The 10 Most Attractive Cobaya Races

The soft ones
As the name implies, short and soft hair guinea pigs belong to this group. Within this category there are many different colors. For example, within the self variety are black, cream, white (with pink albino eyes) and white with dark eyes. There are also red guinea pigs, chocolate and many more. All these races have their satin variety with a different type of hair that reflects light, bright appearance.

Soft guinea pigs can also have mixed colors. The agouti variety has the tips and the root of different color, a color more similar to that of its wild ancestors. The turtle shell variety has red, white and black colors, and the Dalmatian, like the dog breed of the same name, is white with black spots. The Himalayan variety has a coat similar to that of Siamese cats.

The rough ones
This group includes Peruvian guinea pigs, with a coat that can reach 50cm long, and shelties, with a slightly thinner coat. These races need a care moton. Then there are the texels (shelties with permanent), the teddy and the rex, which have spiky hair out like a hedgehog. And all varieties with crest, soft guinea pigs with crest on the forehead. Shelties can have a crest too, they are called coronet (coranadas). The abyssins have ridges forming a special pattern throughout the body, 10 in total. These varieties also have color blends.

As you can see, there is a great variety of guinea pigs to choose from. Many are the result of crossing different races, all adorable alike! Regardless of the type of guinea pig you choose, these animals live for 4 to 7 years.

1.- American

The American guinea pig, as you may have guessed, it is one of the most common guinea pig breeds of all. They are the ones you probably imagine when you think of Cobayas. This breed has a very good temperament. and they tend to get along better with other guinea pigs (but more importantly with children). The reason why they are so popular is because they are so easy to care for.

Not all guinea pigs have short hair like American ones. And you should> American race if you plan to give one to a small child. And although they are not exactly the most exotic or exciting, they are as friendly as Peruvians.

2.- The Abyssinian

One of the oldest species, Abyssinian guinea pigs are undoubtedly an icebreaker for a new home visitor. They have somewhat long hair with swirls, which makes them perfect for exhibition guinea pigs. Eight to ten rosettes (or swirls) is the number recommended by the judges if you want to get to show your guinea pig in a competition.

Everything you need to know about the care of a guinea pig

But deb> is a little harder to take care of an abyssinian. Attention should be paid to fur care more often than other guinea pig breeds. This would not be an ideal pet for a child, since they are not as low maintenance as, for example, the American ones.

Abyssinian are known to be naughty and get into extra trouble. But don't let that stop you from owning one. His fun and loving personality will undoubtedly compensate for the disorder they may cause.

Of all the guinea pig breeds, the Peruvian takes the prize for the longest hair. In fact, the longest hair recorded by any guinea pig (set> to cut their hair so as not to have to brush them every day. If you decide to keep the hair long, the hairstyle is essential, otherwise the hair is likely to get tangled and cause discomfort, so keep that in mind when considering this guy.

The Peruvian tends to be more alert and curious than all other races. They are so loving that they often come to say hello out of curiosity whenever they can. I recommend it for children, especially if you plan to take care of your fur.

Silkie guinea pigs, also nicknamed «Sheltie»They are quite similar to Peruvians in the sense that they have long, soft hair. However, there is a small difference in physical appearance. The hair around the head is different, and it looks as if it had been deliberately combed back.

Long hair requires cu> Their hair is brighter and softer than Peruvian hair, so they are great for children to play, it is simply not for them to take care of them.

Wearing a short but dense coat, teddy guinea pigs are often described as "nervous." They may not always be soft like the other races, but they are relatively easy to maintain. But deb> occasional brushing is necessary to remove any trash trapped in your skin.

The reason they are called «Teddy» It is due to its strange resemblance to a stuffed animal. They are also known for their snub nose, which is exclusive to this guinea pig breed.

Don't stop reading about guinea pig feeding

The Texel guinea pig It is truly a remarkable species that is much sought after by some of the greatest enthusiasts. Her soft curly hair is not only apparent on her back, but throughout her entire body, including the belly. His unique hair It has made it one of the best and most successful guinea pig breeds.

I would only recommend it to those who want to show their Guinea pigs. But if you have the dedication and time and want to show off an exotic pet to your friends, it is worth the effort to have a Texel.

7.- White Crested

These little packages of joy are undoubtedly a delight for the public. They are also easy to detect, since they all seem to have a white crown above their head, that is why its name "crested."

Apart from the crest, the rest resemble the American. Short straight hair makes them easy for children to care for. Although these are much harder to find than the American ones, they are essentially the same.

The Rex guinea pig is another short-haired rodent with hair no more than 1 cm long. Most mammals have three different types of hairs, including protective hairs. That specific type of hair is used to protect the rest of the layer from excess moisture. But nevertheless, Rex has no hairs, so its fur is very similar to wool.

Its most notable features are long droopy ears with a dense rough coat. Rex guinea pigs are great for children, because they are much easier to care for than most other races. The lack of hairs give the skin a unique texture that children seem to enjoy.

9.- Himalayas

The Himalayan guinea pig is truly a remarkable breed and are often called the Siamese guinea pigs. If you can get one, I recommend it. Despite their appearance, they are not as rare as expected.

Not only are they considered albinas, but they are known to have color (usually black) in their noses, legs and ears (called "dots"). I would recommend this breed if you live in an area without too much sunlight or heat. The points will begin to disappear if exposed to a large amount of sunlight. Apart from these factors, they are relatively easy to care for due to their short hair coat.

Know how many breeds of rabbits there are

Almost completely hairless, this breed of guinea pigs actually has some hair on the feet and legs. It originated from a guinea pig laboratory colony. Strains of short and hairless guinea pigs were crossed here to produce this breed.

Although it is not one of the most attractive guinea pig breeds, they have similar personality to the other 9. Of course, many people have claimed that it would be harder to love them because of their physical appearance. But as long as they are treated properly, they will reciprocate love.

I would not recommend this for children as it can be difficult for them to warm up. For those who truly appreciate these animals for what they are and do not need the "prettiest" pet, this hairless breed would be ideal.

Don't stress too much about which of the guinea pig breeds to get because they all make great pets for you and your family. All these races have warm personalities and as long as you take care of them, they will return all their love.

Long hair guinea pigs

Peruvian Cobaya

This breed is very popular because of the softness of its hair and the length it reaches. If we let your hair grow it could reach 30 centimeters. It is perfect for those who spend a lot of time cutting and combing their guinea pigs and totally unsuitable for those who do not have time to keep it. The Peruvian guinea pig has 3 swirls that guide the direction of your hair and that offers a very unique and funny look.

Abyssinian Cobaya

This guinea pig is also very popular and is also known as "Aby" or "Rosette". Unlike the previous guinea pig, his hair does not grow excessively but does so in a peculiar way. The endless swirls make your hair look pointed and bulky. Usually these are very active and affectionate guinea pigs that will need a little regular care of the mantle.

Cobaya Coronet

This breed of guinea pig has long fur, like the previous ones, but we can observe how it grows excessively in the head. The body hair is also long but shorter. The care of your coat should be daily to avoid tangles and dirt accumulation.

Cobaya sheltie

Also known as "Silkie" this guinea pig has a long coat very similar to that of the Peruvian guinea pig. Both races can be differentiated according to the growth of the hair that in this case is born from the head towards the torso. It will be essential to comb it daily and cut your hair if it grows excessively.

Guinea pigs without hair

Skinny guinea pig

Its external morphology is not natural, it arose spontaneously in Canada. As with other breeds of animals, once these mutations occur, attempts are made to obtain offspring of similar qualities. Although in this case we should not take care of your hair, we will pay attention to your soft skin.

Cobaya Baldwin

Unlike the skinny, these guinea pigs are born with hair that they lose progressively as they reach adulthood. They are very affectionate and familiar pets. We must be careful and not expose it to direct sun or intense cold, just like the previous guinea pig is very sensitive.

Shorthaired guinea pigs

American guinea pig

It is undoubtedly the most popular breed of guinea pigs and the most common. He has short but very soft hair and its maintenance is very simple. Discover the care of short hair guinea pigs. It is the perfect breed for those who have not had a guinea pig before.

Cobaya self

These guinea pigs, very similar to American guinea pigs, are distinguished by the white swirl that they present on the forehead. They are also known as crested and their care is equally easy.

Cobaya Teddy

This guinea pig has the sweet look of a stuffed animal. His hair is short but much more spongy than the previous two. He has beautiful mustaches that highlight his face. This guinea pig will not need excessive care but brushing occasionally will help you not accumulate hair and be cleaner.

Cobaya rex

Its appearance is very similar to that of the teddy guinea pig but it has harder and rougher hair. Its size is larger than that of the other guinea pigs, which is why it receives the nickname "rex". They have a very sweet and sweet character, they are especially affectionate.

Guinea pig colors

Single color guinea pigs (single color or self)

Two color guinea pigs (bicolor or agouti)

• Gold (black and reddish brown)
• Gray (yellow and gray)
• Silver (black and white)
• Cinnamon (brown and ivory)
• Salmon (lilac and ivory)

Multicolored guinea pigs (non self)

• Variegated (red, black and brown)
• Carey (red, black and yellow)
• Tricolor (brown, black and white)
• Dutch (golden, black, chocolate and white)
• Ruano (white with black or red)
• Dalmatian (Black, blue or gray and white)
• Himalayan (pattern)
• Magpie (black and white)
• Harlequin (red, black and white)

Discover also in ExpertAnimal all about guinea pigs.

If you want to read more articles similar to Guinea pigs: races and colors, we recommend that you enter our Comparisons section.

Characteristics of guinea pigs

Is about daytime animalsThat is, they usually sleep at night and be active during the day. An extremely important characteristic of guinea pigs is that they are sociable animals and must be in the company of others of the same species.

These animals can reach measure between 20 and 35 centimeters In adulthood. The guinea pig weight It varies depending on whether they are female or male: when they reach adulthood the females weigh between 800 and 1,200 grams and the males weigh between 1 kg and 1.5 kg, as long as they have adequate food. Males of this species reach sexual maturity at 3 months and females at 6 - 8 weeks. Their body temperature is 38 ºC, so the ideal room temperature for them is 20-22 ºC.

How are the guinea pigs?

These are the main characteristics of guinea pigs:

• Class: mammal
• Length: between 20 and 35 cm
• Weight: between 800 and 1,500 grams
• Longevity: between 5 and 8 years
• Maturity: males at 3 months and females at 6-8 weeks
• Reproduction: viviparous
• Young by birth: 3 to 5 offspring
• Gestation: 65 to 70 days
• Weaning Age: 3 to 4 weeks
• Habits: daytime
• Feeding: herbivorous
• Character: scary, gregarious and sociable

Guinea pig types

There are several guinea pig classes which, generally, are distinguished by the length of your hair as well as by him type of fur that have. There are short hair guinea pigs, long hair guinea pigs, curly hair guinea pigs and even hairless guinea pigs. We can also classify guinea pigs according to fur colorWe found unicolor guinea pigs, bicolor guinea pigs and tricolor guinea pigs.
The American guinea pig is the ideal guinea pig to have as a pet If you do not have experience, you do not need special hair care such as the guinea pig coronet.

We can classify the different types of guinea pig as follows:

• According to him colour of the coat (unicolor guinea pig, bicolor guinea pig, tricolor guinea pig, Dutch guinea pig, Himalayan guinea pig and Dalmatian guinea pig)
• According to length of the fur (short hair guinea pig, long hair guinea pig, curly hair guinea pig and hairless guinea pig)

Bicolor guinea pig

The bicolor guinea pig is a guinea pig what does he have two color fur. They usually have a combination of two of the following colors: black, white or brown.

Tricolor guinea pig

The tricolor guinea pig is a short hair guinea pig which, as the name implies, has the fur of 3 colors. These colors are the White, the Brown and the black.

Dutch guinea pig

The dutch guinea pig is a short hair guinea pig that stands out for having a great white stripe from side to side of the body. It owes its name to the great resemblance it has with the Dutch flag. We can find it in different colors such as brown, light brown, black, ... The Dutch guinea pig is the smallest guinea pig What can we find.

Cobaya Himalaya

The himalayan guinea pig is a short hair guinea pig which is the equivalent of the Siamese breed in cats. This guinea pig has the color coat White or roasted and the tips of the legs, ears Y snout color black or brown. This breed of guinea pig has the Red eyes. The himalayan guinea pig at birth it is completely white and it is in his first weeks of life that his limbs become dark.

This phenomenon is caused by the Himalayan gene. The Himalayan guinea pig, as we said, is born completely white, it is an albino guinea pig because it has red eyes. If the guinea pig lives in a cold country, the gene is activated and the limbs begin to darken. On the contrary, if the guinea pig lives in a warm environment, then the gene will never be activated and the guinea pig will remain completely white. The explanation for this phenomenon is that in cold environments, evolutionarily speaking, it is logical that the extremes of the body, which are the most prone to freezing, darken to receive more heat from the sun.

Dalmatian guinea pig

The dalmatian guinea pig is a short hair guinea pig that the background color of his coat is the White and has a marbled or colored spots Gray or Brown evenly distributed throughout the body. The legs and head of the Dalmatian guinea pig are black or brown.

This type of fur is very rare, since normally when two colors of guinea pig cross these colors are mixed, they do not form spots. We can find Dalmatian guinea pigs with black or gray spots and dalmatian guinea pigs with Brown spots.

American guinea pig

The american guinea pig is the type of guinea pig more common as a pet and more usual in stores. It is the most popular guinea pig breed. The American guinea pig is the oldest breed that exists of its species and began to domesticate in the mid-16th century. At that time, the American guinea pig was known as the English guinea pig, a name it still receives today in some countries.

The American guinea pig has a rounded body and the short straight hair. It can be found in a great variety of colors as well as in many different color combinations.

This breed of guinea pig is very docile and affectionate, character that has made it very popular as a pet. It is a guinea pig very friendly with people and gets to develop a strong bond To his caregiver. It has a character very playful, he loves to make sounds and ask you to listen to him, enjoy the caresses very much and pampering them. He is an ideal person for everyone and also for families with children, although you should never leave guinea pig unattended if you are with a child.

The coat of the American guinea pig does not require much care, she cleans herself well and you just need that brush it occasionally. We should not bathe the guinea pigs so as not to destroy the protective layer they have on the skin, if it is very dirty we can use a cloth moistened with water.

Cobaya Teddy

The guinea pig teddy it is a breed of guinea pig that receives its name because of its resemblance to a Teddy bear. It is one of the newest guinea pig breeds that have emerged and has been growing in popularity in recent years.

The fur of the Teddy guinea pig is very special, as they have a short and very dense hair that is very soft. They have a leafy fur without rosettes. Although most Teddy guinea pigs have the fur with a very soft texture, there are Teddy guinea pigs that have a less soft fur. As for its color, they can be found in any typical color in guinea pigs: brown, white, black or gray, although the Agouti pattern is the most common. The guinea pig Teddy has a smooth mustache.

Teddy guinea pigs are animals affectionate and curious, who love to explore. They have one playful nature That makes them good pets for children.

Although this type of guinea pig does not need excessive care, it is necessary brush it every two weeks with a soft brush to control her hair and help her be cleaner. Teddy guinea pigs they have a much drier skin than other races so it is especially important never bathe themIf the guinea pig is very dirty we will use a damp cloth. This breed also tends to accumulate a lot of wax in the ears, so we must clean the ears from time to time. If we do not know how to do it, it is better to go to a veterinarian for advice.

Crested guinea pig or crown guinea pig

The crested guinea pig or self It is a curious breed of guinea pig and difficult to find due to the difficulty of producing them. The crested guinea pig is characterized by having the short straight hair except for the hair of the head, which is longer, forming a kind of crown or crest.

There are two types of crested guinea pig:

• American crested guinea pig: its crest is white, contrasting with the color of the rest of the body.
• English crested guinea pig: the color of the crest is the same as that of the rest of the body.

The crested guinea pig can be found in different colors but especially in brown and black.

To these guinea pigs They love to play and need to do a lot of exercise, but always in warm temperatures, well they can't stand the cold. They love to explore, so they need to leave their cage for at least one hour a day under supervision. They are quite guinea pigs shy But they like to receive affection.

Cobaya rex

The guinea pig rex the hair looks similar to that of the teddy guinea pig but these have more hair rough and thick. Its fur, of no more than 1 cm in length, is something woollike It serves to protect you from the cold. The Rex guinea pig is a good option if you are allergic to pet hair. This type of guinea pig also has the longer ears and falls. In addition, the Rex guinea pig has the curly mustaches. It receives its name, "Rex" because it has a larger size of the other races.

Despite their fearsome prehistoric predator name, they are especially calm and affectionate. They are guinea pigs very docile and affectionate, who need attention and pampering.

Cobaya agouti

The guinea pig agouti is a short hair guinea pig which has the color coat Gray, similar to that of a chinchilla, although sometimes it can also be brown gray. These guinea pigs they are not usual and they are rather rare to find. When are they little they usually have bowel problems so they should be given a I think special for intestinal problems and we should not abuse the rewards with them.

Abyssinian Cobaya

The Abyssinian guinea pig It is the most popular among the guinea pigs of long hair. This type of guinea pig is native to South America, the Andes, like all guinea pigs. Although he does not have excessively long hair, his fur has a peculiarity: grows rosettes or swirls giving them a bulky appearance. These rosettes, around 6 to 8, are distributed throughout your body except for the head and belly.

There is a great variety of colors In Abyssinian guinea pigs, the most curious are:

• Tabby: It is a mixture throughout the body of long hairs of black and reddish color. The light tabby has more reddish hairs than black and dark tabby, on the contrary it is the other way around, it has more black hairs than reddish hair.
• Tortoiseshell or turtle shell: they have colored spots on the fur.
• Roan: its coat is made of white mixtures. The strawberry Roan has interspersed reddish hairs between whites and the blue Roan has a mixture of black and white hairs.

The Abyssinian guinea pig has a slightly different character than the other races, because we are talking about a slightly naughty guinea pig. They are guinea pigs very quick, energetic and curious, but that does not mean that they love being with their caregivers and enjoy pampering and attention. This breed of guinea pig is quite open to be trained and they learn things quite quickly, especially the puppies. Males of this species are usually a bit more intense than females.

Abyssinian guinea pigs, like the rest of guinea pigs, they should not bathe so as not to destroy the protective layer they have on the skin. To keep a clean and healthy coat we must brush them occasionally With a soft brush, they love that. We must pay special attention in the back which is where it usually has more knots.

Peruvian guinea pig or Peruvian guinea pig

The Peruvian guinea pig or Peruvian guinea pig It is not a very common type of guinea pig but its fur makes it very special. This breed of guinea pig is usually pretty big, more than the rest of the races, but they have a pretty small head compared to other races.

The characteristic that makes them so unique is their long fur as a coat that usually reaches to the feet. Unlike silkie guinea pigs, they have a division of the hair on the top of the head that goes along the back. The Peruvian guinea pig has two rosettes. We can find Peruvian guinea pigs in different colors and patterns although it will be weird to see a tricolor.

Peruvian guinea pigs are very curious And they love to explore. They also enjoy the company of their caregivers so we must spend time playing with them and pampering them.

This guinea pig breed It is one of the most difficult to maintain for the great growth of his hair. It will be especially important. keep your environment clean, having such long hair, they will collect all the dirt as they pass. Necessary brush them every day and even twice a day, not only to clean your hair but to keep it free of knots. If we let her hair get tangled this will be a great stress for her because it would be very uncomfortable. To facilitate the maintenance of your fur, also we must cut it when it starts to reach the ground, that will also help them be more comfortable when it's hot.

Cobaya Coronet

The guinea pig coronet It is a combination of the crested guinea pig and the silkie guinea pig. This guinea pig he has very long hair and spiral hair grows on his forehead, It has a kind of crown or rosette in the middle of the head which can be the same or different color as the rest of the fur. The hair of the guinea pig coronet falls on the sides marking a line in the middle of the spine, making it flashy.

This type of guinea pig She is very playful, curious and affectionate, always seek attention.

In this kind of guinea pigs brushing should be daily to eliminate the dirt that they are dragging and eliminate the tangles, because if the tangles accumulate that would stress the guinea pig a lot. It should also go trimming hair as it grows to prevent him from dragging him on the ground.

Guinea pig sheltie or silkie

Formerly known as Angora guinea pig, the guinea pig sheltie or sheltand is a long and straight hair guinea pig and has no rosettes. It owes its name to that it has a very silky fur, which begins to grow very quickly since birth. The sheltie guinea pig has great resemblance to the Peruvian guinea pig but unlike this, its hair grows from head to torso, so they don't have hair on their faces.

The sheltie guinea pig has a very character relaxed and shy, so at the beginning it will take a little longer to get used to us. It is also very bath sensitive So we will avoid bathing it as much as possible, we can use dry shampoo to clean your coat or clean it by spraying it with a spray with water. This guinea pig is not able to carry out a cleaning routine just like the other breeds due to its fur, so we must help her to be clean. Your fur requires a daily brushing To keep it healthy and pretty.

Curly hair guinea pigs

These guinea pigs have the curly hair Y they are not very usuals in pet shops. These types of guinea pigs, because of their fur, require special care.

Within the curly hair guinea pigs We found the following races:

Guinea pig texel or Guinea pig tissilar

The guinea pig texel It is a very solid type of guinea pig for its unique curly fur. It is a relatively new breed of guinea pig that is the result of a cross between silkie guinea pig and rex guinea pig. The texel guinea pig is a guinea pig similar to the sheltie guinea pig but Has long curly hair.

The body of the texel guinea pig also has a kind of curly hair skirt on the back. The hair of the face area is much shorter than the rest of the body.

This type of guinea pig will need, like the other long-haired breeds, a daily brushing to remove dirt and tangles. We must also cut it as it grows so you don't drag it across the ground, especially the back It is necessary that it be well trimmed to prevent it from getting dirty in urine. They are also prone to accumulate earwax, so we should clean your ears every so often.

Cobaya Alpaca

The alpaca guinea pig is a curly and bushy hair guinea pig that grows forward and over the head of the guinea pig. It is characterized by having two swirls in the back.

Require a lot of care constant so that your hair is spongy and healthy. We should not bathe it regularly because that can cause it to end dry skin.

Merino guinea pig

The merino guinea pig it is a guinea pig that has the Long and curly hair, although with less defined curls That the guinea pig texel. Its main feature is that it has a swirl in the forehead.

Skinny guinea pig

The skinny guinea pig it's a race genetically modified. Its main and obvious feature is that Does not have hairin the whole body. Although they have no hair, they can be found in different skin colors: unicolor, bicolor and tricolor. This feature makes it especially sensitive and vulnerable to cold and to temperature changes. This implies that your skin requires special cares.

If we adopt a skinny guinea pig so that it is healthy, it is best to be in a warm season to avoid catching a cold during the trip home. In winter, we must place your cage on an elevated surface and near a heat source to avoid drafts and take cold. Neither should touching the sun directly because having no hair could burn your skin.

Skinny guinea pig It is the ideal guinea pig for people who have hair allergy as a pet because they don't loose any hair.

Cobaya baldwin

A diferencia de la cobaya skinny, la cobaya baldwin sí nace con pelo, pero lo va perdiendo hasta que alcanza la edad adulta. Igual que con las cobayas skinny, las cobayas baldwin son sensibles a las alteraciones de temperatura y hay que tener también watch out de no exponerla al sol directo ni al frío.

Dónde comprar una cobaya

Si queremos adoptar a una cobaya podemos acudir a un criadero o a una tienda especializada de confianza, sólo en los sitios autorizados y legales podrán darnos un animal en buenas condiciones. Deberá tener como mínimo entre 6 y 7 semanas de edad y que no haya sido destetado antes de tiempo . Tendremos que comprobar que su pelo está suave y sin calvas y que no tenga parásitos. Debe tener unos ojos brillantes que indiquen que está sano y mostrarse activo. Deberás también revisar sus patas, que no tengan heridas ni malformaciones. Revisa también su dentadura, que sea recta y fuerte.

Comportamiento de las cobayas

Las cobayas son unos animalitos sociables y amigables, por eso se llevan genial con niños a partir de los 6 años. Les gusta rest y por eso a menudo las veremos durmiendo durante el día aunque, como decíamos anteriormente, sean diurnas.

Aún ser sociables, hay que tener mucho cuidado con ellas porque son animales muy asustadizos y nerviosos, así que hay que vigilar de no hacer ruidos fuertes ni movimientos rápidos o bruscos cerca de ellas. Nunca agarres a ningún roedor por el lomo ya que por aquí es por donde los atacan los depredadores y se asustan mucho.

Generalmente las cobayas no muerden, pero sí que chillan a menudo, ya sea por alegría o por miedo.

Es importante tener en cuenta que se trata de un mamífero gregario, eso quiere decir que en la naturaleza las cobayas viven en colonias y tienen una jerarquía. De eso podemos aprender que sienten una gran necesidad de compañía y socialización. Al igual que nos pasa a los humanos, necesitan la compañía de otros ejemplares de su especie para ser felices. Si acabas de adoptar una cobaya, puede que se sienta triste al separarse de sus cobayas amigas. Si no te es posible tener más de una cobaya te recomendamos que le dediques mucho tiempo y atención para que sea feliz.

Eso sí, si vas a juntar a dos o más cobayas es importante que tengas en cuenta su sexo, ya que si adoptas una hembra y un macho acabarás con una camada no deseada (a menos que el macho esté esterilizado). También es importante tener en cuenta el sexo de las cobayas para evitar posibles peleas.
Los primeros días, es bueno que no saques a la cobaya de su jaula para que tenga tiempo a acostumbrarse al olor del lugar sintiéndose segura. Una vez se vaya familiarizando y permitiendo que la toques, entonces puedes tenerla fuera de la jaula para interactuar con ella. For seguridad de tus cosas y de su vida, debes tener mucho cuidado con los objetos que tiene a su alcance cuando esté fuera de la jaula porque pueden morderlos (como por ejemplo los cables).

No te preocupes ni te impacientes si al principio tiene miedo, porque es lo normal. Ten paciencia y dale tiempo para que te conozca y te coja confianza.

Una vez familiarizada, deberemos dejarla suelta bajo supervisión en una zona más amplia, acondicionada y segura durante varias horas al día.

Si quieres aprender el significado de los sonidos que emiten las cobayas echa un vistazo a nuetro artículo sobre Cobayas sonidos

Jaula para cobayas

Las cobayas deben tener un espacio adecuado, acorde al número de inquilinos. Eso se traduce en una jaula de, como mínimo, 120 centímetros de largo, 60 centímetros de ancho y 45 centímetros de alto. No es recomendable que tengan más de un piso porque se pueden caer. Puedes también tenerlas en un recinto acotado con paneles, siempre y cuando estén a salvo tanto de posibles huidas como de ser alcanzadas por otros animales. En este caso, las medidas mínimas para dos cobayas es de 2 metros cuadrados.
El suelo de la jaula no puede ser de reja porque las cobayas tienen las patas delicadas y podrían lastimarse.

Es importante que dispongamos la jaula en un sitio bien estudiado ya que este debe reunir las siguientes condiciones:

• Estar en el interior
• En una zona luminosa pero sin darle la luz directa del sol
• No haya corrientes de aire
• La temperatura no oscile a menudo
• No esté al alcance de otros animales
• Esté en una zona tranquila sin ru >

Lecho para cobayas

En el fondo de la jaula deberemos poner un sustrato. Este debe ser de pellets de papel prensado o celulosa. No hay que ponerles pellets de serrín prensado porque es demasiado duro para sus delicadas patas y podrían dañárselas. Podemos usar también sustrato de maíz o de cáñamo. No debemos usar tampoco arena de gato, virutas de madera ni serrín porque les puede provocar graves problemas de salud. Tendremos que cubrir el suelo de la jaula con al menos 2 dedos de grosor.

Deberemos renovar el sustrato una vez a la semana, al limpiar la jaula. Podemos quitar diariamente heces o zonas del sustrato húmedas o muy sucias.

Bebedero para cobayas

La cobaya debe tener siempre agua limpia y fresca disponible. Para mayor higiene es mejor ponerles un biberón de agua para roedores de mínimo 250 centilitros. Hay que lavar el bebedero weekly.

Dispensador de heno

Es importante colocar una henera o dispensador de heno con una buena cantidad de heno y que esté siempre disponible. Debemos cambiarles el heno cada ciertos días, cuando veamos que se ha empezado a secar. No es recomendable cambiárselo cada día porque puede pasar que entonces sólo elija las partes menos fibrosas y por su salud nos interesa que también coma de las más fibrosas.

Alimentación de las cobayas

En cuanto a la alimentación de estos animales, hay que darles una vez al día una ración de verdura y de fruta fresca. También se le puede dar una ración de pienso de buena calidad cada día. Debes tener en cuenta que las cobayas son customs animals y agradecerán que sigas un horario para las comidas. Puedes darle la comida en dos momentos del día distintos, siempre a las mismas horas.

No debemos descuidar su peso, podemos pesar a nuestra cobaya semanalmente en una báscula de cocina. De esta manera, podrás controlar el sobrepeso y te darás cuenta de si baja o sube de peso considerablemente, en ese caso, deberás llevarla a un veterinario.

Heno para cobayas

El heno o alfalfa para cobayas es una mezcla de hierbas naturales que tu cobaya debe tener a su disposición siempre. La cobaya masticará lentamente el heno, protegiendo su sistema digestivo y sus dientes. Junto con el pienso y los complementos nutricionales, forma parte de la dieta indispensable de tu cobaya. El heno estimulará su metabolismo, ayudará a su tránsito intestinal y lo mantendrá en forma. Una cobaya que no coma heno regularmente puede llegar a tener problemas graves de salud.

Verduras frescas

Se les debe dar mínimo una ración al día mezclando diferentes verduras.

Si es la primera vez que tu cobaya come verdura, deberás seguir la regla de los 3 días.

Regla de los tres días

Iremos introduciendo las verduras de una en una para poder distinguir qué verdura no le sienta bien. Cada verdura le será dada durante tres días consecutivos, empezando por una cantidad muy pequeña e ir aumentando la cantidad el segundo y tercer día. Si aparece algún síntoma de que no le sienta bien (diarrea, gases,…) dejaremos de darle esa verdura y esperaremos a que el animal se recupere antes de empezar con otra verdura. Más adelante, cuando acabemos de introducir las verduras, podemos volver a intentarlo con aquellas que no le sentaron bien o simplemente no dársela. Hay que empezar con verduras y frutas que generalmente no dan problemas como la manzana, la escarola, etc.

Vitamina C

Las cobayas necesitan un gran aporte de vitamina C en su dieta porque su organismo no es capaz de producirla por sí solo de forma natural. Cuando nuestra cobaya tiene una falta de vitamina C, puede tener distintos síntomas como pueden ser resfriados, debilidad, diarrea, inmovilidad, hemorragias musculares e incluso la caída de los dientes.

Para darle a nuestra mascota el aporte de vitamina C necesario para su buena salud, incluiremos en su dieta diaria al menos una verdura rica en vitamina C como el pimiento rojo o el pimiento verde. Las fresas son muy ricas también en esta vitamina así que podemos también complementar el pimiento con alguna fresa.

Los piensos específicos para esta clase de animal llevan generalmente vitamina C, pero esta se degrada rápidamente una vez abierto el envase.

Frutas frescas

A las cobayas they like it a lot la fruta pero hay que tener cuidado de no abusar ya que contienen mucho azúcar y les puede hacer engordar. Se debe dar en cantidades muy pequeñas y sólo 2 o 3 veces a la semana.

Las frutas más adecuadas son: manzana, pera, kiwi, fresas, sandía y piña. Se les puede dar cítricos pero en pequeñas cantidades.

Pienso para cobayas

El pienso se les debe dar para complementar la dieta, no como base. Debe tener mucha fibra y ser pienso en pellets (pienso prensado). Hay que evitar las semillas y el pienso que tenga distintos elementos entre los que la cobaya pueda elegir (queremos que se lo coma todo, no sólo las partes que más le gustan).

Alimentos prohibidos para cobayas

Los alimentos de origen animal como la carne, los lácteos y los huevos son muy poco aconsejables dado que las cobayas son animales herbívoros y se alimentan sólo de vegetales.

Algunas plantas o especias pueden resultar tóxicas para los animales, así que no debemos dárselas bajo ningún concepto.

Finalmente, todos los productos que lleven sugar (para el consumo humano) no son adecuados para ellas. Pueden causarles trastornos intestinales y ceguera, among others.

Estos son los alimentos que nunca debes darle a tu cobaya:

• Frutos secos
• Legumbres
• Garlic
• Onion
• Puerro
• Patata
• Boniato
• Derivados animales
• Sugar
• Aguacate
• Lechuga iceberg
• Cauliflower
• Alimento para perros o gatos
• Alimentos cocinados
• Carne
• Café
• Salt
• Mint
• Avena procesada (para consumo humano)
• Quesos y lácteos en general
• Fruta en conserva o en almíbar
• Chocolate
• Hojas del tomate
• Flor de pascua
• Hojas o tallos de bambú

• Hojas de té
• Esparraguera
• Belladonna
• Hongos
• Orquídeas
• Rododendros
• Hiedras
• Helechos
• Cactus
• Clavel
• Geranio
• Ricino
• Muérdago
• Prímulas
• Ficus
• Narciso
• Enebro
• Roble
• Amapolas
• Cannabis
• Aloe vera
• Bulbos
• Violeta
• Tejo

Las cobayas, como suele pasar con los roedores, son animales que se lavan ellos mismos continuamente. Lo hacen acicalándose y lamiéndose el pelaje varias veces al día. Aun así, debemos saber sus hábitos y cómo podemos mejorar su calidad de vida.

Bañar una cobaya

Estos animales son muy limpios, por lo que evitaremos el baño a menos que sea muy necesario. Para lavarlas podemos usar toallitas de bebé. En caso de que sea estrictamente necesario bañarlas, debemos hacerlo a una temperatura adecuada (ni muy fría ni muy caliente, debe estar templada) y con especial cuidado de no mojarle la cabeza ni las orejas. Como champú, usaremos uno especial para roedores. Podemos encontrar también en las tiendas champú seco para roedores, que son unos polvos que podemos aplicar en su pelaje sin mojar al animal en ningún momento. Para retirarlo basta con cepillar su pelo con un cepillo suave. El champú seco absorbe la suciedad, la grasa y los malos olores dejando el pelo perfumado.
Nos aseguraremos de que quede bien seca (para que no coja un resfriado) usando una toalla de algodón muy suave. En ningún caso usaremos el secador porque puede ser peligroso para el animal.

Una vez seca, podemos ofrecerle un cepillado del pelo con un cepillo pequeño y suave para eliminar los posibles enredos y el pelo muerto.

Uñas de la cobaya

En un ambiente doméstico, las uñas de las cobayas suelen no desgastarse. Es por eso que hay que ir controlando sus uñas y cortar las uñas de la cobaya en caso de ser necesario. Se debe utilizar un cortaúñas para cobayas o para gatos (no para perros) sin tocar la zona rosada de la uña. Es aconsejable acudir a un veterinario para que nos enseñe a hacerlo de forma segura ya que es una tarea delicada en la que podemos causarle una hemorragia a la criatura en caso de hacerlo mal.

Salud de las cobayas

Cuando adoptamos una cobaya es aconsejable llevarla al veterinario para una revisión para comprobar que tiene buena salud y para desparasitarla en caso de ser necesario. Es recomendable acudir al veterinario mínimo una vez al año.
Es difícil percibir si nuestra cobaya está enferma, por lo que nuestra primera señal de alarma será ver a nuestra mascota escondida y triste. Ante esta situación, debemos llevarla a un veterinario de exóticos en seguida. Si nos es imposible llevarla a un especialista de animales exóticos (eso incluye a los roedores) podemos llevarla a un veterinario convencional para que la atiendan con un mínimo de conocimientos.

symptom que nos indican que nuestra cobaya está enferma:

Her >Enfermedades comunes en cobayas

Las cobayas pueden ponerse enfermas debido a diversos factores como por ejemplo una mala alimentación, falta de cuidados o accidentes.

Enfermedad respiratoria

Es muy peligrosa porque puede derivar en una neumonía. Si nuestra cobaya tose, estornuda o tiene mucosidad, lo más probable es que esté tu cobaya resfriada. En ese caso, deberemos acudir al veterinario de inmediato, no podemos esperar.

La cobaya suele rascarse y provocarse heridas. Es importante llevarla al veterinario para aplicarle un antiparasitario.

Reproducción de las cobayas

Las cobayas son animales vivíparos, es decir, las crías se desarrollan dentro del útero de la madre hasta el momento de nacer.

The cobayas macho alcanzan la sexual maturity a los 2 meses y son polígamos, lo que significa que se aparean con varias hembras. The cobayas hembra alcanzan la sexual maturity al primer mes, pero no es aconsejable que lo hagan antes de los primeros 7 meses de vida pues existe el riesgo de que las crías no se desarrollen bien. Las hembras se ponen en celo cada 16 días.

Para lograr el apareamiento, el macho corteja a la hembra ronroneando, moviendo el trasero y girando a su alrededor. Después de la fecundación, the gestación dura entre 59 y 72 días. Generalmente una cobaya da a luz de 1 a 7 crías, aunque las primerizas o las muy adultas solo dan a luz 1 o 2 crías. Al nacer, las crías de cobaya pesan entre 50 y 100 gramos y nacen totalmente desarrolladas, con los ojos abiertos y con bastante pelo. Además, a las pocas horas de nacer ya son increíblemente autónomas y juegan y se mueven de forma independiente. Sin embargo, como mamíferos que son, siguen dependiendo de la madre alimentándose de ella durante los primeros días. The lactancia de estas crías dura de 3 a 4 semanas.

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