Rex guinea pig

Rex (Rex Guinea Pig) in translation means “royal”, but in relation to guinea pigs of this breed, the epithets “funny”, “cheerful”, “nimble” are more suitable.

The Rex is one of the most popular guinea pig breeds in the world. They were the ancestors of many modern newly bred breeds of guinea pigs.

In a number of countries of the world, the Rex breed is officially recognized, but the reputable American association The American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA) has not yet included this breed in its official list.

The history of rex pigs has more than one century, his homeland is England. It was there that such a guinea pig was first born.

Rex are short-haired breeds of guinea pigs, since the length of their hair does not exceed 3,5 cm.

Most hairy mammals have three different types of hairs: outercoat (usually the longest, harsh, shiny, strong), undercoat (shorter, finer and softer hairs), downy (very fine, sinuous and dense hairs). A distinctive feature of Rex guinea pigs is the absence of guard hairs in the fur, which makes their fur coat dense, curly, standing on end and very woolly. With all the desire, the hair of the Rex cannot be combed in a certain way, it is naughty. Curly hairs do not fit snugly to the body, stick out in different directions. The coat, which has such a unique structure, is very pleasant to stroke, so do not be surprised by the constant desire to hold your pet in your hands.

This feature of the fur coat is caused by a gene that is recessive, so any crossing of Rex guinea pigs with American pigs always produces babies with smooth fur.

An interesting fact: Rex pigs are born smooth-haired, but upon reaching the age of 12 weeks, the baby’s fur begins to curl and curl. By about six months of age, the coat becomes fully formed. Be sure to ensure that the wool under its own weight does not break up into partings. This can lead to the appearance of peculiar grooves and bald spots through which the skin shines through.

Rex do not have sockets.

In recent years, as a result of selective work, new varieties of Rex, even long-haired ones, have appeared.

Rex colors are quite diverse – brown, white, agouti, etc. When it comes to rex, then all variations of colors and colors are possible.

Another notable feature of Rex is their size. This is one of the largest guinea pigs. They are taller than other guinea pigs and can grow up to 45 cm long! Rex development is slightly different compared to other guinea pigs, their growth and formation is only completed by the age of two!

Also characteristic features of the Rex are long lowered ears.

Rexes are often confused with Teddy guinea pigs, but Rex coats are tougher, while Teddies have very soft, almost toy-like plush coats.

The life span of Rex is about 6 years, which is slightly less than other breeds of guinea pigs, and depends on the conditions of maintenance and care.

Of all the variety of breeds, Rex is perhaps one of the most contact and funny breeds. They are playful, active and affectionate until old age. They have a calm temperament. They love people very much, they like it when they are stroked and picked up.

The rex guinea pig is an ideal pet, especially for children, because these pigs are affectionate and calm, and at the same time very unpretentious in terms of care. The undoubted plus of the Rex is their short coat, which greatly facilitates daily care.

Despite the fact that Rexes are short-haired pigs, their fur still sometimes needs to be combed. Of course, this does not have to be done every day, you are not the owner of a long-haired show-class guinea pig. Just check if a piece of filler or a dry blade of grass is not tangled in the fur of your little pet. Once a week, you can comb the fur coat with a special brush to remove dust. By nature, guinea pigs are big cleaners, and as a rule, they take care of all the worries about keeping their coats in perfect condition.

Rex feeding rules

As mentioned above, Rex is one of the largest breeds of guinea pigs, so they need more food and vitamins and more movement.

Like other guinea pigs, Rex are absolute vegetarians. Their diet includes only plant foods – vegetables, fruits, fresh grass or hay, special pellets and clean drinking water.

Be sure to add vitamin C to the food of guinea pigs, since rex, along with humans, is one of the few mammals whose body cannot synthesize this vitamin on its own. Or give as many vitamin-containing foods as possible. Read more about feeding guinea pigs in the Nutrition section.

Do Rex need to be bathed?

As a rule, guinea pigs are not bathed. Firstly, for them it is a terrible stress, and secondly, they have very dry skin, on which shampoo and water can cause unnecessary irritation. Guinea pigs should be washed only in exceptional cases (heavy pollution) and strictly according to the rules. Most importantly, when bathing guinea pigs, you should only use a specialized shampoo. Ordinary soap can cause severe dryness of the skin, irritation and peeling.

Rex breeding

For experienced breeders, Rex may be of interest in terms of improving the quality of wool. This is a rather complex problem that experts around the world are struggling with. In this regard, the Rex are just “hard nuts”! This does not mean at all that the rex coat is not good enough now, just, as they say, there are no limits to perfection!

Rex breeding is not difficult even for beginners. But do not do it thoughtlessly and only for the sake of your own curiosity. Read more about breeding guinea pigs in the Breeding section.

The ideal age for breeding in Rex starts at two years of age and lasts about two years.

So, summing up, I would like to say that Rex guinea pigs are a wonderful and surprisingly cute breed, and you will not regret if such an animal becomes your pet, because Rex is very kind, playful and affectionate.