Mary Allen
Origin and Breed History
The Rex rabbit is a short-haired rabbit and originated in France. There in 1919 two short-haired rabbits were born by chance in two different litters of normal-haired rabbits. The different rabbits with the velvety fur immediately caught the eye of the owner and so he gave them to the local village priest for breeding. He crossed animals with normal hair to eliminate a genetic defect in the newly discovered rabbits. In 1924 he presented the first Rex rabbits, then called Castor-Rex, at an exhibition in Paris. The name Castor-Rex means “beaver king”, as the color of the first Rex was similar to the beaver fur. This color variant is still widespread among the Rex today. There are also many other varieties in different colors.
In any case, the Castor-Rex was a sensation at the rabbit exhibition in Paris, which is why they were sold abroad just a few years later, including to Germany. The prices for the noble rabbits were horrific. Over time, more Rex rabbits were bred, with the different colors counting as separate breeds. The dwarf rexes or rex dwarfs have been bred since 1967. Since 1980 the Klein Rexe has been approved in all the colors represented by the big Rexen. Dwarf witches with their cute appearance and velvety fur are very popular.
Description
Especially for the Rex rabbits is the fur, which with a length of 17-20 mm is much shorter than that of normal-haired rabbits. The guard hair protrudes vertically from the body but is no longer than the undercoat, which creates the effect of the very soft and velvety fur. The silky fur of the Rex rabbit is reminiscent of mole fur. Unfortunately, the cuddly rabbits are therefore also of interest to the fur industry. Rex rabbits are available in the following colors, among others:
- Castor Rex
- Chin-Rex
- Dalmatian Rex
- Russian Rex
- Loh-Rex
- Lux-Rex
- Schwaz-Rex
- Japanese rex
- Marten Rex
The whiskers, eyelashes, and tracer hairs are also shortened on the Rex. The short Rex fur makes the rabbits look slimmer than other breeds. The head is quite long with a broad forehead. The ears are close together and are relatively large. The weight of Rex rabbits is around 3.5 kg, while larger Rex rabbits can weigh up to 4.5 kg. Dwarf Rex rabbits, on the other hand, weigh only about 1.2-1.5 kg.
Attitude
Like all rabbits, the Rex rabbit is a very sociable animal and must be kept at least in pairs, but preferably in a larger group. The cage or stable must be at least 150 x 60 x 50 cm for two animals. For each animal, you have to provide a sleeping cave with two exits, as rabbits can sometimes fight for rank. There is one special feature to consider when keeping Rex rabbits. Because of their short fur, the animals are not as protected against cold and wetness as other rabbit breeds. Therefore, you should refrain from year-round outdoor storage or pay meticulous attention to adequate weather protection and, if necessary, the provision of heated areas. In spring and summer, you can usually leave the animals in the outdoor stable without any problems, as long as you give them access to protection from wind and rain.
Care and Health
Rex rabbits need exercise in the apartment every day. However, the exercise should always take place under supervision so that your rabbits do not gnaw on dangerous power cables, for example. You should also make your apartment rabbit-proof for outdoor use. In summer you can also leave the fur dwarfs in an enclosure on the meadow. Make sure, however, that they are protected from predators and poisonous plants.
Otherwise, of course, you will have to clean the rabbit cage regularly. You must also have the animals vaccinated against rabbit diseases such as RHD 1 and rabbit cold. Even if you keep your animals in the outdoor stable, you should deal with them on a daily basis. This will make it easier for them to bond with you. This is also important so that you can quickly see if your rabbit becomes sick. Above all, you should keep an eye on the rodents’ teeth and ears.
Rabbits live to be around 6-11 years old. The young are sexually mature at around 4-5 months.
Nutrition
Rabbits have very delicate digestive tracts, so you should pay extra attention to your reindeer’s diet. The animals should always have fresh hay and water available. You should also feed commercially available feed pellets, making sure that they do not contain too much calcium. These basics are supplemented with green fodder. But watch out! Your Rex rabbits can’t tolerate all vegetables. For example, you should stay away from cabbage leaves.
Buy Rex Rabbits
Before you buy Rex rabbits from the breeder, it is always worth visiting the animal shelter. Often there are many rodents waiting here for a new home. Sometimes you can also find Rex rabbits here. If you’d rather buy your Rex from a pedigree rabbit breeder, make sure that they are from a reputable breeder. Take a close look at the husbandry conditions in the breed in advance. You should also check to see if there are any inbreeding diseases in the litter.