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, even if that practice has all but stopped these days.
The Huge 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 insignia. Breeders have had fantastic success in breeding Rex’s of many uncommon 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 honest and stiff, and their small coat requires very small grooming.
The Rex temperament is excellent natured and stable as a rule, and they do make brilliant 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 fantastic success. Even if they are relatively cool rabbits, they do not take pleasure in very noisy environments or rough handling, a trait common to nearly all rabbit breeds.
Mini Rex Rabbits
Mini Rex Rabbits are really just a smaller translation of the Standard Rex rabbit, weighing on average three to five pounds. They sport the same luxurious fur, are as friendly as their larger cousins, and considerably more active. They may not make the best pet for very small children as they are honestly fragile animals and need to be handled with a high degree of care.
Both varieties of Rex can make brilliant house rabbits; they are quite simple to toilet train and will usually be quite pleased in the company of both people and other animals. The decreased need for grooming makes them suitable for busier families.