Mini Rex Rabbit

Overview

• The Mini Rex carries the recessive rex gene, which shortens the guard hairs to the level of the dense undercoat and produces a plush, velvet-like coat standing about 5/8 in (1.5 cm) deep.
• Monna Berryhill developed the breed in Texas in 1984 by crossing a Dwarf Rex buck with a small standard Rex doe, the ARBA recognized it in 1988, and it has ranked among the most popular pet and show rabbits in the United States ever since.

• At 3-4.5 lb (1.4-2 kg) a Mini Rex sits between the tiny Netherland Dwarf and mid-sized breeds like the Dutch, with a normal muzzle rather than the flattened face of a Holland Lop.
• It is still a full rabbit commitment of 8-12 years.
• The welfare standard is a neutered, bonded pair with generous permanent space and daily exercise, never a lone rabbit in a hutch.

Housing

• Give a bonded pair a permanent enclosure of at least 3 m x 2 m and 1 m high (roughly 10 x 6 ft, 60 sq ft), accessible day and night, plus supervised free-roam time in a rabbit-proofed area, as a shop-bought hutch on its own is not enough.
• Flooring matters more for this breed than for most rabbits: the short rex coat leaves the footpads almost unpadded, so wire floors are ruled out entirely and hard surfaces should be covered with mats, fleece, rugs, or deep bedding.

• House them indoors or in a fully predator-proof, weatherproof shelter away from damp and draughts.
• Rabbits tolerate cold far better than heat, so avoid sustained temperatures above about 77°F (25°C).
• Add hides, tunnels, platforms, digging boxes, and a litter tray, which most Mini Rex learn to use quickly once neutered.

Diet

• Unlimited grass hay such as Timothy should make up at least 85% of the diet, wearing down the continuously growing teeth and keeping the gut moving.
• Add a daily portion of varied leafy greens and a small measured ration of plain pellets, about an eggcup or one tablespoon per kilogram of body weight per rabbit, with fresh water always available, ideally from a bowl.

• Avoid muesli mixes, sugary treats, and more than occasional fruit, which drive selective feeding, obesity, and dental disease.
• Extra weight is doubly harmful in a Mini Rex because it presses the thinly furred hocks into the floor.
• Introduce any diet change gradually to protect the sensitive gut from stasis.

Health

• Sore hocks (pododermatitis) is this breed's signature risk: rex fur leaves the feet with little protective padding, so check the hocks weekly for thinning fur, redness, or scabs and improve the flooring at the first sign.
• Obesity, overgrown nails, damp bedding, and dirty litter all make hock sores dramatically worse.

• Gut stasis is a life-threatening emergency whenever a rabbit stops eating or passing droppings and needs same-day veterinary care.
• Vaccinate against RHDV2 (in the UK and Europe also against myxomatosis and RHDV1, where those vaccines exist), neuter to prevent uterine cancer in does and ease bonding, and register with a rabbit-experienced vet early for annual dental and weight checks.

• The velvet coat itself needs almost no brushing, and stiff brushes can damage it.
• Strip loose fur during moults with damp hands or a soft grooming mitt instead.

Temperament

• Mini Rex are generally calm, tolerant, and people-oriented, closer in temperament to the steady Dutch than to the more reactive Netherland Dwarf, though youngsters can be lively.
• Like all rabbits they are prey animals that prefer four feet on the ground and dislike being picked up and carried.

• The velvety coat invites constant stroking, and many Mini Rex genuinely enjoy long floor-level petting sessions, which suits gentle, seated interaction better than a child's lap.
• They are social animals and should live with a neutered, bonded companion, as neutering also improves litter habits and pairing success.