Rex: gear and buying guides
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The rex rabbit is prized for its unique velvety fur, short and dense, wonderful to the touch. A medium-sized breed, between 3 and 4.5 kg for the standard rex, it is known to be calm and people-oriented. Its genetic peculiarity, however, leaves the underside of its feet fragile, which should guide your choice of flooring and bedding.
Profile : Between 3 and 4.5 kg as an adult, short and dense velvety fur, calm and affectionate temperament.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Wooden hay rack with tray for rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla (€21.90) · the whole shop
An accessory from our shop for this use: Rolling 4-level ferret and chinchilla cage with hammock ($159.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
Our products don’t ship to you yet, but the PDF practical guide is instant: The Pet Rabbit Handbook (€17)
Species profile
- Lifespan
- 6 to 9 years
- Adult weight
- 3 to 4.5 kg
- Temperament
- A medium-sized rabbit, calm and people-oriented, that enjoys contact and ground-level play.
- Health watch
- sore hocks (pododermatitis) linked to the sparse fur under the feet
🩺 Our hygiene and health advice stays general: it never substitutes for an examination by a veterinarian, the only person qualified to advise on your animal.
Rex gear, family by family
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Food
An adult rex gets unlimited hay and a pellet ration suited to its medium build, adjusted to its weight. An overweight rex puts extra strain on its already fragile feet, so portion control is also an orthopaedic matter.
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Care & grooming
Its velvety fur only needs gentle, occasional brushing; a grooming mitt is often enough. On the other hand, inspect the underside of its feet weekly: the fur there is sparse and predisposes it to sore hocks, painful heel lesions.
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Toys & enrichment
The rex enjoys ground-level games: snuffle mats, cardboard boxes to explore, chew toys. Avoid setups that require repeated jumps onto hard surfaces, which punish its sensitive hocks.
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Bedding & habitat
Flooring is the critical point: never wire or slatted floors; use thick mats, covered foam tiles or deep, soft bedding instead. Every resting spot should be padded.
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Travel & safety
Choose a medium-sized carrier and line the bottom with a thick non-slip mat rather than plain newspaper: the bare plastic floor of a carrier is harsh on its fragile hocks.
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Accessories
Stock up on washable mats and cushions for its living areas; this is the priority purchase for this breed. An accurate pet or household scale helps track its weight and protect its feet.
🏠 Housing a Rex: a 4 m² pen and its layout
How much space for a Rex?
For its 3 to 4.5 kg, plan a permanent pen of at least 4 m² — the shop “rabbit cage” is only an annexe (litter, hay), never a habitat. Modular 80 cm panels do the job for most individuals, the goal remaining open-door free-roaming.
Fitting out base camp
Underfoot, rugs or low-pile carpet come first: a Rex’s feet were not made for skating on parquet — doubly important for the rex’s sensitive feet, completed by a plant-litter tray with the hay rack right above it (the pairing works: rabbits nibble as they go), one hideout per occupant and a tip-proof ceramic bowl.
Temperature and location
Remember the 26°C threshold: above it, the Rex needs airflow and cooling (a wrapped frozen bottle) — and its pen permanently avoids both direct sun and draughts. A calm corner of the living room, where the Rex watches family life without being underfoot, is the ideal spot.
Quick answers
- What pen size for a Rex?
- A permanent 4 m² minimum for an adult of 3 to 4.5 kg, plus daily free time — the shop cage serves only as a litter-and-hay annexe.
- Can a Rex live outdoors?
- Yes, with an insulated frost-free hutch, a predator-proof run (buried mesh, a roof) and summer shade — but indoor free-roaming remains the safest setup.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Ceramic hideout for hamsters and small rodents (11.5 × 9 × 8.5 cm) (€24.90) · the whole shop
An accessory from our shop for this use: Electric pet heating pad 45 × 45 cm (17.7 in) with chew-resistant cord ($48.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
Outside our shipping area? The downloadable practical guide: The Pet Rabbit Handbook (€17)
🧰 Accessories for a Rex: rack, litter and proofing
The basic trio
The backbone of a Rex setup: a hay rack overlooking the tray, a heavy ceramic bowl — the bottle being backup only — and a tray in corner or rectangular format, 40 cm and up filled with plant-based litter, never cedar shavings.
Protecting the house (and the rabbit)
Protective sleeving on every reachable cable, low barriers along strategic skirting boards and houseplants out of reach: rabbit-proofing costs under €40 and prevents electrical accidents as well as repair bills. One prevention item not to forget for this breed: whatever limits sore hocks (pododermatitis) linked to the sparse fur under the feet — raise it with the vet at the first check-up.
Equipping a Rex: the budget
A Rex starter kit — pen, litter corner, rack, carrier, bowl, chews and cable proofing — comes to €150-250; day-to-day costs (hay, litter, greens) then run €35 to €55 a month. Quality hay is the one line never to cut.
Quick answers
- Bottle or bowl for a Rex?
- Exotics vets recommend the ceramic bowl: physiological drinking posture, unrestricted flow. The bottle stays useful as a tip-proof backup, notably when travelling.
- What monthly budget for a Rex?
- €35 to €55 a month (hay, litter, greens, pellets) for a moyen build, vet costs aside.
Outside our shipping area? The downloadable practical guide: The Pet Rabbit Handbook (€17)
Guides to read
- Bonding two rabbits: the equipment for a successful introductionBedding & habitat
Rabbit bonding: neutral territory setup, transition pen and the concrete steps to introduce two rabbits without a fight.
- Rabbit mites and mange: symptoms, treatment and preventionCare & grooming
Crusty ears or walking dandruff on the back: how to recognise mites in rabbits, what studies say about treatment, and the product never to use.
- Pet stroller for rabbits: useful accessory or pure gadget?Travel & safety
Pet stroller for rabbits: when it genuinely beats a standard carrier, what to look for, and cheaper alternatives.
- Calming pheromone diffuser for a stressed rabbit: does it actually work?Care & grooming
Calming diffuser for an anxious rabbit: what the research says about space-related stress, when to consider one, and what it never replaces.
- Safe chew wood for rabbits: which tree species are safe?Toys & enrichment
Chew wood for rabbits: safe species (apple, hazel, willow) versus ones to avoid, for natural dental wear without the risk.
- Antibiotics dangerous for rabbits: which ones to avoidCare & grooming
Some antibiotics routine in dogs or cats trigger fatal enterotoxaemia in rabbits: which ones to avoid and what to do if you're unsure.
- Rabbit vaccination against myxomatosis and VHD: schedule and budgetCare & grooming
Myxomatosis and VHD in rabbits: why vaccinate even an indoor rabbit, the booster schedule, and the yearly budget to plan for.
- Digging box for rabbits: an easy natural enrichment to set upToys & enrichment
Digging box for rabbits: why this instinctive need persists in pet rabbits and how to set up a safe, effective box.