Mini Rex rabbit
The Mini Rex is a small, plush-coated show and pet rabbit with an ARBA maximum weight of 4½ lb. It needs only an 18 × 24 in cage, comes in 23 varieties and is one of the two most-entered breeds at ARBA Conventions. Small rabbits are often more fragile and higher energy than large ones, so keep an adult close by when young children handle it.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Space needed
- 3 sq ft
Is the Mini Rex right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a small, plush-coated rabbit: ARBA's maximum weight is 4½ lb
- You want a show breed with big classes and 23 varieties to choose from
- You have room for an 18 × 24 in cage but not much more
Poor fit if
- You want meat: this is a show and pet breed
- Young children would be handling it without an adult close by
- Your rabbits would sit in a hot yard with no shade
Appearance and varieties
ARBA describes the Mini Rex as plush coated and gives it a maximum weight of 4½ lb. The standard Rex, by comparison, has a maximum of 10½ lb.
It is shown in four classes. ARBA lists 23 showroom varieties, more than the standard Rex has.1118
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Black | Completed the acceptance process in 1993.89 |
| Blue | 8 |
| Blue Eyed White | Added in 2005.89 |
| Chocolate | Completed the acceptance process in 1992.89 |
| Lilac | Recognised in 1995.89 |
| White | 8 |
| Sable | 8 |
| Sable Point | 8 |
| Seal | 8 |
| Smoke Pearl | 8 |
| Tortoise | 8 |
| Amber | 8 |
| Castor | Castors won Best in Show at the ARBA Convention in 1994 and 1995.89 |
| Chinchilla | 8 |
| Lynx | 8 |
| Opal | 8 |
| Otter | 8 |
| Sable Marten | 8 |
| Silver Marten | 8 |
| Smoke Pearl Marten | 8 |
| Himalayan | Formerly called Californian in this breed.89 |
| Red | 8 |
| Broken | A group. Tri-colours were approved in 1994; other brokens are registered as Broken plus the colour.89 |
Temperament and handling
None of the sources describes Mini Rex temperament directly.
What follows applies to small rabbits generally. Utah State University Extension notes that small breeds are often higher energy and more fragile than large ones. It advises that an adult supervises young children, and that you sit down to handle a rabbit, because rabbits frighten easily and have delicate bodies.
Rabbits groom themselves and don't need baths. Comb gently during shedding season, and check nails every 6 weeks.5
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Breeding
What to expect from a healthy doe. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gestation | 28–32 days4 | Give the doe a nest box by day 28. Figure for rabbits in general. |
| First breeding age | 4–6 months4 | ARBA's recommendation for small breeds |
| Weaning | 6–8 weeks4 | ARBA's recommendation for best growth; always before 10 weeks |
Planning a litter? Use the rabbit gestation calculator.
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For a rabbit of 5 lb or less, Utah State University Extension gives a minimum cage of 18 in deep, 24 in wide and 12 in high, and adds that bigger is better: the rabbit should be able to lie down and hop at least twice in each direction.
ARBA gives 55–70°F as the ideal range. Rabbits acclimated to cold cope well with it; they do poorly above 85°F, so give shade and moving air in summer. Avoid cedar chips as bedding.54
Feed
For a pet rabbit, Utah State University Extension recommends unlimited water, grass hay as about 80% of the diet, leafy greens as about 10%, and small amounts of pellets and treats. Its pellet guide is ¼–½ cup per 6 lb of rabbit, so a Mini Rex needs less than that.
Change feeds slowly over a few days. The same guide warns that a sudden change of diet can cause fatal gut upset.5
Health
Rabbit teeth grow all their lives, so give something safe to chew. Summer heat is a risk: Alabama Extension says rabbits don't cope well above 90°F and in high humidity. Penn State Extension lists cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation and protection from sun and rain as the basics of keeping rabbits healthy.
This is a starting point, not medical advice. If your rabbit stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats rabbits, or your county extension office.51213
Price and where to buy
Prices are per rabbit, read from two breeders' pages on 2026-10-08. One asks $20 each, most with a pedigree, on a page last updated in October 2025; the other asks $60–90 depending on colour, on a page last updated in July 2023. We found no posted price for show stock.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ARBA Find a Breeder | Directory | Search by breed and state |
| National Mini Rex Rabbit Club | Breed club | Club contacts and show dates |
| Quails and Tails Rabbitry | Breeder | $20 each; most with a three-generation pedigree |
| Bethany's Bunnies | Breeder | $60–90 depending on colour |
Budgeting for housing and feed as well? See the rabbit cost guide.
Similar breeds
| Breed | Adult weight | Litter size | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Rex (this breed) | Up to 4.5 lb | $20–$90 | ||
| Rex | 8–10.5 lb | $25–$100 | ||
| Holland Lop | Up to 4 lb | $150–$375 |
History
Monna Berryhill of Texas started the breed after winning a pair of Dwarf Rex at the 1984 ARBA Convention in Orlando, Florida. The buck, Zoro, was paired with a small Lynx Rex doe called Cotton, and three does from that litter became the foundation stock.
The breed was accepted at the 1988 ARBA Convention in Madison, Wisconsin. Mini Rex won Best in Show at the ARBA Convention in both 1994 and 1995, and the breed club says convention entries have since run to 900–1,000 rabbits.91
Common questions
How big do Mini Rex rabbits get?
ARBA's maximum weight for a Mini Rex is 4½ lb. A standard Rex can reach 10½ lb.111
At what age can you breed a Mini Rex?
ARBA recommends that small breeds start breeding at 4–6 months, which is also when rabbits reach sexual maturity. House bucks and does in separate cages so they don't breed by accident.4
How long is a Mini Rex pregnant?
Rabbit gestation is typically 28–32 days. ARBA says to give the doe a nest box by day 28 at the latest.4
How do you breed Mini Rex rabbits?
Take the doe to the buck's cage, or put them together on neutral ground. ARBA recommends weaning the litter at 6–8 weeks, and says an average doe produces no more than about five litters a year.4
What colours do Mini Rex come in?
ARBA lists 23 showroom varieties, including black, blue, castor, chinchilla, chocolate, Himalayan, lilac, opal, otter, red, tortoise, white and a broken group.8
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds: Mini Rex.
- Utah State University Extension, Understanding the Basics of Rabbit Care.
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension, ARBA Recommendations for the Care of Rabbits and Cavies.
- Utah State University Extension, Pet Rabbit Projects: Getting Started (PDF).
- Quails and Tails Rabbitry, Mini rex rabbits.
- Bethany's Bunnies, Mini Rex.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, ARBA Official Breed ID Guide: Rabbit (updated January 2026).
- National Mini Rex Rabbit Club, About the breed.
- The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds: Rex.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Summer Heat and Rabbit Production, UNP-0082 (PDF).
- Penn State Extension, Rabbit Production.
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