Sheba Guinea Pig: Facts, Lifespan, Personality & Care Guide
Are you considering Sheba guinea pigs as the new addition to your family? You are in the right place, where you will know everything about this breed before deciding on whether to bring it home or not.
They are a perfect choice of pet, but you should prepare for what awaits.
Sheba guinea pigs are gentle and friendly. They are overly curious and like spending some time walking and playing freely on the ground.
Continue reading to learn everything about their personality, health, lifespan, size, and care.
Are Sheba Guinea Pigs Friendly?
Yes. Sheba guinea pigs are very social pets and have scruffy personalities. They are curious and gentle animals that are easy to maintain because their coats are not overly long. Sheba guinea pigs are the best options for new pet lovers and children.
However, it would be best to handle them carefully and increase contact time to foster the best personality. Hold guinea pigs gently and offer full support to their body.
Sheba Guinea Pig Overview
Sheba Mini Yak guinea pigs are some of the cutest breeds you can add to your family. Though they are not officially recognized by the American Cavy Breeders Association (ACBA), they are popular in the United States.
You can find them in all coat colors. Fortunately, Sheba guinea pigs are easy to maintain and are friendly.
| Name | Sheba Guinea Pig |
| Origin | Australia |
| Size | 800 to 1200 grams, 7-12 inches long |
| Lifespan | 4 to 8 years |
| Colors | any color or pattern |
| Temperament | sweet and enquiring personalities |
| Diet | consist of hay and vegetables, pellets |
| Suitable for | beginners |
Origin and Appearance
Sheba guinea pigs, also known as Sheba Mini Yak, originated from Australia in the 1960s. It is a cross between Peruvian guinea pigs and Abyssinian guinea pigs.
The former breed is known for long hair, while the latter has short hair. That resulted in a cute animal with short to long hair.
Sheba guinea pigs are easily distinguished by their distinctive shaggy appearances. Their hairs point in all directions, but they require less grooming because of the slow growth of their hair compared to long-haired breeds.
Some people refer to them as bad hair day guinea for the same reasons.
Sheba guinea pigs come in all colors. However, the most common coat colors include rosette, tricolor, solid, and tortoiseshell.
An adult Sheba weighs about 800-1200 grams and grows to 7-12 inches in length. Most of them live for 4-8 years, but some can go beyond that if conditions are favorable.
Sheba Guinea Pigs Personality
Sheba guinea pigs are kind, curious, and friendly. They are curious animals that like exploring their surroundings. You can teach them a few tricks because they enjoy doing just that. They need a great deal of playtime and physical stimulation.
Sheba guinea pigs are very social animals. They may not get along well with other pets, but you should always have them in pairs. They like the company of one of their kind. Loneliness or boredom can make them chew their own hair.
How to Care Sheba Guinea Pigs as Pets
You can care for Sheba guinea pigs the way you do for other breeds. There is not much difference regarding housing, diet, health, and grooming.
You may only need to make a few adjustments specific to this breed. If you are an experienced guinea pig pet owner, starting with Sheba should not give you any problems.
House
Sheba guinea pigs are very playful animals. That means they may need more than regular space in the cage to run around.
Consider 30 inches by 50 inches floor area for a pair of guinea pigs, but bigger is always better. Also, consider taking them out frequently to explore and play more freely.
Provide food, clean water, toys, and sheltered spaces in the cage. Sometimes Sheba guinea pigs just want to hide or sleep out of sight.
As for the bedding, avoid cedar and pine because they are likely to cause discomfort to your cavies. These materials release irritating chemicals that will only stress your piggies.
Also read:
- Top 5 Guinea Pig Cages & 7 Factors To Make Perfect Enclosure
- 7 Top-Rated Guinea Pig Accessories to Buy in 2022!
- 9 Best Guinea Pig Toys
- 4 Best Guinea Pig Bedding
- Guinea Pig Setup: Step By Step Guide
Diet
There are no special food requirements for Sheba guinea pigs. You only need to have a constant supply of Timothy hay to aid digestion and keep them busy.
The diet of Sheba cavies should comprise 10-20% fresh vegetables, of which leafy greens should be the bulk of it compared to colored leaves.
Sheba guinea pigs also need fruits to provide vitamin C and other vital vitamins. Lastly, ensure clean water is always available in the guinea pig cage.
Also read: What Can Guinea Pigs Eat? A-Z Food List
Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Guinea Pig Food
Grooming
Sheba guinea pigs neither belong to the long-haired nor short-haired group. They fall somewhere in between. However, their hairs continuously grow, but not at the same rate as those of long-haired guinea pig breeds.
Sheba guinea pigs’ hairs are free from tangles and cage debris but don’t expect it to look neat either. Occasional grooming is needed to make the coat look better.
And since the hair strands point in all directions, you can do almost nothing to change their unkempt appearance.
Also read: The Complete Guide about Guinea Pig Grooming
Sheba Guinea Pig Health Problems
Sheba guinea pigs are prone to diseases, just like all other guinea pig breeds. Feeding them too many fruits and vegetables can easily result in indigestion and obesity.
Sugary foods are the common cause of diarrhea in guinea pigs, which leads to dehydration and even death.
This breed is also susceptible to the following diseases:
- Dental disease
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Cataracts
- Dermatitis
- Ulcers
- Alopecia
If you want to keep your Sheba guinea pigs healthy, observe a good feeding plan, keep cages clean, and regularly conduct health checks. Identifying the disease or condition in time can be the difference between life and fatalities.
Also read: Complete Guinea Pig Care Guide
How Much Does a Sheba Guinea Pig Cost?
Sheba guinea pigs are rare, and buying them can sometimes be a pain-staking process because they are not recognized by ACBA.
This breed is always out of stock in pet stores. Finding breeders is a challenge. However, you can still get hold of them if you are determined.
An adult Sheba goes for about 75 dollars. However, expect that to significantly vary depending on the breeder and age of the animal.
The cost of caring for a single Sheba guinea pig amounts to 40 dollars per month. Remember, you still need food, a cage, bedding, and medical checkups.
Also read: How Much Are Guinea Pigs?
Do Sheba Guinea Pigs Get Along with Other Pets?
No. Despite being very social pets, guinea pigs never get along with other pests and should never live together in a cage.
Caging guinea pigs with other pets leads to the spread of diseases, bullying, and nutritional issues. Guinea pigs are diet-sensitive, and their feeds are unique compared to other pets. You can expect these problems to stress your guinea pigs.
Can it live with Other Guinea Pigs?
Sheba guinea pigs will be happy to share a cage with other breeds, but not an outsider. But you should follow appropriate procedures when introducing the newcomer to avoid possible rejection.
Also read: Do Guinea Pigs Need Cage Mates? 4 Steps to Introduce New Guinea Pigs
OASIS #80254 Vita Drops-Pure C for Guinea Pig, 2-Ounce, Packaging may vary
Wrapping Up
Sheba guinea pigs are friendly, gentle, and curious pets. They also look beautiful in their shaggy coats.
Caring for them is as easy as all other guinea pig breeds. Shaba cavies can be your favorite breed if you like playing with your pet because they are also very playful.
Thank you for reading this article at Pestive. We appreciate your time and encourage you to revisit for more content on your favorite pet, guinea pigs.
