Mini lop rabbits are an incredibly popular variety of house pets. They are more likely to be docile and affectionate than other breeds, making them a great choice for families with small children.
But, how big do Mini lop rabbits grow from birth to old age? We’ve put together a complete guide on this breed’s growth rate so you can find out. This is by no means a definitive answer due to many environmental and external circumstances.
The mini lop weighs approximately 1.5 ounces at birth. Within 2-3 weeks, it will grow to 5 ounces. Mini lops will continue to rapidly grow for an additional 8 months of their early lives where their weight will taper off at around 9 months. The average adult mini lop weighs around 53 ounces.
Mini lops are generally considered medium-sized rabbits. However, there are external factors that could determine how big or small a mini lop can get.
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The size of a mini lop is determined by many factors
I’m going to discuss pretty much all the things you should consider when figuring out how big or small your mini lop is going to be. Charts, like the one above, give you the average size a mini lop can get. But what it doesn’t tell you are the variations and what causes them. Some mini lops end up larger or smaller than others.
Hereditary and sex
The first factor that determines the size of a mini lop is its parent’s size. A mini lop will inherit a few of her parent’s traits. Male rabbits of the mini lop species tend to be physically smaller than those of the female versions. So being a female versus a male does make a difference according to size. Also, offsprings will tend to grow up to a size in between the mother and father.
Take for example a study was released in 1940 from the Constitutional Influence on Homozygous and Heterozygous Individuals found a dwarf mutation in rabbits.
Genetics and sex are incredibly important factors in determining now only how much a rabbit grows but even how long.
Diet and nutrition
There’s no real difference in the diet of a mini lop compared to other rabbit breeds. The majority of their food (approximately 70%) should come from hay. You should complement that with a small amount of fresh, mostly green vegetables and a limited number of pellets.
Try to avoid fruits and even vegetables that are high in sugar because this can cause issues with their digestive tract.
Timothy hay is one of the most popular and well suitable hay types for most rabbits. It helps with digestion and grinds your rabbit’s teeth while it continues to grow.
Pellets are used mostly to supplement what your rabbit is insufficient of. Pellets are partially made of hay in combination with vitamins and minerals.
Contrary to belief, you shouldn’t overfeed your rabbit too many vegetables. In fact, a leading cause of rabbit death can be attributed to digestive issues. Rabbits must be given all foods in moderation (except for hay, you can leave a bunch of hay with them and they will eat it accordingly).
Plenty of exercises
Mini lop should be let off their cage to play at least every day for a few hours. Areas of play should be kept to large rooms or even the outdoors where your mini lop can hop around and play. It’s a good idea at this time to go ahead and make your home rabbit-proof.
Although mini lop rabbit’s exercise requirements are not as intense as some other breeds, they are still given adequate time to play and exercise.
If this isn’t something you can do daily, try to do it as often as you can. Have someone else in the house help. If you want to take your rabbit outside, try to buy yourself some fencing walls so that you don’t have to worry about your rabbit wandering off and getting lost.
Exercising is one of the ways in which a rabbit can grow. There are numerous benefits to exercising, such as:
- Keeping your rabbit healthy
- Decreasing your rabbit’s stress levels
- Increasing your rabbit’s energy levels
General health
Mini lops aren’t susceptible to any unique diseases compared to their other breed counterparts. Like all other rabbits, mini lops can’t vomit and this can be a problem when food comes into the rabbit’s stomach clog up the lines leading to a life-threatening condition called GI stasis. This is especially frequent when a rabbit grooms itself and ends up eating a lot of fur balls. Rabbits don’t vomit and so the hairballs it ingests get tangled up inside and end up trapped inside the rabbit’s intestinal linings.
Just take care to realize the signs that come with potential GI stasis. You might find that your rabbit isn’t eating well, not pooping, and tired.
You should also check and make sure your rabbit’s incisor teeth aren’t too long. Dental issues for rabbits, especially young rabbits, can deter them from eating and that may have a very large impact on size and growth. Chewing on hay helps grind down a rabbit’s front incisors.
One particular scenario involves flies that lay eggs on the soiled side of a rabbit’s fur near the rear area. When the maggots begin to rise, they start eating away at the poor rabbit’s body from the inside. Illnesses like these can end up causing your rabbit to lose its appetite and otherwise affect its weight.
What is a mini lop’s ideal growth rate?
| Months | Weight (Ounces) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1.5 |
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 22 |
| 3 | 30 |
| 4 | 37 |
| 5 | 42 |
| 6 | 46 |
| 7 | 49 |
| 8 | 51 |
| 9 | 52 |
| 10 | 53 |
| 11 | 53 |
| 12 | 53 |
When do mini lops stop growing?
Mini lops start out tiny. But within the first year, they grow really fast. Every individual rabbit’s growth rate is different. With a well-balanced diet, proper exercise, and good health, by the time a mini lop turns 9 or 10 months old, mini lops would have reached its full size.
However, it depends on the individual. For instance, rabbit sizes may increase after they’ve reached sexual maturity. Some mini lops have been observed to reach maturity and continue to grow up until their very first year.
Where did mini lops come from?
Perhaps the most popular breed of all pet rabbits, mini lops make great pets. And they originate from Germany.
The story behind mini lops is that they came about from a German Lop bred with a small Chinchilla rabbit. An American breeder found these types of rabbits to be interesting and brought some back to the US. He introduced them to the American Breeder’s Association (ARBA) in which they named a mini lop.
Are mini lops destructive?
Although these rabbits do not typically destroy everything, they can cause some problems if someone tries to contain them. The overpopulation of these rabbits is often the cause of this. Mini lops have been known in the past to break through or chew their way out of stores where they are caged.
Fortunately in the US, mini lops are widely popular. They’ve been domesticated and bred to be domestic companions.
Do mini lops make good pets?
Mini-lops are also very docile creatures. They are sociable, which is why they will make great pets for teens and children. They are also friendly to other animals (especially cats). And, as a general rule of thumb with rabbits, you should not leave them unattended with small children unfamiliar with how to play with rabbits.
Mini lops may be a little temperamental
Mini lops have been known to be temperamental at times. Nonetheless, the mini lop is an obedient and social pet.
A mini lop really enjoys being held and petted.
I would also consider them to be very good with children and other pets, but it is necessary to introduce them cautiously. Both children need to be told how to hold and play with mini lops and mini lops should be given time to recognize and get comfortable with new strangers. They are not temperamental like other breeds of rabbits, but they can be a bit more difficult to handle than some of the more docile breeds.
The bottom line
To ensure that your mini lop grows up to be a healthy and happy pet, take the time to feed it correctly, and also provide it with proper cage space. This includes providing enough floor area so that your rabbit can exercise and stretch its limbs. This is a rabbit that requires lots of attention.
Although mini lops can be a bit more difficult to handle than some of the more docile rabbits, they are well worth the effort. They have minimal grooming requirements and require minimal amounts of food. And, although they are not ideal for younger children with little experience, mini lops make great pets for teens and young adults who like a challenge.
Other interesting articles:
- Why is My Rabbit Grunting? ALL the Reasons Why!
- Do Rabbit Teeth Grow Back? The Dangers of Not Knowing
- Are Rabbits Good Pets for Senior Citizens? (The Good and the Bad!)
- Top 11 Friendliest Rabbits You’ll Want as Pets: Perfect for Adults and Children
