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Harlequin rabbit are take a separatebreedby most but only a specific color blueprint by some . Regardless of how you separate them , harlequin rabbits are known for their unique , colorful coat and can come in a motley of size of it . experience what kind of care they call for can help keep your rabbit felicitous and live a long life .
Species Overview
Common Name : Harlequin hare , Japanese harlequin lapin , Magpie harlequin hare
Scientific Name : Oryctolagus genus Cuniculus
Adult Size:6.5 - 9.5 lbs .
Harlequin rabbits can come in a few different colors but the most common are primarily orange and black.Credit:Getty Images/LadyElizabeth
life-time : About 5 - 8 years but can live up to 12 years
Harlequin Rabbit Behavior and Temperament
A harlequin rabbit can make a great pet for the right person . They are easy fauna and are known to be playful and smart . cony are not aggressive fauna and are more potential to run aside than to try and squeeze if they are scared or jeopardize . They are most active at break of the day and gloam but can often be find footle around and catnap both during the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and eventide when they ’re not busy play .
Size Information
Harlequin rabbits can alter in size . They range anywhere from 6.5 - 9.5 pound with the female typically being a little larger than the males . They are considered a small- to medium - sized hare strain .
Housing
coney demand a lot of infinite to run away and make for , but when they are n’t hop around , they also need a secure place to sleep . If your harlequin rabbit is an indoor cony , a minimum John Cage size of 3 feet by 3 feet should be provided . Store - bought cages are available , but many people create their ownrabbit enclosuresusing use pen , dog crates , and other items . outside hare hutchescan also be bought or made but should be specially secure to prevent your rabbit from escaping or being wound or killed by a predatory animal .
Specific Substrate Needs
If you select to employ a substrate in your rabbit ’s house , debar cedar and pine shavings . These can be redolent and hold in oil that can cause respiratory and skin return . Opt for aspen or recycled paper materials rather if you want to provide your rabbit with some bedding to sleep in . Litter boxes can also contain this substrate or you may use hay or unscented , debris - free cat bedding .
What Do Harlequin Rabbits Eat & Drink?
Like other rabbits , harlequin eat a variety of vegetable and hay . Depending on the size of your lapin , 1/4 to 1/2 cupful of hare pellet without seeds or biased piece can be leave , but the majority of their meal should be compose of pasture hay and dark , leafy greens . Occasional treats of sugar - free cereal , cracker , fruits , and vegetables that are n’t gullible can also be give . Remember , if your rabbit ’s diet is not appropriate , it is more potential to developileus .
Common Health Problems
Harlequin rabbits can , alas , develop a diverseness of health problems . Some of the most mutual issues see to it in rabbits include :
All of these wellness problem and many others will require the help of a veterinarian get in coney tutelage .
Training Your Harlequin Rabbit
Harlequin coney are very impudent and can be trained to do unsubdivided tricks , come when called , use a litter corner , and more . Some people even teach them to take the air on a harness and rope and get toy .
Leash Training
If you want to school your rabbit to take the air on a lead , be certain to attach it to a harness that is designed for a rabbit . Verbal coaxing , as well as treats , can assist encourage your coney to walk toward you while it gets used to being attached to a terzetto .
Potty Training
With a lilliputian patience and eubstance , you could develop your hare to practice a litter box . This will make you more probable to have your rabbit roam around in a hare - proofed environment since you wo n’t have to occupy about clean up any fortuity .
Exercise
Exercise is vital to your rabbit ’s genial and physical wellness . Your coney needs space to run and play so that it can forage forfood , be mentally rush , find things tochew on , maintain muscle volume , and keep its digestive tract moving . Gastrointestinal motility can decrease or stop due to stress as well as a lack of strong-arm mobility .
Grooming
Harlequin rabbits have short hair but that does n’t intend they do n’t have grooming pauperization . Nail trim , ear cleanings , tub , and perhaps eventooth trimsmay be necessary depending on your specific rabbit and their lifestyle .
Shedding
Rabbits shed on a regular basis but major moult or sheds occur twice a yr in the spring and fall . During these major sheds , more fur will be lost by your rabbit than normal .
Brushing
While harlequin rabbit do n’t have very long hair’s-breadth , you may still need to occasionally brush them . Brushingcan help decrease the amount of pelt you discover around the house and on your clothes .
Baths
Rabbits are typically very clean animate being so bathing them may not be necessary , but if they get messy , a quick bath may be warranted . Use dish soap and lukewarm water while cautiously cleaning your lapin and towel dry out them thoroughly .
Upkeep Costs
like for a harlequin rabbit may cost more than you expect . Due to daily fresh vegetables , hay , and pellet , require to drop around $ 50 a calendar month just for food and another $ 10-$20 on toys and bedding . Additionally , you ’ll want to budget for workaday and emergency brake veterinary visit for when your rabbit demand aesculapian attention .
Pros & Cons of Keeping a Harlequin Rabbit as a Pet
lapin necessitate a passel more space and attention than many citizenry think , but they are also very personable pets . They require novel vegetables to feed each day but can be cuddly and live to be 12 years of age .
Similar Pets to the Harlequin Rabbit
If you ’re concerned in favorite harlequin rabbit , check out :
Otherwise , discipline out othertypes of rabbitsthat can be your novel positron emission tomography !
Purchasing or Adopting Your Harlequin Rabbit
Harlequin rabbits are not a vernacular strain so they are n’t commonly find in pet stores . You will most in all likelihood necessitate to purchase your harlequin rabbit from a breeder online or at a rabbit show , but you may occasionally come up one with a rescue chemical group . If you are seem to rescue a harlequin rabbit , you may contact your localHouse Rabbit Societychapter to see if they have recommendations for rabbit rescue or contact local rabbit rescues straightaway .
Reproduction/Breeding
The American Rabbit Breeders Association lists coming show as well as harlequin cony stock breeder on their website that have pay to list their contact info . You should expect to pay anywhere between $ 20 and $ 100 , look on the gloss and pattern tone . If you resolve to get more than one rabbit and they are of opposite sexuality , you ’ll want to get your female spayed to keep unwanted litters . or else , you’re able to get two female . If you want to get two males , you ’ll need to get them neutered if you want to keep them from contend with each other .
Yes ! Harlequin rabbit can make great pets for kids . Rabbits have it off to play and have unique personalities , so they can be a lot of fun . Young children will need help treatment , feeding , and cleaning a harlequin rabbit , however .
The price of a harlequin rabbit will vary reckon on the colouration and pattern of the pelt . Show quality patterns will cost more than a favourite timbre radiation diagram but they can range in price from $ 20-$100 .
A rabbit is more work than a hamster , but they are not hard to take care of . They do need adequate space and playtime as well as fresh food daily . rabbit are not simply caged pets .
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