We know the mini rex rabbit for its small size and plush fur.
Compared to the rex rabbit weighing approximately ten pounds, the mini rex bunny weighs only four pounds when fully grown. This attractive feature makes these bunnies much-loved pets.
In this article, discover how to care for a mini rex rabbit, nutrition and housing needs, and colors and characteristics of the mini rex bunny.
*We had two mini rex rabbits, Spurgeon and Annie, for over 7 years. Both have now passed away.
The Mini Rex Rabbit
The mini rex rabbit is a small breed bunny weighing from four to five pounds and has a lifespan of approximately seven to ten years living in captivity.
This rabbit has smooth, lush fur, short legs, and thick, straight ears that grow as long as three and a half inches.
With silky fur, the mini rex rabbit is low maintenance, soft, and velvety. Some rex rabbits may need their fur brushed to maintain a smooth texture and keep tangles to a minimum though this wasn’t necessary with our mini rexes.
It is also necessary to clip your bunny’s nails regularly and grooming your bunny helps to create a closer bond with your furry friend.
Color Of Mini Rex Rabbits
The American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes mini rex rabbits, sometimes called dwarf rex rabbits, for their colors, patterns, and mixed coats of two or more colors.
White mini-mixed rabbits with patches of other colors are called broken coats. Some broken-coated bunnies have various markings and patterns around their eyes, ears, tails, paws, or bodies.
According to the American Rabbit Breeders Association, there are several acceptable mini-mixed rabbit colors besides the typical white, black, red, and brown, including ruby-eyed white, tortoise, smoke pearl, marten, silver, seal, sable point, otter, opal, lynx, lilac, Himalayan, chocolate, chinchilla, castor, broken, and blue-eyed white.
How To Care For A Mini Rex Rabbit
The best way to care for your mini rex rabbit is to provide comfortable shelter, a healthy source of food, and plenty of companionship. You must also ensure your bunny is up to date on its vaccines and medical treatments and keep it well-groomed.
Here are some other suggestions to consider when caring for a mini rex rabbit:
1. Providing a Cage or Enclosure for Your Bunny
Your mini rex rabbit will feel safer when kept in a hutch or enclosed run, away from other household pets and children. An enclosure gives your bunny a better chance to relax and feel secure in its surroundings.
You can buy a rabbit hutch at your local pet store or construct one of wood and wire. However, when designing an enclosure, ensure it is bunny-proof so your furry friend cannot gnaw its way out and get into trouble.
Indoor rabbit hutches are another option, as mini rex make great house bunnies.
The perfect cage size for your rabbit should be approximately 30 by 30 inches to provide plenty of wiggle room to stand comfortably and move around the cage freely, but they’ll need a good run as well.
Bunnies also love privacy during sleeping hours, so their cage should have a tunnel or separate dark room for sleeping and private time.
2. The Proper Bedding to Use for Your Rex Rabbit
Cover the bottom of your cage or enclosure with comfortable bedding to keep your rabbit comfortable and free from sores.
Some examples of suitable bedding may include:
- Untreated wood pellets
- Untreated wood shavings
- Hay or straw
To keep your bunny most comfortable, spot-clean its bedding daily, and change it weekly.
3. Temperature
To ensure your bunny is comfortable, ensure its enclosure is well-ventilated and set at an ideal temperature of under 80 Fahrenheit.
Although rabbits have thick coats and can withstand cold temperatures, they prefer to be warm, especially during sleep.
4. Ideal Lighting for Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini rex rabbits are happy in natural lighting and don’t mind direct sunlight. Our rabbits loved basking in the sun.
However, sunlight can cause overheating during daylight hours and cause the rabbit to become uncomfortable so make sure they have a cool shaded area as well.
While wild rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk, pet rabbits will adjust their schedules around yours.
5. The Best Diet for Mini Rex Rabbits
Your mini rex rabbit should always have access to fresh water and eat a diet comprising 80 percent hay daily.
Other foods to give your bunny to make up the extra 20 percent of a balanced diet may include:
- Fresh vegetables, such as lettuce, carrots, and radishes
- Fresh fruits, such as strawberries, peaches, watermelon, and kiwis
- Store-bought bunny pellets
There are plenty of good rabbit treats out there.
Grooming Your Mini Rex Rabbit
There are different varieties of mini rex rabbits.
Some have long hair, and others have short coats of fur. Either way, they need regular grooming to keep their coats shiny and free from bugs, including parasites or fleas.
Some suggestions for grooming your bunny include the following recommendations:
- Brush them daily
- Spot-clean using a damp cloth, and dry well
- Trim nails often
- Examine ears and teeth regularly
Providing Exercise to Your Mini Rex Rabbit
Wild rabbits get plenty of exercise, hunting for food and entertainment daily. Therefore, it is also essential for bunnies in captivity to receive frequent daily exercise.
Daily, mini rex rabbits should get at least three hours of free time to run around in the grass outdoors or in a large enclosed area indoors, weather permitting.
Daily exercise is ideal for the health of your bunny.
Other benefits of daily exercising for your bunny include the following advantages:
- Keep muscles and joints in good shape
- Increase the lifespan of your rabbit
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Improves your rabbit’s overall health and well-being
Health Concerns with Mini Rex Rabbits
When you properly care for your mini rex rabbit, you help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
However, even when properly cared for, mini rex rabbits are prone to some common health concerns, such as overgrown teeth and the following health concerns:
- Digestion issues, such as diarrhea, gas, or internal blockages
- Eye problems, such as runny eyes or corneal ulcers
- Respiratory issues, such as infections, staphylococcus, or Pasteurella
- Skin irritations, such as fleas, parasites, or dry, itchy skin
Regular visits to a veterinarian can help eliminate some of these health concerns and ensure your mini rex rabbit stays as healthy as can be.
Our first mini rex rabbit died after being hit with a government-released rabbit disease designed to kill excess wild rabbits, while our second died many years later at an old age.
Temperament And Behaviors Of Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini rex rabbits are a popular pet for many families looking for a quiet addition to the household.
The mini rex is mild-tempered and perfect for adults, seniors, or families with small children. This pet is peaceful, friendly, and low-maintenance.
However, when buying a mini rex rabbit for younger children, it is critical to supervise play time to ensure the child does not hold the bunny too tightly, or drop it, causing injury to the pet.
Pet mini rex rabbits are intelligent and trainable to use a litter box or do tricks for treats, such as their favorite fruit or vegetables.
Because rabbits are mild-tempered and love treats, training them is doable with plenty of patience, verbal praise, and a soft voice during training.
So as not to scare your rabbit from learning the new skill you are attempting to teach it, always be gentle and patient.
Litter Training Mini Rex Rabbits
You can train your mini rex rabbit to use a litter box, similar to a cat.
There are several benefits to litter training your rabbit, including the following advantages:
- A litter box keeps the cage and bedding more sanitary
- Requires less cleaning time, weekly rather than daily
- Your rabbit will stay cleaner
Here are some easy-to-follow steps for litter box training your mini rex rabbits:
Step 1: Pick a Litter Box To Use
The first step for training your mini rex rabbit to use a litter box is to buy a litter box for small animals or make one out of a reusable plastic container.
Step 2: Place the Litter Box in the Cage
When toileting, rabbits return to the location repeatedly. So, when placing their litter box inside the rabbit cage, pick a spot they tend to potty most often.
Add litter and fresh hay to the litter box to encourage your bunny to use the litter box.
Step 3: Rewarding Your Bunny
Have treats nearby. Watch your bunny often. When you notice your rabbit using the litter box, reward them with fresh fruit or vegetables for a job well done.
Step 4: Clean the Litter Box Often
Ensure your rabbit’s litter box is clean.
Having a clean litter box will ensure your bunny continues to use it. When the litter box is dirty, your bunny may look for a new spot in the cage for toileting.
Once your rabbit has a routine using the litter box, you can clean it less frequently.
Mini Rex Rabbits
This brings our article about mini rex rabbit information and care guide to an end.
Are you thinking about buying a mini rex rabbit? If so, we hope we have given you some beneficial information to help care for your fresh addition to the family.
Mini rex rabbits are a gentle species that would make an excellent pet for anyone looking for a quiet companion. With care and training, mini rex bunnies make an ideal pet at any age.
In our opinion, it’s nice to get 2 or more rabbits so that they have a friend. Rabbits form groups in the wild, and mini rex rabbits can also make great friends with one another.
Check out these other family-friendly rabbit breeds for more ideas!