Texel
Texel Guinea Pig Breed Profile
| Fur | Long, up to 4-5 in (12 cm), curly |
| Rosettes | None |
| Characteristics | None |
| Lifespan | 4-6 years |
| Suitable for | Experienced owners |
Breed Characteristics
Texel guinea pigs were bred by crossing the long-haired Silkie and the curly Rex. Their fur is short and curly on their heads. This makes it easy to see the Rex in the Texel. Their fur is beautifully long on their bodies and forms gorgeous curls. The fur is soft and bouncy and curls into tight corkscrew curls that hang from the guinea pig’s body. It’s even curly, dense and woolly on the belly. Their coats can be any color or even multi-colored.
Texels don’t have any whorls, or rosettes. If a Texel had a whorl on its forehead, you’d call it a Merino. The Texel is a newer breed that was developed in England in the 1980s. It’s still pretty rare but has been officially recognized since 1998. Texels, Americans and Silkies are the smallest guinea pigs.
Personality
Texels are very curious, friendly and active when they’re young. The older they get, the calmer and quieter they get.
Fur Care
Their fur should be carefully brushed every day using a soft brush to remove any muck or dirt. If their coats get too long (dragging along the ground), they should be trimmed. Watch out: out of all the guinea pig breeds, it’s the Texel that needs the most grooming. Lots of dirt gets caught in their long coats and it’s not always easy to remove things from their tight curls. Their curls aren’t just hard to brush, but also need lots of time and patience. If you don’t have the time, you should pick a different breed.
How to Keep Them
As a long-haired guinea pig, the Texel is not suitable for keeping outdoors. Outside, there’s a huge risk of damp dirt gathering in their coats, which provides the perfect conditions for bacteria and fungal infections to thrive.
Fun Facts
Texel is the name of an island in the North Sea off the coast of Holland (the Netherlands). There’s also a Texel sheep that comes from the island.
