Standard Rex Rabbit & Mini Rex
Meet the Rex, Large and Small
Rex rabbits come in two main types, the Standard Rex, and its’ smaller cousin, the Mini Rex. Both breeds have a luxurious, velvety fur that was once the main reason they were bred, as it’s coat was in high demand by the fur trade, although that practice has all but ceased these days.
The Big Boy in the Family- The Standard Rex
A Standard Rex usually weighs somewhere between seven and eleven pounds, and comes in a huge range of colors. Breeders have had great success in breeding Rex’s of many different hues, and the Rex rabbits of today can be found in Blue, Black, Chocolate, Lilac, Amber and Sable, to name just a few. Breeders also categorize their marking styles, with such names as Californian, Castor, and Black Otter. Rex ears stand straight and stiff, and their short coat requires very little grooming.
The Rex temperament is good natured and stable as a rule, and they do make excellent pets, especially for children. Rex does have a reputation for being very maternal in nature, and breeders will often use them to raise orphaned or rejected offspring of other rabbit breeds with great success. Although they are relatively calm rabbits, they do not enjoy very noisy environments or rough handling, a trait common to almost all rabbit breeds.
Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini Rex Rabbits are really just a smaller version of the Standard Rex rabbit, weighing on average three to five pounds. They sport the same luxurious fur, are as friendly as their bigger cousins, and considerably more active. They may not make the best pet for very small children as they are fairly fragile animals and need to be handled with a high degree of care.
Both varieties of Rex can make excellent house rabbits; they are quite easy to toilet train and will usually be quite happy in the company of both people and other animals. The decreased need for grooming makes them suitable for busier families.