One of the most pretty and colorful breeds of rabbits is known as the harlequin. They are bred in France and mostly this is a bred breed, not a naturally originated one. They have been created to keep the marking and coloration in the most attractive state.
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Are harlequin rabbits rare?
These medium-sized glamorous rabbits are quite muscular and once they used to be one of the most popular rabbit breeds. Now it has become rare and cannot be found easily. But still, there is a huge popularity of this rabbit among rabbit lovers.
Are harlequin rabbits expensive?
You could get a harlequin rabbit for 40 USD when it was first made available in the USA, which will be a mature one. This one is now counted as extremely rare and thus cannot be found or availed easily. The price now has become around 900 USD if you count in the inflation. So this rare breed of rabbit is actually pretty expensive.
Are harlequin rabbits friendly?
By nature, harlequin rabbits are pretty calm and they are also easy to handle. They are docile and do not throw tantrums or behave in some odd way. But you should not bring them near to the kids as they are not very hardy to bear the rough handling of the young ones.
Do harlequin rabbits shed a lot?
Harlequin rabbits come with a fur coat that is short in length and thus, does not need much care or maintenance to get groomed. At some particular times, she shed a lot but that is not a regular thing, your rabbit will not shed so much to cause you to worry. But you can just brush off the loose fur when you see them scattered on the floor or furniture.
They shed in minimal amount and that is quite common for the rabbit breeds. The dead hairs often fall off after a certain time. The general amount of fur shedding is not the reason to be worried about.
How much space does a harlequin rabbit need?
The harlequin rabbit is a medium-sized one and it needs enough space inside its cage to spend time and relax. It can be left free for some time within the house when the rabbit is left free. However, you may not wish to go outside without any supervision as that will be risky for the rabbits.
How long do domestic harlequin rabbits live?
Harlequin rabbits are not long living. They are best at their health till they are aged five years. Sometimes they can get unwell and eventually will die before they reach 10 years, which is the normal death age of another breed of rabbits.
The Japanese version of the Harlequin rabbit will live till the age of 5 to 8 years and not more than that. However, if they are given proper care and the right kind of nutrition then the domesticated ones may live up to 10 years as well.
How big should be the cage of the harlequin rabbit?
As the harlequin rabbits need much place, you need to keep a large and wide enclosure for them. The cage should be at least 30 by 36 inches for a matured harlequin. Harlequins do not like to be inside a cramped space and they will not be healthy and happy when they would have to stick inside a small space for long hours.
What is a harlequin mini lop?
It indicates to medium-sized rabbits have ears that are long and droopy. The ears of such rabbits fall down below their chins, and they do not weigh more than six and a half-pound. There is another breed called French lop but those ones are not as small as the harlequin mini lops, as that one often weighs around 10 to 12 pounds.
Why harlequin rabbits are unique?
The harlequin rabbits are often used for show purposes as they have such unique color combinations. They have quite sweet and friendly nature and they can be good as house pets. Their origin as well as their rarity have made them unique. Also, their price is now quite high, which is yet another reason for their uniqueness.
What kind of coat do the harlequins have?
Harlequin bunnies do not have a long-haired coat but their soft short-haired coat makes them look pretty and cuddlesome. There are two varieties of harlequins, one is Japanese and the other is a magpie. The Japanese ones are originally orange in color with black, blue, chocolate, or lilac-colored. The magpie versions come with all the combination colors but the predominant color remaining is the white one.
The patterns of colors are seen on their body in either bands or bars. Sometimes both types of patterns can be seen. There are three main parts of different colors in their body, one part is their ears, the other is the face and the rest is the belly. The belly part usually comes in the white or orange shade, depending upon the predominating color of their body.
What is the nature of the harlequin rabbit?
The harlequin rabbits are usually quite happy in nature and they prefer to mix with people and whatever is around them. They are curious and exploring by nature. They will search everywhere around their living place and will get excited when found something novel. Watching them moving around sniffing and searching is really a fun thing for the owners.
They are quite close to their owners and always seek attention, a petting stroke, or a cuddle. They have also a laid-back side to their character and they like to lie down and relax with their owners around. But you should not try to touch it anytime as rabbits have their own personal space and they need to have the personal space sometimes.
What health issues can bother the harlequin rabbits?
There are several health-related issues that are commonly found among the harlequin rabbits. We will be discussing some of them.
Malocclusion is one such disease that makes the harlequin rabbit eat with difficulty. It occurs when the upper and lower set of teeth is misaligned and that makes them chew their food improperly. This is most of the time an inborn problem and several visits to the pet dentist will solve it.
GI stasis is a common problem for all rabbit breeds, including harlequins. The digestive system of the rabbit is the most sensitive part and when it stops or slows down then it hampers their general health. it is a serious problem and can lead to death.
Ear mites are another problem faced by the harlequin rabbits. All the breed of pet rabbits has the chance of getting affected by ear mites. Sometimes the owners are able to detect the problem with their pet rabbits when they are found shaking their heads often. They experience itchiness around their ears. You need to take care of the affected rabbit at the soonest to get it cured fully.
What kind of diet is ideal for the harlequin rabbits?
The food for the rabbit is usually not the same as different sized, breeds, and different aged rabbits need a different amount of nutrition. Activity level also plays an important role in the diet of the rabbits as the domestic rabbits need less food than the wild ones.
Hay is the main item that should be given to the rabbits along with pellets and fresh vegetables. The digestive system will stay strong with hay while the vegetables will help the teeth of the rabbits to stay in proper shape. Also, the dental health of the harlequin will be alright when the rabbits will be given a good amount of hay for their meal.
Intake of fresh water is a mandatory part of their diet, the owners need to take special measures if they find that their pet rabbits are not having an adequate amount of water. If the need for vitamins and minerals is not quenched by the vegetables and hay, then high-quality pellets will be right to replenish these nutrients.
How much exercise is required by the harlequin rabbit?
Domestic rabbits have less exposure to physical exhaustion than wild ones. So the domesticated harlequin rabbits need to be exercised properly so their health does not deteriorate after a certain age and they do not get obese.
Exercise keeps the pet rabbits active and toned. They should also get the exercise as it entertains them and keeps the boredom away. You can give your harlequin some free time within which it will freely run and jump or do as they wish. Some exclusive toys will do them good when they need their daily dose of activities. Along with the obesity, the joint health is also nurtured and their stress level stays low when they exercise daily.
What kinds of activities are good for a harlequin rabbit?
There are exercising toys available in the pet shops that are good for the harlequin rabbits. You may order some toys which will let the rabbit jump, crawl, dig and chew. All these habits are commonly found among the rabbits and they should be given a proper chance to exercise these activities.
Outdoor exercises are always loved by the rabbits and thus, you should always keep in mind that taking the harlequin rabbit out for some fresh air and a session of workout is your responsibility. However, for the busy harlequin owners, the best solution is to buy a spacious shelter with lots of activity toys so the rabbit gets to play on its own.
How compatible are harlequin rabbits with the family?
We have already declared that harlequin rabbits are great as house pets, due to their docile and funny nature. They even get along with the kids and the seniors of the house and behave well unless someone bothers them or irritates them.
They are pretty intelligent compared with other rabbit breeds, and thus can be trained. So keeping them with the family is not much difficult as they will learn to use the litter box and thus will not make a mess in the house. In some cases, the owners have successfully taught their rabbits to be called by their names and respond.
Will you keep harlequin rabbits inside the house or outside?
Harlequin rabbits can be kept either outside or inside. They need lots of space to move and roam, so if you live in a small apartment then it is better to have the rabbit outside so it gets ample space to move around. They are good house rabbits but giving them extra space will ensure that they get to run, jump and burrow so their health stays fine. The confined lifestyle may not make them unhappy but it can affect their bone health and increase the risk of getting obese.
How often should you groom your harlequin rabbit?
Harlequin is quite fascinating a breed because they look gorgeous but do not need much grooming or care to stay like that. However, the owner needs to take minimal care of their rabbit’s fur coat. Shedding is never a problem with this rabbit breed as they shed in a minimal amount.
Bathing a rabbit of any breed is a rare thing and you should not bother much about that. Rabbits do not get dirty often and frequent breathing may lead to respiratory problems, cold allergies, and such ailments. Trimming the nails is necessary for the rabbits as their nails grow fast.
Overgrown nail is a problem for rabbits and they often get into an accident. So you need to be cautious about the grooming practices of the rabbit and keep it in good mood.
Conclusion:
The uniqueness of the harlequin rabbit lies in its coat. They are pretty decent in looks and will not be available easily so they are always a sought-after breed of rabbits. Most owners dream to own a harlequin but their unavailability and rarity made them a treasure for the people. They are the perfect breed for all purposes, their friendliness with all the family members as well as their low maintenance grooming.
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