The Mini Rex Rabbit is one of the rabbit breeds that originated in the United States. Being the miniaturised variety of the Standard Rex, it shares nearly the same physical traits as its larger counterpart, except for its small size.
Mini Rex Bunnies are good family pets since they have a warm and calm temperament. Due to their tiny stature, they must be handled gently as they easily get injured.
The Mini Rex breed’s grooming regimen is easy because of its low-maintenance but plush coat. Generally a healthy breed of rabbit, the Mini Rex has a lifespan of 8–10 years.
Mini Rex Rabbit Breed History
The Mini Rex breed is the smaller version of the Standard Rex Rabbit. It was developed in the United States as the demand for miniature pet rabbits grew.
The existence of Mini Rex Bunnies is credited to Monna Berryhill of Texas, who produced the very first litter of the breed. In 1984, she crossed an imported black Dwarf Rex buck named Zoro with an undersized Lynx Rex doe called Cotton.
The mating of the 2 pet rabbits produced 7 kits. Monna knew that she had developed a new breed of rabbit. Thus, she continued to breed the Mini Rex to get the breed officially recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders’ Association (ARBA).
Monna brought a few Mini Rex Bunnies to the ARBA convention in 1985. In the following years, she continued to present these small rabbits to the convention.
More and more breeders also joined in developing the Mini Rex breed as its popularity heightened. During the 1987 convention, over 100 Mini Rex Bunnies were entered.
This small rabbit breed became officially ARBA-recognized in 1988. Ever since its recognition, the Mini Rex Bunny’s fame soared in rabbit shows. Aside from the USA, it is also bred and raised in Denmark, England, Finland, Hungary, Norway, and Sweden.
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Mini Rex Rabbit Appearance
Mini Rex Bunnies have a smooth and springy coat. Their fur length is short, which is ideally 5/8 inches in length.
These Mini Rex Bunnies do not possess any long guard hairs that protect their underfur. Moreover, their secondary guard hairs have the same length as their undercoat. Thus, the Mini Rex’s fur has a luxurious velvety texture.
ARBA recognizes around 20 Mini Rex Rabbit colors and markings. The variety of colors include black, blue, blue-eyed white, broken group, castor, chinchilla, chocolate, Himalayan, lilac, lynx, opal, otter, red, sable point, seal, silver marten, smoke pearl, tortoise, and white.
How big do Mini Rex Rabbits get?
As smaller counterparts of Standard Rex Bunnies, Mini Rex Rabbits weigh approximately 1.4–1.8 kilos (3–4.5 pounds). This makes them half the size of their larger variety. Mini Rex doe rabbits tend to be larger than Mini Rex buck bunnies.
Mini Rex Rabbit Grooming
Before brushing a Mini Rex Rabbit, gently rub a dampened cloth on its coat. This will loosen the static and dead fur. Afterwards, use a slicker-style brush to remove the loosened fur.
The Mini Rex breed rarely needs a bath just like all rabbits, as this activity can be distressing for them.
Mini Rex Rabbit’s whiskers are curly and grow around the nose, mouth, eyebrows, and cheeks. Check the whiskers’ length regularly to make sure they don’t reach the rabbit’s eyes or nose. Overgrown whiskers should be trimmed.
Mini Rex Bunnies’ long nails can accidentally get snagged on wire bottoms of cages. Thus, make sure that their nails are kept short. Trim their nails at least once a month.
Mini Rex Rabbit Temperament
Do Mini Rex Rabbits make good pets?
Yes, Mini Rex Rabbits make good pets for they are relaxed and friendly animals. They are suitable pet bunnies for young and old.
Care should be taken when handling these Mini Rex Bunnies because of their small size. It is advised to hold the rabbit whilst sitting on the ground to minimise the risk of it accidentally falling and sustaining injuries.
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Are Mini Rex Rabbits aggressive?
No. Generally, Mini Rex Rabbits have a calm and relaxed temperament. However, due to their small size, they tend to be shy and easily feel threatened. They may turn aggressive as a defence mechanism when they feel in danger.
Socialising Mini Rex baby rabbits early will lower their wariness of people and lessen the chances of aggression from occurring.
Do Mini Rex Rabbits like to cuddle?
Yes, some Mini Rex Rabbits like to cuddle. But others prefer to stay close to their owners or receive pets than being cuddled.
Mini Rex Rabbit Nutrition
However, some fruits and other rabbit-safe treats are high in sugar, making them fattening. Thus, feeding these to Mini Rex Rabbits should be done in moderation. Treats must not go over 10% of their daily intake.
Fresh water for the Mini Rex Rabbits should be available at all times as it helps in their digestive function. Change the water daily to avoid bacteria proliferation and contamination.
Mini Rex Rabbit Feeding
Here are the general guidelines to follow when feeding Mini Rex Rabbits:
- Unlimited amounts of fresh hay should be provided.
- 1 cup of dark leafy greens should be given per 0.9 kilos (2 pounds) of a rabbit’s body weight daily.
- 1 tablespoon of non-leafy green veggies per 0.9 kilos (2 pounds) of body weight should be given per day.
- Rabbits under 2.2 kilos (5 pounds) such as the Mini Rex breed should be fed only 1/8 cup of pellets daily.
- Fruits should be fed once or twice a week only.
Opt for organic produce for your Mini Rex Rabbit as it has low exposure to harmful chemicals such as pesticides. Always wash the vegetables and fruits before serving to get rid of any toxic residues or dangerous bacteria.
As much as possible, your pet Mini Rex Rabbit’s daily meals should be composed of 3–5 types of vegetables and greens. Make sure to rotate the food varieties daily or weekly to keep it enticing.
It will also prevent your pet rabbit from consuming excessive amounts of nutrients from its meals, which can lead to health issues.
What do Mini Rex Rabbits eat?
The recommended hay for Mini Rex Rabbits is timothy hay as it has a balanced amount of fibre, protein, and fat. As for vegetables, it is ideal to choose dark leafy greens such as bok choy, basil, cilantro, and collard greens.
When it comes to fruits, there are plenty to choose from, including apples, bananas, and peach. Always make sure to remove seeds and pits before serving.
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Mini Rex Rabbit Health
For this reason, picking up and handling this pet rabbit should be done gently. Supervision is also needed when around children to avoid accidents.
Other health-related concerns of the Mini Rex breed include:
- Ear mites
- Malocclusion
- GI stasis
- Weakness of hind legs
Rabbits are good at hiding their illness. Thus, pet owners need to exercise a keen eye on discerning subtle rabbit disease symptoms.
If your rabbit exhibits sudden behavioural changes such as lack of energy, loss of appetite, as well as physical changes, including unkempt hair and alarming weight loss, consult a rabbit-savvy vet.
How long do Mini Rex Rabbits live?
Mini Rex Rabbits are hardy animals that are not prone to breed-specific health issues. They have a long lifespan and can live up to 8–10 years if properly cared for.
Mini Rex Rabbit Housing
The recommended size for small rabbits less than 4 kilos (8 pounds) is 24×36 inches. The floor of the Mini Rex Rabbit’s hutch should be made up of solid metal instead of a wire cage to prevent foot injuries.
A good alternative flooring would be plywood if a metal bottom is not available.
Inside the Mini Rex Rabbit’s hutch, place at least 2–3 inches of bedding. It can be made up of straw, paper pulp, and shredded cardboard. Stay away from cedar or pine shavings as they can cause respiratory problems.
Create a hiding spot as well. This is a safe space where your Mini Rex Rabbit can seek solace if it feels anxious or stressed.
To make a hiding spot, what you need to do is cut an opening out of a small cardboard box. Place your pet rabbit’s favourite toys inside to help ease its nervousness.
When it comes to cleaning the Mini Rex Rabbit’s hutch, carry out spot cleaning of your pet rabbit’s bedding daily. Then replace the bedding once a week. Litter boxes and food and water bowls need to be washed daily.
Cleaning the cage and other rabbit accessories is a weekly chore. Completely washing and sanitising them with rabbit-safe cleaners needed to be done once a month.
Damaged toys or other items inside the Mini Rex Rabbit’s hutch should be replaced as they may injure or hurt your rabbit.
Mini Rex Rabbit Cost of Ownership
Purchasing the daily necessities of your Mini Rex Rabbit such as food dispensers and grooming equipment may cost over £500. Providing comfy housing for your pet and rabbit-proofing your home may lead you to shell out about £350.
You will need to pay around £50 for your Mini Rex Rabbit’s check-ups and initial vaccinations. The yearly cost for preventative treatments and health checks can total up to £50.
Medical care for your Mini Rex Rabbit can be expensive. Thus, it is a good idea to get pet insurance to make vet treatments and check-ups affordable. The monthly fee for pet rabbit insurance is around £10.
