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.

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Cute, Cuddly and Economical

The Mini Rex is now the most shown breed in the world, and one of the most popular with pet owners. Yet they have only actually been around since the mid eighties, when Mona Berryhill, a breeder from Texas, successfully bred a Dwarf Rex to a Lynx Rex.
So what is it about these little guys that make them so very popular?
The Mini Rex is of course very small, averaging three to four pounds in weight. Their fur is extremely luxurious but not so long that they require constant grooming. They do not eat very much food, about as much as can fit into a tuna can per day. Because of their size they can live indoors without taking up too much space, and are usually smart enough to be litter trained.

Great with Kids and Clever Too

The Mini Rex is a very popular breed with children, who tend to love them for their cuddliness, as the Mini Rex is normally a very affectionate animal. They are fairly hardy little souls, and usually live to at least six or seven years of age. They can thrive outdoors, as long as their hutch is well insulated and protected from the elements.

Watch Their Feet

The only problem that Mini Rex Owners have reported is that the breed seems particularly prone to developing sore hocks (lesions and sores on the bottoms of their feet.) Some Mini Rex breeders recommend keeping the feet wrapped or having the bunny wear protective “footies” when active.

The Rapid Rise of the Mini Rex Bunny

The Mini Rex now comes in a wide variety of colors, most of which have now been accepted by ARBA as show worthy. The first Mini Rex shown in America, by Ms. Berryhill, was a castor (a dark gray/brown) color, and it was that particular rabbit who went before the ABRA selection committee in 1986 and impressed the judges enough that the Mini Rex became an officially recognized breed a mere two years after it was created.

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