Welcome to the new "Everything You Need to Know" feature!
These posts will cover all you need to know about your potential new pet, their needs and if they are the right pet for you.
In this post we're covering Miniature Lops!
These posts will cover all you need to know about your potential new pet, their needs and if they are the right pet for you.
In this post we're covering Miniature Lops!
Facts and Stats
Common Name: Miniature Lop
Scientific Name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
Origin: Netherlands
Size: Dwarf/Small
Average Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
Compatibility: Usually Non-Aggressive
The Mini Lop is a small rabbit that is both charming, loving and favourable among pet owners and breeders alike.
Although Mini Lops are small, they are active and very playful, but also extremely loving and mostly sociable animals making them a fantastic candidate for an indoor pet. Mini Lops are a good choice for a new rabbit owner however bucks (males) are generally recommended as some does (females) tend to be skittish and/or hyper and should be handled carefully. Mini Lops are generally very easy to care for and are a popular breed for pets due to their size and fun-loving nature.
They weigh between 2.6lbs and 4lbs with 3.6lbs being the ideal. Mini Lops are known for their short, cobby bodies, round heads, and massive appearance in a small rabbit. Mini Lops possess short, dense fur that comes in a variety of colors.
History
The Mini Lop originated in Holland when a breeder by the the name of Adrian de Cock aimed to combine the qualities of the Dwarf Lop and the Netherland Dwarf into a completely new breed.
The Mini Lop possesses blood from the Netherland Dwarf, the Dwarf Lop and, from 1952, the English Lop
They were standardised by the Netherlands Governing Rabbit Council, soon after they were brought to the United States and standardised in 1979 with the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
They were later standardised in the UK in 1994 by the British Rabbit Council.
Common Name: Miniature Lop
Scientific Name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
Origin: Netherlands
Size: Dwarf/Small
Average Lifespan: 10 to 14 years
Compatibility: Usually Non-Aggressive
The Mini Lop is a small rabbit that is both charming, loving and favourable among pet owners and breeders alike.
Although Mini Lops are small, they are active and very playful, but also extremely loving and mostly sociable animals making them a fantastic candidate for an indoor pet. Mini Lops are a good choice for a new rabbit owner however bucks (males) are generally recommended as some does (females) tend to be skittish and/or hyper and should be handled carefully. Mini Lops are generally very easy to care for and are a popular breed for pets due to their size and fun-loving nature.
They weigh between 2.6lbs and 4lbs with 3.6lbs being the ideal. Mini Lops are known for their short, cobby bodies, round heads, and massive appearance in a small rabbit. Mini Lops possess short, dense fur that comes in a variety of colors.
History
The Mini Lop originated in Holland when a breeder by the the name of Adrian de Cock aimed to combine the qualities of the Dwarf Lop and the Netherland Dwarf into a completely new breed.
The Mini Lop possesses blood from the Netherland Dwarf, the Dwarf Lop and, from 1952, the English Lop
They were standardised by the Netherlands Governing Rabbit Council, soon after they were brought to the United States and standardised in 1979 with the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
They were later standardised in the UK in 1994 by the British Rabbit Council.
Care & Diet
Cage size should be a minimum of 4ft wide x 2ft deep x 2ft high with access to a large run during the day. Proper shelter with heating as well as cooling should be a factor also, though they usually cope well with British weather it's recommended to use ice packs in the summer and heat packs in the Winter.
Mini Lops should be on a diet of pellets combined with ad-lib hay, many breeders and keepers with a large collection choose to mix their own feed but this should be done carefully to avoid upset in the digestive system.
We feed on a mix of pellets and chopped oat straw. We only recommend pellets as recent studies have shown muesli mixes pose fatal health problems in all rabbits.
No more than a tablespoon of pellets should be fed to your rabbit daily, the rest of his/her diet should be fresh hay and a small amount of leafy greens.
Treat choices can include dark green vegetables, carrots, dandelions, clover, and dried papaya. Iceberg Lettuce should be avoided as it contains a lot of water and can give the rabbit diarrhoea which can be fatal.
Cage size should be a minimum of 4ft wide x 2ft deep x 2ft high with access to a large run during the day. Proper shelter with heating as well as cooling should be a factor also, though they usually cope well with British weather it's recommended to use ice packs in the summer and heat packs in the Winter.
Mini Lops should be on a diet of pellets combined with ad-lib hay, many breeders and keepers with a large collection choose to mix their own feed but this should be done carefully to avoid upset in the digestive system.
We feed on a mix of pellets and chopped oat straw. We only recommend pellets as recent studies have shown muesli mixes pose fatal health problems in all rabbits.
No more than a tablespoon of pellets should be fed to your rabbit daily, the rest of his/her diet should be fresh hay and a small amount of leafy greens.
Treat choices can include dark green vegetables, carrots, dandelions, clover, and dried papaya. Iceberg Lettuce should be avoided as it contains a lot of water and can give the rabbit diarrhoea which can be fatal.
Health & Lifespan
The Mini Lop is generally a very healthy breed, living between 10 and 14 years on average. Most health problems that occur are due to a poor diet and inadequate care. There have been reports of severe malloclusion (misalignment of the teeth) in some lines which have resulted in euthanasia and tooth removal, however it is less common now when buying from a reputable breeder.
Mini Lops are no more prone to conditions like ear mites than any other breed, this is something that will easily be found by your vet. Windy eye is very common in lighter eyed rabbits (Red, Blue etc) but causes no harm and is prevented easily by simply keeping the hutch well sheltered from wind during colder nights/days.
The Mini Lop is generally a very healthy breed, living between 10 and 14 years on average. Most health problems that occur are due to a poor diet and inadequate care. There have been reports of severe malloclusion (misalignment of the teeth) in some lines which have resulted in euthanasia and tooth removal, however it is less common now when buying from a reputable breeder.
Mini Lops are no more prone to conditions like ear mites than any other breed, this is something that will easily be found by your vet. Windy eye is very common in lighter eyed rabbits (Red, Blue etc) but causes no harm and is prevented easily by simply keeping the hutch well sheltered from wind during colder nights/days.
Is A Mini Lop For You?
Our personal opinion is that a Mini Lop, or any rabbit, is the perfect house pet for and someone over 18 years old. While they can be a great pet for an older child of 13+ rabbits do not do well with loud noise and the aggressive "cuddling" that may ensue with young children. We understand that this isn't always the case and some children do extremely well with small animals, these are of course the exception.
A Mini Lop is perfect for a single adult or a couple looking for a pet that is neither a dog who needs walking or a cat who spends most of it's time out of the house, rather an animal that will make a fantastic companion and a great snuggle bunny.
A Mini Lop is not the perfect pet for a large family of small children or for someone who works/is out of the house most of the day.
They are very needy animals for the most part in terms of attention, while having a bonded pair is best they can still be lonely without human interaction.
Our personal opinion is that a Mini Lop, or any rabbit, is the perfect house pet for and someone over 18 years old. While they can be a great pet for an older child of 13+ rabbits do not do well with loud noise and the aggressive "cuddling" that may ensue with young children. We understand that this isn't always the case and some children do extremely well with small animals, these are of course the exception.
A Mini Lop is perfect for a single adult or a couple looking for a pet that is neither a dog who needs walking or a cat who spends most of it's time out of the house, rather an animal that will make a fantastic companion and a great snuggle bunny.
A Mini Lop is not the perfect pet for a large family of small children or for someone who works/is out of the house most of the day.
They are very needy animals for the most part in terms of attention, while having a bonded pair is best they can still be lonely without human interaction.
