The Rosette Guinea Pig (also known as the Abyssinian Guinea Pig, or Abyssinian) is a truly unique breed of guinea pig, loved by many people around the world. These aren’t the classic guinea pigs like the ones you imagine when you first think of these animals, but something a little more exotic. They’re great for people who don’t want a common guinea pig, but also don’t want an overly unusual animal.

Probably one of the oldest breeds, the Abyssinian guinea pig has been around for centuries. Their origin goes back so far that no one really knows where their name comes from.

Their name suggests that they originate from the historic region of Abyssinia, which is now called Ethiopia. However, this is far from the case. This breed is nowhere to be found in this region, which completely belies the common misconception that they were discovered in Abyssinia. But the name would make a lot of sense if they came from that region.

All of the domestic guinea pigs you see today come from South America, which would explain why some ancient South American tribes worshiped these animals. The first Abyssinian arrived in Europe in the 16th century, where these then exotic pets were worth a lot of money. For some unknown reason, someone in England decided to call this breed the Abyssinian guinea pig, and this has remained until today.

They are known for their unusually thick coats with tufts, called rosettes. The Abyssinian has about 6-8 rosettes all over their body, including their back and both sides. The only places where rosettes are absent are their belly and head.

The perfect coat for this breed includes uniformly shaped rosettes with a distinct center and no excess hair. The reason why the Abyssinian has an even number of rosettes is that this element must form symmetrically. An ideal coat will have rosettes on:

• right and left shoulder;
• four or two along the back;
• one on each side of the hips.

Perfectionists like when the rosettes clearly mark out where each rosette begins and ends. However, beauty remains something personal and subjective. If you like the asymmetry, follow your heart. Never let the ideal “official” coat trump your personal taste. Here’s a secret: Abyssinian guinea pigs with less than 8 rosettes are still wonderful babies.

Nonetheless, if you take a perfectly symmetrical Abyssinian guinea pig with 8 rosettes, you might want to consider exposing your pet. There are many guinea pig shows and competitions around the world, and many of the contestants are Abyssinians. But if the fur isn’t perfect, don’t worry, they’ll love you just as much as an Abyssinian with a coat.

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There is a consensus among guinea pig owners, breeders and behaviorists that this breed tends to be very ‘playful’. It is an understatement to say that they are known to have the worst temper of all the guinea pig breeds. But we can also consider that it is their optimistic and curious personalities that cause them more problems than others. Of course, there is no concrete proof of this. But in the guinea pig enthusiast community, everyone seems to agree.

Don’t let that scare you into adopting one, however. They are very good guinea pigs with a lot of personality. And while all races enjoy the company of humans, this one in particular seems to like our presence much more than others.

Abyssinian guinea pigs are generally round ball shaped, and are very energetic, especially when young. They also have a more lively personality than the others. It is quite easy to develop an interesting relationship with an Abyssinian because they are creatures with very original personalities.

Surprisingly, they are very open to education, and learn to pick things up quite quickly (at least as babies). Sometimes we can even succeed in teaching them to return to their cage on command.

Taking care of an Abyssinian guinea pig is not rocket science. It is slightly more difficult to maintain when compared to another breed of guinea pig, but much easier compared to other small animals.

Hair maintenance

The bristles should be brushed at least once every two days if you want to avoid tangles. Too much neglect of regular brushing is very likely to cause pain when you finally try to untangle them. Just buy a soft brush and spend a few minutes every other day to remove any knots (if any). Even a quick brush stroke just once is better than nothing. You might also find debris stuck in the hair if you let your Guinea Pig roam around a lot. Brushing is therefore very important if they go out frequently.

Hygiene

Washing them isn’t necessary unless these little explorers get something too sticky on the hairs. Like many animals, they clean themselves. A bath every two months is more than enough, just to refresh their coat. If you try to wash them too often, they could catch cold, or it could lead to skin and coat problems.

Health

Regarding their health, Abyssinian guinea pigs are quite fragile and can suffer from many diseases during their life if you are not careful. Keep an eye on your guinea pig’s diet, as a poor diet often leads to serious health problems.

Living space

As with any other breed, make sure their cage is large enough for them to run around and exercise. Abyssinians are generally more energetic, so restricting their space with a small cage is sure to make them miserable. If you can’t afford them a big enough cage, make sure you open the door as much as you can for them to practice.

Rouan is defined by a nice mixture of white hairs within another darker color, which gives a “salt and pepper effect”. This marking can be found uniformly all over the body, or be present only in small areas.

Two Abyssinians in the Rouan robe must never be allowed to breed together. Because they carry a gene that can cause abortions, or early death in babies. They can mate with all other Abyssinian colors, but not with another Roan. If you are not sure what type of Abyssinian you have, you can ask a vet.

In general, it is better to leave the breeding to the experts. Pregnancy and childbirth are tricky in guinea pigs. If you do decide to become a breeder, make sure you have enough education and training before you start, for the sake of these adorable little beasts.