Are you thinking of taking a Mini Lop Rabbit home? Well, well, well! You came to the right place because today, we will be talking about one of the most adorable rabbits out there.
Yes! The Mini Lop Rabbit! Lend us your ears as we talked about this adorable fluffy-eared creature. Let’s go!
Information Chart: Mini Lop Rabbit
Before we dig deep, let’s have a quick overview of the Mini Lop Rabbit.
| Size | Small |
| Weight | 6 Pounds |
| Lifespan | 8 to 10 Years |
| Temperament | Laid-Back |
| Color | Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, White, Cream, Fawn, Orange, Red, Chestnut Agouti, Chinchilla, Lynx, Opal, Broken, Tri-Colored, Pointed White, Frosted Pearl, Sable, Sable Point, Seal, Smoke Pearl, Tortoise, Silver, Silver Fox, Steel |
| Rarity | Common |
| Similar Breeds | Holland Lop and German Lop |
| Best Suited For | Families |
Now, we have a general idea of the Mini Lop. Let’s get to know this rabbit in more detail next.
Brief Background and History of the Mini Lop Rabbit
The Mini Lop originated from Germany and was originally the Klein Widder, which means little hanging ear. A fitting name, do you not agree?
This furry friend came about by breeding several different breeds. The Chinchilla Rabbit is one of the rabbits included in the mix. Later on, others got added into the mix; until we came to what we now know as the Mini Lop.
We have Bob Herschbach to thank for bringing these furballs to American soil. Without him, America might have never met one of its most beloved furry friends.
It is in the late 1900’s that the American Rabbit Breeders Association accepted this rabbit under the name we know today – Mini Lop.
Breed Standard and Appearance of the Mini Lop Rabbit
The Mini Lop is often called a ball of fluff. Well, that’s because it is! This rabbit is pretty round with soft, rollback fur. As you can see, literally a ball of fluff.
These rabbits weigh around 6 pounds. They might be small, but they are compact and muscular little critters.
As you might have seen in our little overview, these rabbits come in many colors. Whatever color or color combination you prefer, we believe you would be able to find a Mini Lop to suit your preference.
Of course, we can’t forget one of the most notable features of these little critters – their ears. As their former name suggests, they have ears that hang on either side of their faces.
These ears set them apart from many other breeds. However, the Mini Lops are often confused with the Holland Lops. As we have said above, the two are similar. Too similar, that is. You don’t need to worry, though.
Personality and Temperament of the Mini Lop Rabbit
Now, let’s talk about the personality of these little critters.
The Mini Lop is known to be a laid-back bunny. However, we can’t forget that it is a small rabbit, and small rabbits are known to be hyper little fellas. When dealing with a Mini Lop rabbit, it might be best to set your expectation in the middle of the spectrum.
Rabbits, like humans, have unique personalities. It is always best to take any personality description with a grain of salt. This advice goes for any rabbit breed at that.
The best way to get to know your Mini Lop or any rabbit would be to observe it. You might even want to meet the mama rabbit to get a feel of their personality. Past handlers would also be a good source for this information.
Generally, though, being prey animals, all rabbits would be timid at first, so don’t be surprised if your Mini Lop seems fearful at first.
Health of the Mini Lop Rabbit
The Mini Lop is generally a healthy breed. They can live for around 8 to 10 years, which is not all that far from the average lifespan of our furry friends.
Despite all that, of course, they still need lots of love and care to grow into happy and healthy bunnies. One way to do that is to know the health issues these little critters might face and how to try and avoid or treat them. So, let us talk about that next.
Health Issues of the Mini Lop Rabbit and the Treatments
You might be happy to know that the Mini Lop is not especially susceptible to illnesses or diseases. However, that doesn’t mean that they are immune to getting sick. They could still get ill. You still need to watch out for common bunny illnesses.
Some of the things you might want to watch out for are dental issues like overgrown or misaligned teeth. On the other hand, they could also face digestive problems like diarrhea and GI Stasis.
Boredom and stress are also things you want to watch out for. They may not be physical problems, but you still need to help your rabbit with these issues. We don’t want an unhappy rabbit, of course. Also, sooner or later, these things will manifest as physical problems.
The treatment for bunny issues ranges from simple home remedies to needing the help of a professional. For example, you can watch this video to see how to treat ear mites at home:
On the other hand, medication like cisapride might be enough for GI Stasis. On the flip side, there are problems you need the help of a professional.
Many of the common health problems that rabbits face have available treatments. That is good to know. However, prevention is always better than cure. Do you not agree? Many of the common health problems that rabbits face could be prevented by simply taking good care of your Mini Lop. So, let’s talk about that next.
Caring for the Mini Lop Rabbit
Caring for the Mini Lop is not that hard. It’s not all that different from taking care of other breeds. As you will see in a bit, their needs are pretty much the same as with other rabbits.
Diet: What is the Diet of the Mini Lop Rabbit?
First, let’s talk about the diet of the Mini Lop. The diet of most rabbits is the same. Rabbits need lots of hay and water. You want to give them an unlimited amount of both.
Hay helps in many aspects of a rabbit’s life. For example, it helps with keeping their teeth in check. On the other hand, it also aids in the digestive systems of our furry friends.
As you might already know, these are two of the areas rabbits commonly get problems. By giving your Mini Lop enough hay in their diet, you could already reduce the risk of facing problems in these areas.
On the other hand, of course, water is essential for almost every living creature. To add, rabbits can overheat easily. Water could help reduce the risk of having an overheating rabbit on your hands.
That is not all rabbits could eat, though. You also want to give your rabbits some pellets and treats. These things will help keep your rabbit happy.
When it comes to treats, you want to do some research first. There are things rabbits should not eat. Additionally, even if they can have some things, they usually can’t have lots of them.
Give your bunnies treats from time to time, but only in moderation. You can check this list out to see what treats your rabbits could eat. On the other hand, you might want to check our discussions about what rabbits could or could not eat.
Exercise: How Much Should a Mini Lop Rabbit Exercise?
Rabbits need exercise. Ideally, your Mini Lop should be able to exercise when it wants to. If that is not possible, you want to let your rabbits exercise for at least 3 hours a day.
If your Mini Lop is not fond of exercising, you might want to give the little critter some toys to encourage and motivate the little guy or gal. You can incorporate your Mini Lop’s favorite treat in treat toys to further drive our furry friend to move.
Space: How Much Space Does a Mini Lop Rabbit Need?
The general rule is the more, the better. That is not always possible, though. With that, usually, it is advisable to give your rabbit a space that is four times its size. However, as you might already know, the Mini Lop is a small rabbit. You might want to give the critter a little more than that.
Giving your Mini Lop ample room would help keep the little critter happy and healthy. Giving your rabbit enough room will allow it to exercise whenever it wants.
On the other hand, you will also lessen the chance of dealing with a bored or stressed rabbit. Trust us, an irritated rabbit might look cute, but you don’t want it!
Grooming: How Much Should You Groom a Mini Lop Rabbit?
You do not have to stress much in this area. The Mini Lop may have a beautiful coat, but you don’t have to take care of it every day to keep it looking that way.
You can get away with only brushing your Mini Lop once a week. However, you might want to do this more often when they are shedding. You might be surprised, but by simply brushing them, you are reducing the risk of dealing with GI Stasis!
Of course, you also want to trim their nails when needed.
On the other hand, you want to avoid bathing your Mini Lop. Bathing rabbits could be harmful to them. Try a dry bath instead if your rabbit really needs it.
Bunny Proofing and the Mini Lop Rabbit
Finally, let’s talk about bunny proofing. Whether you plan on keeping your rabbit inside or outside your home, you need bunny proof.
If you plan to keep your Mini Lop inside, you might need to do tons of bunny proofing. If you want to use a wired cage, don’t forget to lay something on top of the wire.
We don’t want them to hurt their paws, after all! On the other hand, you might want to use some towels or mats if not. Rabbits like to dig. They might ruin your floor if you don’t.
If you plan to let them roam around freely, you want to watch out for your wires and other things they might chew. Rabbits like to chew.
To add, they will try to eat anything that looks tasty. Of course, you also have to consider the size of the Mini Lop. Try to block off areas they might get into that you can’t reach.
On the other hand, if you plan to keep your Mini Lop outside, there might be less bunny proofing. You need to be more careful, though!
Again, if you plan to use wire flooring, you want to lay down something, so your Mini Lop’s paws won’t get hurt. Other than that, you want to make sure nothing could get in or out without your knowledge.
Summary
Today, we talked about the Mini Lop Rabbit. We learned that these little furballs came all the way from Germany until they found their way on American soil, where today, they are one of the most beloved furry friends.
Of course, we also talked about how cute these rabbits are. Yes, they are cute, but still, these rabbits are easy to handle. If you’re up for the task of taking home and caring for a sweet little creature, there’s no reason not to take the Mini Lop Rabbit home!
We hope we helped you get to know the Mini Lop Rabbit. Are you interested in getting to know our other furry friends? If so, you might want to hop on to our other discussions! We have many more fur babies for you to meet!