Rex rabbit originated as a result of genetic mutation. This recessive mutation led to the formation of short hair in bunnies, which did not extend to a particular length. But the coat was soft textured with velvety furs, which is their prominent physical trait. They have 12 different types or varieties.
A Rex rabbit is a medium-sized rabbit with a broad head and erect or densely furred ears. It varies in color from black, brown, golden, and white. It has dense, shiny, or velvety fur with curly whiskers. Its body weight lies between 7 and 11 pounds, while body length is around 18 and 20 inches. Moreover, the Rex rabbit’s pregnancy lasts 30 or 31 days. This species is available for $30 to $50 and live for 5 to 8 years.
This breed is considered the king of all rabbits for its lustrous and luxurious fur. Rex is a word used for any animal with generally short and fine hair, so this breed is named for its hair. The ideal furs of Rex rabbits are known as “plush.” Initially, it was known as Castor Rex, but then it got its final name, Rex Rabbit. Their activity level is moderate, and they can jump 2 to 4 feet higher.
Content
Characteristics of Rex rabbit
How big do Rex rabbits grow?
What do Rex rabbits look like?
What is the main use of the Rex rabbit?
Is a Rex rabbit a good pet?
How old do Rex rabbits live?
How much is a Rex rabbit worth?
What is the gestation period of Rex rabbits?
What do Rex rabbits eat?
What are mini Rex rabbits?
Characteristics of Rex Rabbits
| Characteristics | Dutch rabbits |
| Common habitat | Domestic |
| Weight | 7 to 11 pounds |
| Size | 18 to 20 inches |
| Food | Fresh hay, fruits, leafy greens, and pellets |
| Litter size | 5 to 9 kits |
| Appearance | Brown and Black |
| Temperament | Both friendly or destructive |
| Origin | France |
| Duration of Gestation | 30 or 31 days |
| Life expectancy | 5 to 8 years |
| Use | Meat production |
| Cost | $30 to $50 |
How big do Rex rabbits grow?
Rex rabbits are of medium size with longer and round-shaped bodies. Their height and weight are lesser than that of giant bunny and more than the dwarf ones.
Their bodies grow until adulthood and reach 18 to 20 inches or 45 to 50cm in length. In addition, this breed is taller than a few other species. Their body height is within the range of 10 to 13 inches.
Their ear length is nearly 4 to 5 inches that is almost 10 to 12.7 cm. They are heavier than the dwarf breeds. Their body weight ranges between 7 to 11 pounds or 3.17 to 4.98 kg.
However, some of these grow bigger and possess heavier bodies than their fellows if they get a good diet and proper care. So, a fully grown, healthy Rex rabbit can reach up to 15 pounds.
What do Rex rabbits look like?
Rex rabbits have a variety of body colors, including white, brown, golden, black, and blue. They also appear in amber, lilac, opal, castor, and cinnamon colors, but they are uncommon.
Their furs are short, highly dense, and super-soft. Unlike other species, they have short and curly whiskers. At the same time, some of the other species do not even have whiskers.
This breed has a relatively broader head than other breeds. In addition, they have erect, upright, densely furred black ears. They have small, crooked legs with well-padded feet.
Their muscular hind legs are stronger than their front legs. The claws of this breed have the same color as that of their furs.
Some of their varieties have brown eyes, and others have blue-grey eyes. The albino Rex rabbit has white fur and ruby, pink, or red eyes.
Furthermore, the females (does) differ due to dewlap under their chin, which is absent in males (bucks) of this breed.
What is the main use of the Rex rabbit?
Rex rabbits were first originated in France for meat production. They have been bred and grown commercially to fulfill meat requirements. It is best to consume as lean meat.
This breed produces fine-quality meat with a higher amount of protein. Due to its ideal body size and weight, it is widely raised domestically as a pet.
They are also reared up for their extremely soft furs. Similarly, they are also bred for exhibitions and shows. They are used for experimentation in laboratories, so researchers buy them.
Also, they are grown and bred to produce new breeds and serve as an ancestor of different bunnies used for various purposes.
Is a Rex rabbit a good pet?
You can keep Rex rabbits at home as they are good pets having friendly behavior. However, they need special attention and care when handled. They avoid being hand-held and do not love cuddles as much as other species require.
In addition, they want a free space with no interference to enjoy playing and running. They do not like to stay in a confined space with restrictions on movement.
On the other hand, they need to be kept in a separate area of your house as they are destructive. They can chew cables, wires, boards, and even your furniture.
If you have many adults in your family, it is good to consider this species when choosing a pet bunny. However, I would not recommend choosing this breed if there are more than 2 to 3 children at your place. Children will pick them up and get attacked by these bunnies for touching them.
How old do Rex rabbits live?
The life expectancy of Rex rabbits is shorter, as they live for around 5 to 8 years. But they can reach the age of 10 in ideal conditions.
The life span of this breed will increase by more than 10 years through neutering when they reach a maximum age of 9 to 12.
Although this breed is less prone to some digestive issues and enjoys good health throughout its life, it is still one of the common factors responsible for a decreased lifespan.
However, diet and activity rate are the key factors that determine their lifespan. It can be less than 5 years or reach up to 12 years, which is the lowest to maximum range of life expectancy for them.
How much is a Rex rabbit worth?
In the mid-20th century, Rex rabbits were highly expensive because they were introduced at that time. The reported cost was almost within the range of $1200 to $1600.
With continuously increasing popularity, they were bred for a longer period of time, which led to decreased value and low cost in the market because cost depends on availability.
Currently, they are available for $30 to $50. In contrast, the price of a mini Rex is more than that of a standard larger bunnies, which ranges from $70 to $300.
However, the overall cost of buying, keeping, and maintaining a proper diet for Rex rabbits is almost $70 to $120 monthly. It also includes the cost of their medical checkups and other monthly expenditures.
What is the gestation period of Rex rabbit?
The gestation period of Rex rabbits typically lasts for 31 days, but sometimes, it gets completed within 30 days. The pregnancy of does may last a few more days than the average, which is referred to as stillbirth.
Rex rabbit bucks are sexually matured earlier than the females, and the average time for sexual maturity is 3 to 7 months.
However, it is better to wait longer to breed them until they are mature enough to reproduce and increase their population. The litter size of this breed ranges between 5 and 9 kits per litter.
The does can again get pregnant after some hours of giving birth to their kits. This means that, unlike other species, these does can produce a large number of kits in a year.
What do Rex rabbits eat?
It is good to know about the diet of Rex rabbits as a pet owner. You can provide a nutritionally balanced diet if you know about their requirements. Their feeding habits are not much different from other breeds.
Most of the diet should consist of fresh hay, including oats or timothy hay. In addition, they can eat high-quality pellets, but in moderation.
Small amounts of vegetables and fruits need to be added to their diet as their digestive system is less prone to gastric problems. So, a variety of food options are available for this particular breed.
A pet owner should provide an enriched environment and a fresh supply of water at all times. This way, pet bunnies can enjoy a healthy and happy life.
What is mini-Rex rabbit?
Mini Rex rabbits are a type of Rex rabbit that possess slightly varying physical or behavioral features. They are smaller and shorter and have lower body weights.
Their average body weight lies between 4 and 6 pounds. Moreover, their height is about 5 to 7 inches. Their body length is 8 to 14 inches. The size of their erect ears is about 2.5 to 4 inches or 6.4 to 10.2 cm.
This miniature version originated in the late 20th century in Florida, US. It is also available in a variety of colors. The most common colors are brown, white, black, red, and opal.
Their personality has different traits; some are calm, and others are aggressive. They will bite you soon after being adopted due to a lack of recognition.
One reason for their popularity is their beautiful, dense, velvety, soft, and shiny fur. Their small or compact body requires care from injuries and bad weather conditions.