Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What is a Peruvian guinea pig?
A Peruvian is a long-haired guinea pig breed whose coat keeps growing, often well past the length of the body. The hair grows forward over the back and head as well as down the sides, so a full-coated Peruvian can look like a mop with no clear front or back. In show animals the coat sweeps the floor all round. Germany's animal welfare federation reports long-haired breeds reaching coats of up to 50 cm (20 in).
The long coat comes from a recessive gene. The UK animal welfare science group UFAW notes that every Peruvian carries two copies, so a Peruvian bred to a Peruvian always produces long-haired babies. Peruvians are often confused with Silkies (Shelties), whose hair sweeps back from the face, and with curly coated breeds. Our guinea pig breeds guide and curly-haired guinea pigs guide help you tell them apart.
Temperament is the same as any guinea pig: chatty, social, a little nervous at first, and much happier in pairs or groups.
Peruvian guinea pig coat care: daily grooming
Comb a long-coated Peruvian every day. UFAW describes Peruvians as high maintenance: they can't keep their own coats clean, mats form quickly, and mats pull on the skin, can make it sore or infected, and on the chin or legs can get in the way of eating and moving. PetMD's vet sources recommend careful daily combing with a stainless steel comb, and a gentle soft bristle brush only to finish, since wire brushes can irritate the skin.
- Set up low and steady. Sit with a towel on your lap, or kneel by a towel on the floor. Have a treat such as a strip of pepper ready.
- Start at the ends. Comb the last few centimetres of hair first, then work closer to the skin a section at a time. Hold the hair near the root so you don't tug.
- Pick out debris. Remove hay, bedding and droppings caught in the coat by hand before combing through.
- Work knots with your fingers. Gently tease small tangles apart. Leave tight mats near the skin for clipping.
- Clear the face. Trim or comb the fringe back so hair doesn't fall into the eyes. UFAW notes hair over the face can irritate and damage the eye.
- Check the back end. Look and feel under the rump every day for wet, dirty or matted fur and for any maggots.
Many owners keep a pet Peruvian trimmed, and for a guinea pig that isn't being shown this is usually the kindest option. UFAW lists regular clipping alongside grooming as the main way to prevent problems. A coat trimmed to a few centimetres all over, or at least to just above the floor and short around the bottom, collects far less bedding and urine. Use blunt-ended scissors or small-animal clippers, trim a little at a time and stop if your guinea pig is stressed. PetMD's vet sources suggest a professional groom every four to six weeks if you keep the coat long.
Never cut a mat that sits against the skin with sharp scissors. A guinea pig's skin is thin and often lifts into the mat, so it is easy to cut. Ask your vet or an experienced small-animal groomer to clip it.
Flystrike and hygiene: the biggest risk for long coats
Flystrike is the most serious danger for a Peruvian. Flies lay eggs in urine-soaked or dirty fur, and the maggots that hatch eat into the skin. UFAW calls it life-threatening and painful, and warns that in warm weather eggs can become the most damaging stage of larvae in as little as 38 hours. Long hair and mats also hide sore skin and maggots, so problems are found late.
- Check the bottom and back end every day, twice a day in warm weather
- Keep the fur around the bottom trimmed short
- Spot clean toilet areas daily and change bedding often
- Clean a soiled bottom with a damp cloth or a gentle small-animal shampoo, then dry fully
- Weigh weekly: a guinea pig losing weight may be struggling to eat
If you find maggots, or the skin under the coat is red, wet or smells, ring your vet straight away and go in. Early flystrike can often be treated; advanced cases often can't. Our guinea pig health guide covers this and other signs to watch.
Baths are not a routine part of care. PetMD's vet sources say a bath can be done at home when needed: a shallow basin of warm water with a folded towel on the bottom for grip, a gentle small-animal shampoo, no conditioner, ears kept dry and the guinea pig air-dried in a warm, quiet room rather than with a hairdryer.
Best bedding for Peruvian guinea pigs
Choose bedding that doesn't tangle. UFAW advises against hay as bedding for Peruvians because it weaves into the coat and makes matting worse, and notes wood shavings can cause similar problems. Hay is still essential as food, so serve it in a rack or a low hay box rather than as a deep bedding layer.
| Bedding | For a Peruvian | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fleece liners over an absorbent layer | Good | Nothing to catch in the coat; wash often |
| Paper-based bedding | Good | Soft and absorbent; pick bits out of the coat daily |
| Hay as bedding | Avoid | Tangles into mats; feed hay from a rack instead |
| Wood shavings | Not ideal | Can catch in long hair; never use pine or cedar |
| Straw or cotton wool | Avoid | The RSPCA warns straw can injure eyes and fluffy materials tangle |
Our guinea pig bedding guide compares these in more detail, and our cage cleaning routine helps you keep on top of a long-haired guinea pig's home.
Everyday needs: home, food and temperature
Under the coat, a Peruvian is an ordinary guinea pig. It needs at least one guinea pig friend, as the RSPCA advises, a large single-level home and plenty of time out of the cage. Our guides to guinea pig cage size and pairs and groups give the numbers.
Heat matters more with a long coat. The RSPCA gives 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F) as ideal indoors, with heatstroke a risk above 26°C (79°F) and chilling below 15°C (59°F). UFAW says the effect of long hair on body temperature hasn't been studied, but Peruvians may be more uncomfortable in warm conditions than short-haired guinea pigs. In summer, trim the coat shorter, keep the cage out of sun and give a cool tile and good airflow.
Feed unlimited hay, a cup of fresh leafy greens a day and a measured portion of guinea pig pellets, and make sure they get vitamin C every day, since guinea pigs can't make their own. Our guinea pig diet guide and vitamin C guide show how much.
Should you get a Peruvian guinea pig?
Be honest about the time. A Peruvian needs hands-on care every day, every week of the year, on top of normal cleaning. UFAW notes that grooming and clipping can be stressful for the animal, and Germany's animal welfare federation lists very long-haired breeds among those it considers a welfare concern. We'd suggest a rescue Peruvian or long-haired cross, which is often already trimmed and used to handling, over a show-line puppy. Our guide to where to get a guinea pig lists rescues, and our complete guinea pig care guide covers everything else.
Peruvian guinea pig questions
Are Peruvian guinea pigs good for beginners?
Only for a very committed beginner. A Peruvian needs combing every day or a regular trim, daily bottom checks and more frequent cage cleaning than a short-haired guinea pig. If you want a long-haired look with less work, consider a trimmed Peruvian from a rescue or a shorter-coated breed.
How long does a Peruvian guinea pig's hair grow?
Very long. Left untrimmed, show Peruvians grow coats that sweep the floor all round, and Germany's animal welfare federation reports long-haired breeds reaching up to 50 cm (20 in). Pet Peruvians are usually trimmed to just above the floor or shorter.
Can I cut my Peruvian guinea pig's hair?
Yes, and for most pets it's the kindest choice. Trim with blunt-ended scissors, a little at a time, keeping the coat clear of the floor, the eyes and the bottom. Never cut a mat close to the skin; ask a vet or experienced groomer instead.
Do Peruvian guinea pigs need baths?
Not routinely. Spot-clean a dirty bottom with a damp cloth. If a full bath is needed, use a small-animal shampoo in a basin of shallow warm water with a towel on the bottom, rinse well and dry fully in a warm room, because a wet guinea pig chills quickly.
How long do Peruvian guinea pigs live?
Like other guinea pigs, usually around 5 to 7 years with good care. A clean, trimmed coat, daily flystrike checks in warm weather, a vitamin C rich diet and regular weight checks all help.
Do Peruvian guinea pigs need a friend?
Yes. The RSPCA says guinea pigs are social and should live with at least one other friendly guinea pig. A Peruvian can live with any breed. Housing it with a short-haired friend makes no difference to its grooming needs.
