Breed profile

Marta (Silver Marten)

"Marten" pattern: black body with silver on the belly and beneath the eyes. Elegant.

Origin: Estados Unidos Size: Mediano Lifespan: 5-8 años Energy

Foto: Wikipedia Commons · CC BY-SA

Ideal for

✓Families with time for daily care
✓Homes with space for a free-range area
✓Those seeking a quiet pet

Reconsider if

×Homes with loose hunting dogs
×Rough young children (rabbits are easily frightened)
×Life spent 100% in a cage (cruel · they need 4 h/day loose)

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Is the Marta (Silver Marten) a good match for you?

Indicative rating from 1 (low) to 5 (high).

Suitable for flats

Suitable for first-timers

Good with children

Tolerates being alone

Energy level

Shedding level

Grooming needs

Ease of handling

Tolerates heat

Tolerates cold

💶 Estimated cost of ownership

40-65 €/month

Quality hay ~10-18 €, fibre pellets ~6-10 €, fresh vegetables ~10-15 €, litter/substrate for the corner ~8-14 €. Annual myxo+RHD vaccine and exotics check-up spread out ~8-12 €/month. One-off costs aside: neutering 120-250 €, initial cage/pen 60-150 €, carrier 20-40 €. Unexpected exotics veterinary bills can be high (a bout of stasis or dental surgery, 150-500 €): an emergency fund or insurance is advisable.

History and origin

Recognised by ARBA. Originating in the United States. "Marten" pattern: black body with silver on the belly and beneath the eyes.

Temperament and character

Shy by nature (a prey animal). Gains confidence with patience. Sociable with other neutered rabbits. NOT a solitary animal — a companion is always better.

Living together

Children: with respectful children from age 8 (no shaking). **Other rabbits:** yes (neutered, gradual introduction). **Dogs:** avoid hunting breeds. **Cats:** possible, supervise.

Life stages of the Marta (Silver Marten)

Each stage has its own care priorities. Life expectancy: 5-8 años.

Kit

0-4 months

Mother's milk and a gradual transition to hay and junior pellets; avoid diarrhoea

Junior

4-8 months

Free-choice grass hay, introduce fresh vegetables gradually; watch the teeth

Adult

8 months-5 years

Unlimited hay as the foundation, a measured ration of pellets and vegetables; dental and weight control

Senior

5-6 years onwards

Adjust the diet if there is dental wear or weight loss; regular veterinary check-ups and a comfortable floor

Care

Space: at least 4 h/day out of the cage in a safe area. The cage is for resting/overnight only.

Feeding: 80% quality hay (Timothy/Italian Ryegrass), 15% fresh vegetables, 5% quality pellets (limit these).

Grooming: 2-3 times/week (daily during moults and for long-haired breeds).

Veterinary care: an exotics vet (NOT a general vet — different anatomy/pharmacology). Annual myxomatosis + RHD vaccine. Neutering at 4-6 months (prevents uterine cancer in 80%+ of entire females).

Care in detail

🍽️ Nutrition

70-80% free-choice grass hay (Timothy, meadow hay, ryegrass) available 24 h: it is the foundation of the diet and wears down the teeth. 10-15% varied, safe fresh vegetables (leafy greens: lamb's lettuce, escarole, culinary herbs, carrot tops). Fibre-rich rabbit-specific pellets, limited (around 25 g/kg of body weight per day) to prevent obesity. Always clean water, ideally in a bowl drinker. Forbidden: cereals, bread, nuts, commercial treats and excess fruit (only as an occasional treat).

✂️ Grooming

Short coat: brush once a week, and daily during the seasonal moults (spring and autumn) to reduce ingested hair. Trim the nails every 4-6 weeks. Check daily that the rear end is clean.

🎓 Training

Handling: the rabbit is a prey animal, so you earn its trust with patience, at its level and without chasing it. It rarely tolerates being picked up; always support the hindquarters when holding it (a kick into thin air can fracture its spine) and it is better to interact at floor level. It learns to use the litter corner very well once neutered.

🏃 Exercise

At least 3-4 hours a day loose in a safe, rabbit-proofed area (protected cables, no toxic plants). The cage or pen is only for resting: living shut in all day is harmful both physically and mentally. Tunnels, boxes and foraging toys keep its mind active.

Breed-specific health

Common rabbit conditions: GI stasis (a halt in gut movement · EMERGENCY), dental malocclusion (check every 6 months), encephalitozoonosis. Life expectancy 5-8 years with proper care.

🩺 Health predispositions of this breed

Conditions this breed is more predisposed to. Knowing about them helps with prevention and early detection. A predisposition does not mean the animal will develop them.

🐰Estasis gastrointestinal (conejos)🦷Maloclusion dental (conejos)

Common diseases in rabbits

Learn the symptoms, prevention and when to see the vet. Reviewed indicative information that does not replace a veterinary consultation.

🍄Tiña (dermatofitosis)🦟Pulgas 🌡️Golpe de calor ☠️Intoxicación / envenenamiento ⚖️Obesidad 🐰Estasis gastrointestinal (conejos)

See all 158 diseases in the health guide

Screening and prevention for the Marta (Silver Marten)

Recommended tests and screenings

✓Full dental examination (incisors and molars) to detect malocclusion
✓Abdominal palpation and monitoring of gut transit (gastrointestinal stasis)
✓Serology or PCR for Encephalitozoon cuniculi
✓Faecal analysis (coccidia and parasites)
✓Examination of the footpads (pododermatitis)

Prevention

Annual vaccination against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHDV1 and RHDV2), essential in the UK given mosquitoes and wild rabbit populations. Neutering at 4-6 months (prevents uterine adenocarcinoma, which affects most entire females over 3-4 years of age, and reduces marking and aggression). Deworming as directed by the exotics vet. A hay-based, free-choice diet to wear down the teeth and maintain gut transit; weight control.

Check-up schedule

Annual general veterinary check-up with an exotics vet and a dental check every 6 months. From 5-6 years of age, six-monthly check-ups.

Warning signs

!Not eating or defecating for more than 12 h (gut stasis: veterinary EMERGENCY)
!Drooling, watery eyes or dropping food (a sign of dental malocclusion)
!Head tilt, spinning or loss of balance (E. cuniculi or otitis)
!Nasal or ocular discharge and sneezing (pasteurellosis/"snuffles")
!Very small, absent or diarrhoeic droppings; lethargy and collapse

Marta (Silver Marten) gallery

Foto de la raza marta — Foto: Wikimedia Commons

Frequently asked questions about the Marta (Silver Marten)

How long does a Marta (Silver Marten) live?

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The life expectancy of the Marta (Silver Marten) is 5-8 años. A good diet, adequate exercise, annual veterinary check-ups and preventive care can help reach the upper end of that range.

How much does a Marta (Silver Marten) weigh?

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An adult Marta (Silver Marten) weighs between 2.7-4 kg, depending on its sex, genetics and condition. It is mediano.

Where does the Marta (Silver Marten) breed come from?

▾

The Marta (Silver Marten) originates from Estados Unidos. Recognised by ARBA. Originating in the United States. "Marten" pattern: black body with silver on the belly and beneath the eyes.

How much exercise does a Marta (Silver Marten) need?

▾

The Marta (Silver Marten) has media energy. **Space:** at least 4 h/day out of the cage in a safe area. The cage is for resting/overnight only.

Is the Marta (Silver Marten) good with children?

▾

**Children:** with respectful children from age 8 (no shaking). **Other rabbits:** yes (neutered, gradual introduction). **Dogs:** avoid hunting breeds. **Cats:** possible, supervise.

Who is the Marta (Silver Marten) NOT recommended for?

▾

It isn't the right breed for: Homes with loose hunting dogs. Rough young children (rabbits are easily frightened). Life spent 100% in a cage (cruel · they need 4 h/day loose). It's important to choose a breed that's compatible with your lifestyle.

What health problems does the Marta (Silver Marten) have?

▾

Common rabbit conditions: GI stasis (a halt in gut movement · EMERGENCY), dental malocclusion (check every 6 months), encephalitozoonosis. Life expectancy 5-8 years with proper care.

Is the Marten a good pet for beginners?

▾

It is not the best first choice: it is active/nervous and needs an experienced, patient owner. Calmer breeds such as the Netherland Dwarf or the Mini Rex are better for beginners. In any case, it is not a "cage" pet: it needs several hours loose each day and companionship.

Can it live alone or does it need company?

▾

The rabbit is very social and is usually better in a pair (both neutered, with a gradual introduction on neutral territory). If it lives alone, it needs plenty of daily interaction; it should never spend the day shut in without stimulation.

How much coat care does the Marten need?

▾

Little: a short coat with weekly brushing, and daily only during the seasonal moults to reduce ingested hair (rabbits cannot vomit, so an excess can cause a halt in gut movement).

Does it cope well with the summer heat in the UK?

▾

No. The rabbit tolerates heat poorly and above 28-30 °C is at risk of heatstroke, which can be fatal. Keep it in the shade, with ventilation, fresh water and, if needed, cool tiles or bottles of frozen water; it copes with cold far better.

What vaccines and check-ups does it need?

▾

Annual vaccination against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (RHDV1 and RHDV2), which are essential in the UK. An annual check-up with an EXOTICS vet (not just any clinic) and a dental check every 6 months. Neutering at 4-6 months is strongly recommended, especially for females, to prevent uterine cancer.