🍖Feeding a Rex: hay, greens and measured pellets
Rex : 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.
In short: Between 3 and 4.5 kg as an adult, short and dense velvety fur, calm and affectionate temperament. A medium-sized rabbit, calm and people-oriented, that enjoys contact and ground-level play. The sparse fur under its feet rules out wire or slatted floors: thick mats and padded resting spots are the priority purchase.
Hay first, pellets second
A strict herbivore, the Rex lives on unlimited hay — 80% of its ration — topped up with daily greens and a controlled 60 to 100 g of fibrous pellets at 3 to 4.5 kg. Pellets are measured; hay never is.
What is specific to the Rex at mealtimes
Keep the hay rack full, introduce greens gradually (one novelty at a time), and ban bread, seed mixes and sugary shop treats. A rabbit that snubs its hay is a rabbit to watch: it is the first signal of a dental or digestive problem.
Gut health: watch-point number one
GI stasis is the classic rabbit emergency: a Rex that stops eating and producing droppings for 12 hours needs an exotics vet, not waiting. Prevention comes down to three words: fibre, water, movement. The rest of the profile is on the full Rex profile.
Frequently asked questions
How many pellets for a Rex?
60 to 100 g a day for an adult of 3 to 4.5 kg — alongside unlimited hay, which remains the bulk of the diet.
Which greens can a Rex eat?
The safe bets: endive, carrot tops, coriander, basil, celery leaves — always one novelty at a time. Iceberg lettuce, potato and fermenting vegetables stay in the fridge, and doubt means abstention.
The guides that apply to you
- Rabbit refusing to eat hay: what solutions should you try?
A rabbit that ignores hay in favour of pellets doesn’t necessarily have a health problem: it’s often a well-documented selective-feeding behaviour. Here’s how to turn it around.
- How can you tell if your rabbit is at an ideal weight, without relying on the scale alone?
The number on the scale doesn’t tell the whole story about a rabbit’s body condition. What a study comparing weight and body condition score across four feeding regimes shows.
- Healthy treats for rabbits: which to choose, which to ban
Which healthy treats can you give a rabbit? Dried flowers, herbs, tiny fruit portions: our criteria, the pet-shop traps to avoid and typical prices.
- Can Rabbits Eat Eggplant? The Nightshades to Avoid
Is eggplant dangerous for rabbits? A clear look at nightshades (tomato, potato, pepper), solanine and the vegetables that are genuinely safe.