What is a Rex Guinea pig?

A rex guinea pig is a small domestic cavy with a dense, coarse woolly coat made up of twisted hairs. The whiskers have the same texture as the fur and are prone to breaking off. The upright growth of the hairs gives the guinea pig a hedgehog-like appearance.

Rex guinea pigs are considered a separate breed. The genes for rex-type hair texture are recessive, so special breeding is necessary to create lines of guinea pigs with consistently curly coats. The breed has a broad head and lop ears. The toe nails grow more quickly than in other breeds, requiring special care. Guinea pigs with this coat type may carry either the rex or wavy gene. The two genes produce similar-looking coat textures, but the hairs of guinea pigs with the rex gene are curlier and thicker.