. He would try to chew the metal divider that held the glass between him and the others and that he was loud. Since he has been here he has had nothing but love. He loves to cuddle he'll even eat out of your hand. He 4 months old and the cutest. He is now added to the others we have here. His cage is right next to our red bellied fire toads we have 12 of them we also haw 3 hermit crabs and 3 cats and one dog. It's like a zoo here. If I could have anymore animals I would. o
I just bought one last week. He was the cutest thing I saw and besides my Vet would hound me everytime I came in for crikets for our red bellied fire toads. He wouldn't stop. He claimed he wouldn't get along with the other but that was fine because if I got 1 is was only gonna be one. He would try to chew the metal divider that held the glass between him and the others and that he was loud. Since he has been here he has had nothing but love. He loves to cuddle he'll even eat out of your hand. He 4 months old and the cutest. He is now added to the others we have here. His cage is right next to our red bellied fire toads we have 12 of them we also haw 3 hermit crabs and 3 cats and one dog. It's like a zoo here. If I could have anymore animals I would. o
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Whitney05 says:
2 years ago
I'm not a big fan of guinea pigs, having had them before, but these guys are So cute! Great Hub!