The Peruvian is one of the oldest long-haired guinea pig breeds, with a silky coat that grows continuously and can exceed 50 centimetres in show animals.
The hair parts along the spine and sweeps forward over the face.
Underneath the coat it is a normal, intensely social cavy that must live with other guinea pigs.
The coat, however, turns an intermediate-level pet into an advanced one: daily grooming and regular trims are not optional.
Housing
House at least two together in a solid-floored indoor enclosure of 1 square metre or more for a pair, with more strongly preferred.
Long-haired breeds do best on clean fleece liners rather than loose shavings, which tangle instantly into the coat.
Keep indoors at 18-23C away from drafts and damp, and provide a hide per pig.
Spot-clean daily; a soiled floor means a soiled coat and skin problems underneath it.
Diet
Unlimited grass hay is the foundation, wearing down continuously growing teeth and keeping the gut moving, with a measured portion of plain pellets and daily fresh vegetables.
Offer hay from racks positioned so the coat trails through it as little as possible.
Like all guinea pigs, Peruvians cannot make their own vitamin C and need a reliable daily source, or they develop scurvy.
Provide constant fresh water and avoid sudden diet changes.
Health
The coat is the main clinical risk: mats pull at skin, trap moisture and droppings, hide parasites, and invite flystrike.
Most pet keepers trim the coat to floor length or shorter, and the rear end needs checking daily.
Otherwise the breed shares standard cavy problems: scurvy, dental malocclusion, respiratory infections, bladder stones, ovarian cysts, and bumblefoot.
Any guinea pig that stops eating is an emergency; weigh weekly and keep an exotics-savvy vet on hand.
Temperament
Peruvians have the same gentle, vocal, routine-loving nature as other cavies, wheeking at feeding time and popcorning when content.
Daily grooming, started young and kept short and calm, becomes a bonding ritual rather than a battle.
They are timid by nature and feel safest with steady handling, the company of their own kind, and quiet, predictable surroundings.
A good fit for
Experienced cavy keepers who enjoy coat care
Households able to groom every day
Keepers housing a bonded pair or more indoors
People drawn to a striking, show-quality pet
Common mistakes to avoid
Letting mats, droppings, or moisture build in the coat
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