Outwardly the Mini Rex rabbit looks like a miniature version of the larger Rex Rabbit. Sporting graceful proportions and that nice plush “Rex fur”, this is a very good-looking rabbit. It has become one of the most popular and readily available pet rabbits and is good with children.

The Mini Rex is an adorable medium-sized rabbit that makes a wonderful companion. Generally friendly and moderately active, they will enjoy playing or just relaxing and being petted. Because of its relatively small size it is easy to handle, as well as easy to house and feed.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Lagomorpha
Family:Leporidae
Genus:Oryctolagus
Species:cuniculus

Background

   The Mini Rex is accepted as a new breed in Great Britain and the United States. This breed was first recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in 1988.

Description

   The Mini Rex grows to 3.5-4.5 lbs. They are well-muscled with good shoulder and hip widths. Their ears stand straight and erect.

   Monna R. Berryhill, who is from Texas, first bred them and has shared the following information with us:

Dr. Jungle says…”Thanks for contributing Monna! “

“I am the developer of the Mini Rex rabbit…
The Mini Rex is the direct result of the crossing of a Black Dwarf Rex buck (imported from Holland in 1984 by Marylouise Cowan of Maine) with an undersized Lynx Rex doe. The first cross produced Mini Rex and through selective breeding, the breed was “invented”. The crossing of a Netherland Dwarf and a Rex was done in Holland by the developer of the Dwarf Rex and was many generations away from having the true Rex fur.”…Monna R. Berryhill 2004-04-08

**Monna R Berryhill, Developer of the Mini Rex rabbit*

   The main feature of Rex rabbits is their very beautiful and very soft fur. It feels just like velvet when you pet it. This is because the longest guard hairs have been bred away and the secondary guard hairs have been reduced to the same length as the undercoat hairs.

Color differences

   Though there are lots of different colors of Mini Rex, they have to be particular colors if they are going to be show bunnies rather than pets. But those that are pets are every bit as cuddly and soft.
   The Mini Rex varieties allowed for showing are: Black, Blue, Castor, Chinchilla, Chocolate, Himalayan, Lilac, Lynx, Opal, Red, Seal, Tortoise Broken color (any recognized color and white with the exception of Himalayan) and Red-eyed White.


Featured Image Credit: DjTimothyRSA, Shutterstock