General Abyssinian Guinea Pigs?

[teambenji543]

Hello! How is it possible that an American guinea pig gave birth to an Abyssinian guinea pig? Recessive gene? Are Abyssinian guinea pigs really a different breed or are they just a variation of the American? I’ve just been wondering this recently.

 

[bpatters]

I'd be willing to be there's not a purebred guinea pig anywhere in the world. They've been mixed together in so many places -- pet shops, labs, backyard breeders, whatever -- that they're all mixed.

And there are thousands of mixed litters out there. My first two pigs were litter mates, one a short-haired American with longer skirts than usual, and an Abby.

 

[teambenji543]

So is the Abyssinian guinea pig a different breed or are they just a hair type? How can a guinea pig have two American haired guinea pigs and one Abyssinian guinea pig baby?