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Mini Lop Rabbits

Family: LeporidaeOryctolagus cuniculusPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Shelby

   The Mini Lop Rabbit has adorable droopy ears, making it look sweet and even a bit comical!

   Besides being so very cute, the Mini Lop Rabbit is a favorite bunny because they are so sweet and cuddly. These rabbits will stay smaller than a regular rabbit and they make a great pet for children.

   The Mini Lop Rabbit is lively and smart. Not only are they very "huggable" and playful, they are known to be successfully litter-box trained. They make great companions that like to interact and appreciate affection, and are often described as being like a pet dog.

   Both the Mini Lop and the Holland Lop are miniaturized versions of the Lop-earred Rabbit.

For more information about Rabbits and their care:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Rabbit

Background:    Mini Lops were derived from German lops called "Kleine Widder" lops, but it is thought that a variety of breeds have been used in developing the Mini Lop that is found in the United States today. Mini Lops were recognized as their own accepted breed in the United States in 1982, but neither they nor the Holland Lop are yet recognized in England.

Description:    Besides having the characteristic floppy ears, Mini Lops have a muscular build with broad shoulders, deep chests, and short, thick legs. Their adult size is generally only about 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 pounds.

Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

Color differences:    Mini Lop rabbits come in all colors.

   For showing, the American Rabbit Breeders Association, Inc. (ARBA) and the Mini Lop Rabbit Club of America have recognized colors and guidelines.

The recognized color groups are:

• Agouti: includes chinchilla, chestnut agouti, and opal.
• Broken: which are white with colored spots and /or pattern, including tri colors.
• Ticked: these have a steel gene and ticking, colors include: gold tipped or silver tipped black/blue/chocolate/lilac steel, silver fox, sable or smoke pearl steel.
• Self group, white pointed: these are a solid color with no ticking and include includes: black, chocolate, blue, ruby eyed white, lilac, etc.
• Shaded: these show shaded markings with colors such as: seal, sable point, sable, smoke or frosted pearl, tortoise, etc.
• Wide band: includes cream, red, orange, and fawn.
• Classifications include: solid pattern and broken pattern

   There are also many colors that are not recognized (though some are in the process of becoming recognized) including: harlequin, otter, silver marten, blue seal, broken pointed white, chocolate or blue point, etc.

Lastest Comments on Mini Lop Rabbits View all 449 comments on Mini Lop Rabbits Add Your Comment

Erica - 2012-02-01 I have a mini lop that is about 2 months old. I've had him for about a month now and love him to death! I carry him with me everywhere and give him lots of affection. He's so loving and so far doesn't mind being held. Here in the past week or two he's started this thing where he will nibble on the carpet and other things around the house. I live in a apartment so he really doesn't go outside much. Because of this I let him run around a lot for exercise. I've tried buying him a few toys but he doesn't seem interested in them. Anyone have some ideas? I want to keep letting him run around but I can't do that if he's chewing on the furniture etc. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2012-02-02 I don't believe you can stop a bunny from chewing - they need a safe area for when you can't supervise. Reply

Patricia Buchanan - 2011-11-07 I have a minilop and she is probably 4/5 years old. She was a rescue and I have a question about her..... she snores all day long when she sleeps and I wonder if this is common with minilops due to the shape of their face and nose? Any answers??? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-11-08 I don't know about snoring and a mini lop but I had a persian and she snored. I had Shar Peis and they all snored big time. I think possibly the pushed in nose and the position causing the snoring. Persians and sharpeis have similar noses/and scrunched look. MiniLopGuy - 2012-01-26 I know mine snores and I just figured out what the sound was the other day. At first I thought he was having some sort of breathing trouble but after monitoring him while sleeping for a few minutes he didn't look to be in any distress. As for the actual noise they make, sometimes they might snore a traditional snore (what you would think of as a snore) or they might sound like they are 'wheezing' when in fact it is because they are snoring. Reply

Jessica L Murray - 2011-07-12 Hello everyone. Me and my boyfriends little sister just rescued a mini lop. I've had him for about 2 months and my groomer says he is 7 months old. He looks like the spoted black one on the page but recently he started bitting me. I take my hand out of his cage and he bites me me. I'll pet him on the outside of the cage an he bites. How come???? I asked a vet and they say its normaly for a male bunny to be a butt but I've own bunnys for a long time and never had any of them bite me. And he is very pushy with my other male bunnie. He likes to hump him an this is a dutch and he 6months old. I bought him at tractor supply when he was just 5weeks old. Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-07-12 He is in puberty and having hormonal issues. Youmight want to get him neutered. If you don't want to breed him, defintely get him neutered. He will start spraying to mark his territory. He will also get more agressive with the other male. Is the other male neutered? MiniLopGuy - 2012-01-26 I would definitely separate the two males from each other. Like the other poster said, he is more than likely going through puberty. As for the biting, sometimes mini-lops (or almost any rabbit) will use their mouth to 'feel' things. Also sometimes they might do it out of play (I know my mini-lop does). However if he is biting hard enough to break the skin it would seem he's starting to have temperament issues. Those should clear up shortly after he's fixed. Reply

nicky - 2012-01-19 i have 2 minilops poppy my doe is 9 months and flex my buck 9 months to. i got them both at 9 weeks from my friend who is a well known breeder of minilops in scotland. i have become so involved with them. It's amazing, being an animal lover, rabbits were never a pet i ever thought of, but i wouldnt be without them. poppy has just had 2 stunning looking kits, she is a very good little mum. she still looks a baby herself as she isn't a big doe, she is very petite. luv her to bits, shes my bunny, flex is lovely too.. Reply

debashis barick - 2011-10-21 how to detect gender of a rabbit ??? Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-10-21 It is very difficult to detect a male vs a female until they reach puberty. When the male reaches puberty, his testicles will drop and then you will know. That's about 6 months. lisa - 2011-10-31 Press down on the rabbits genital area and blow if they are a male they will have a long and pointy tip if they are a female it will be rounded. Reply

carla - 2011-09-28 Hi, me and my Daughter have just got a mini lop, my she is very lively!! bless her.. We are trying to find a name for her. any ideas welcome :) Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-09-28 Try a whole bunch of names Timmy, Floppy, Sadie, Alex etc etc and see the one your furry floppy likes. They have a way of liking certain sounds - so just rattle off a bunch of names and pick the one your little one perks up the ears to or looks at you for. Then give her that name. Just an idea as worked for me. Diana - 2011-10-09 I just got one as well...I named mine I-Hop.... Some other names thought of were... spaz for spastic or taz for tazmanian devil Enjoy the new bunny...I know I am! Reply

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