Interestingly enough, guinea pigs that are all black will also inherit black eyes as this is a dominant trait that is established in guinea pigs with a self black covering. This type of coloring is called “self.” So, if your guinea pig is a all black, then he would be called a self black cavy. American guinea pigs, with their fine and short hair are often one single or solid tone. Of course, white is also a tone you will commonly see on your guinea pig. While the color may look gray at first, you can see streaks of violet or purple on closer inspection. Lilac is one of the more unique colors you may notice.

In addition to gold, you may see a lemon color, which is similar to cream but with more of a yellow tint. This color is just a bit darker than the yellow-toned gold that is commonly seen. Red hair color is a deep brownish red and similar to the liver coloring you would see on a bloodhound. However, some black coloring may appear with a dark tinge of blue. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two, but chocolate has a slight brown tone while black does not.

The black and chocolate are two very similar colors and are the darkest ones seen on guinea pigs. Beige Guinea Pig Cream Guinea PigĬream is another common hair tone and is just a few shades lighter than beige. This variation is similar to the color of light khaki shorts or pants. Beige Guinea Pigīeige is one of the lighter guinea pig colors and is described as a light brown with yellow tones. Each guinea pig color has its own specific name to describe it. Now that we have the scientific stuff out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the most common guinea pig colors. We can, in part, thank guinea pigs for helping scientists understand phenotypes, genotypes, and the inheritance of specific traits. Interestingly enough, research has been conducted since before the 1940s on guinea pig hair, color variations, and genetics. This likely has to do with the complex hereditary background of each guinea pig. In fact, color fluctuations are quite common even when guinea pigs with the same genotypes (combination of genes) are examined. You should know that phenotypes are extremely varied when it comes to guinea pig breeds and colors, according to research studies. This is one reason why certain hair colors are more common, simply because they are dominant in the species. These traits are called ‘dominant’.ĭominant traits can influence everything from guinea pig eye color, to hair length, to pigmentation. While genes are supplied by each parent, certain traits are more likely to be passed on from one guinea pig to the next. The Guinea Pig Colors We SeeĪ phenotype is a very scientific name that refers to the appearance of the guinea pig. The unique combination of the parent chromosomes results in a specific phenotype. This means that half the genes are supplied by each parent. Thirty two chromosomes are supplied by the mother and thirty two by the father. Genes are carried on chromosomes and each guinea pig has a total of 64 chromosomes. Basically, the genes of the mother and father determine the coloring of the offspring. Under The CoatĬolor variations in guinea pigs can be understood by looking at genetics. While you may gloss over the term genetics as boring or too scientific for your taste, understanding inheritance can help you to figure out your furry pal just a little bit better. Well we investigate just this tonal conundrum in this article! The Genetics Of Guinea Pig Colorsīefore we delve into the many guinea pig color variations you may see when venturing into your local pet store, we need to understand a bit about genetics and how color variations are created. If you have been considering adopting your own guinea pig, then you may wonder just why the animals seem to present such a variety of coloration and also what the different pattern names are. And let’s not forget the adorable offerings at your local animal shelter. You are likely to see a rainbow of colors and patterns. From the show cavies, to the wild piggies, to the animals in your local pet store. There are numerous breeds and each has its own distinct variations and traits. Guinea Pig ColorsĬute, cuddly and colorful guinea pigs are the favorites of the small animal world. Welcome to the wonderful world of guinea pig colors! Wondering what color your guinea pig is, or looking to find a guinea pig in unusual color? Then check out the fabulous array of different guinea pig colors that you can find in this adorable pet.

Teddy guinea pig