Florida White Rabbit: Everything You Must Know Before Purchasing

Florida White Rabbits are small-sized domestic rabbit breeds created for laboratory uses and meat production. But due to their appearance and behaviour, today they are very popular as domestic pets.

Florida White Rabbit’s Glimpse:

Common Name	Florida White Rabbit
Scientific Name	Oryctolagus cuniculus
Other Names	Florida Rabbit
Adult Weight	4-6 lbs
Colors	White
Habitat	Cage, hutches, meadows
Diet	Grass, Hays, Oats, Spinach, etc
Predators	Dogs, cats, foxes, badgers, etc
IUCN Status	Not evaluated
Gestation Period	28-31 days
Weaning Age	1.5-2 months
Lifespan	5-8 Years
Behavior	Docile, gentle, playful, and intelligent
Good Pets?	Yes
Jump	36 inches
Speed	35-45 mph
Grooming	Once a Week

Everything You Should Know About Florida White Rabbits:

Origin:

However, the origin of Florida White Rabbits roots in ARBA Judge Orville Milliken. He crossed between albino Dutch, Polish, and New Zealand White rabbits through progressive selection and line breeding.

The rabbit breed was originally developed for laboratory uses and meat production for its favourable dress-out ratio. In 1967, the American Rabbit Breed Association (ARBA) accepted it as a breed.

Habitat:

Florida White Rabbits (FWR) are mainly considered domestic pets and hence mostly live in cages or hutches. Apart from that, you could find rabbits in the garden, parks, and meadows. But due to their delicious meats, FWRs are not safe in the outdoors. The rabbits also need enough space to play, jump, dig, and run to stay active and thus they often escape the cage and go to nearby gardens or parks. Hence, always monitor your little rabbit closely while playing outdoors.

Cage Size:

The general rule of thumb is the bigger the cage, the better for the rabbit. Because the rabbits love to move, play with toys, and stand up using hind legs. But if you lack space, it is recommended to have a cage at least 4 feet (48 in) long, 2 feet (24 in) wide, and 2 feet (24 in) height. Ensure the bed and the floor are soft otherwise, it can irritate the rabbit.

Physical Appearance: How do you identify a Florida White Rabbit?

Florida White Rabbits are generally excellent show animals. They have small and compact bodies with firm flesh, tiny feet, heads, and bones. The ears are small and stand upright. FWR also has a short neck with a rounded head.

The ideal weight for an adult is 5 lbs or 2.3 kg. But the average weight of an adult often varies between 4 lbs (1.8 kg) and 6 lbs (2.7 kg). The Kits are usually weighed around 2.25 lbs – 4.5 lbs.

Colours and Furs:

As the name suggests, Florida White Rabbits are white without any markings on the body with albino red eyes. These White rabbits have short and soft rollback furs which means if you stroke the fur from the opposite direction, it’ll return to its original position. The rabbits don’t shed very often and thus regular grooming is not required.

Sexual Dimorphism:

Yes, sexual dimorphism is present in Florida White Rabbits as the buck (male) is larger and heavier than the doe (female). The females usually weigh between 4-5 lbs whereas the bucks weigh 4.5-6 lbs.

There are other physical differences are also present in the rabbits. The males have broader shoulders and head with thicker necks and small genital openings. Whereas the females have a slit-like opening.

There are behavioural differences also present between males and females. The Bucks are usually more territorial and aggressive, especially towards other bucks. Hence consider this fact if you plan to have multiple Florida White Rabbit at your place. However, both the males and females can be friendly together and be affectionate towards the owners and family members.

Diet:

The amount of food required for a rabbit always depends on its age, sex, health condition, and activity level. Usually, 1/4th cup of pallets is enough for mature rabbits in a day. However, it is recommended that ideal rabbit food consists of high-fibre and low-fat content because rabbits can’t digest fat easily. Thus, it is highly recommended not to give your rabbits any dairy or meat products or they will suffer from stomach problems.

Similar to other domestic rabbits, 80% of their diet must be hay, especially timothy hay, which provides proper nutrition to the rabbit and prevents teeth from ever-growing. You can also give them other types of hay such as oats and alfalfa but in moderation. The additional 20% of nutrition comes from grass and other green vegetables such as Bel Peppers, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Spinach, Carrot, Lettuce, Cilantro, and Cucumber. Green grass and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals to the rabbit which are not provided by hay.

You must also avoid providing them with food or fruit with high sugar content such as mango, grapes, pears, bananas, figs, etc. Hence, while giving your rabbit commercialized packaged food, you must check the sugar quantity of the food otherwise it can lead to obesity and other health issues. Ensure, the rabbit always has access to clean drinking water which is changed daily and free from contaminations. The dish and eating place of the rabbit need to be cleaned every day as well.

Predators and Threats:

There are no natural predators for the Florida White Rabbits. But due to their delicious meat, many larger animals love to hunt them. Dogs, cats, foxes, badgers, coyotes, wolves, and larger birds are some of the White Rabbit’s potential predators. Thus, while the little rabbit is playing in the garden or park, monitor it closely to protect the rabbit from predators.

Disease:

Florida White Rabbits usually don’t have any breed-specific health issues but they often suffer from health issues such as GI Stasis, Ear Mites, Fly Strikes, Malocclusion, Vitamin D Deficiency, Respiratory Infections, and Ulcers.

GI Stasis: It is a deadly disease in which the function of the digestive system of the rabbit slows down or stops completely. Loss of appetite, small or no faecal pellets, and lethargy, etc are some of the symptoms of the disease. It can be treated if the disease is caught quickly.
Ear Mites: A common parasitic disease of rabbits in which they shake their head very often. Veterinary surgeons can treat the disease easily.
Fly Strikes: It is also known as Myiasis, in which flies lay their eggs on the dirty or injured part of the rabbit, and those eggs hatch out into maggots. These maggots can eat the rabbit’s flesh within 24 hours and can result in the rabbit’s death within a very short time.
Malocclusion: It is a disease in which when the upper and lower teeth are misaligned and hamper the process of chewing. Regular dental check-ups and good quality hay (timothy hay) can prevent the disease.
Vitamin D deficiency: If you don’t allow the rabbit to play outdoors and in the sunlight regularly, they might suffer from Vitamin D deficiency.
Respiratory Infections: These infections can be very contagious. The infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and result in sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and nasal discharge. The disease can be treated by antibiotics, nebulization therapy, fluid therapy, and steam inhalation.

Treatments and Care:

It is advised to take your rabbit to your nearby veterinary surgeon for regular check-ups at least once in six months. But after five years of age, they are more prone to disease and hence you can increase the frequency of having more regular check-ups.

Conservation Status:

Due to the unavailability of proper data, the conservation status of the Florida White Rabbit has not been evaluated yet in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Reproduction and Breeding:

The females reach sexual maturity at 4 months of age whereas the buck (males) become sexually mature at 3 months of age. The gestation period is 28-31 days and the litter size for the Florida White Rabbit is 5-8 kits. The bucks can mate with many females and females can breed multiple times in a year.

Lifespan:

The rabbits usually live 5-8 years. But with proper healthcare and nutrition, they can live up to 10 years. But in case of disease and other health issues, they can die early.

Behaviour: Is Florida White Rabbit a Good Pet?

The rabbits are very less demanding, which means you don’t need to worry about caring for them. The white rabbits are very active, especially during the dawn and dusk and still, they don’t need high maintenance.

Exercise and Sleeping:

In the wild, usually the rabbits run 2-3 miles a day but to keep them active at home, you need to give them enough time and space to play, jump, run, and dig. If you give them to play and run at least 1-2 hours every day in the house or the garden, it’ll help them to stay active and prevent them from vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, it’ll help them to create bonds with people and socialize.

Always monitor your little Florida White Rabbit while playing outside. The rabbits have very delicious meat and thus many predators can harm them for their meat. The rabbits also need 8-10 hours of sound sleep daily to stay active. Hence, a soft and cosy bed is essential to help the rabbit get good sleep.

Training:

Florida White Rabbits are very suitable as pets and quite easy to train. If you give a little training and patience to the rabbits they can adapt the training easily. However, they can’t be trained as easily as dogs or cats but it doesn’t mean the training process requires plenty of time. Here are a few trainings you can give to your rabbit very easily.

Staying Positive:

Early age is the best time to train your rabbit. You can easily train your rabbit to stay positive by rewarding them with a carrot or any food while they exhibit the desired behaviour and activity. It’ll make them sociable and playful as well as help them to understand what are the right things to do. Punishment or scolding will make them afraid and aggressive.

Litter and Potty Training:

Litter and Potty training is also important to rabbits to keep the surroundings of the rabbit healthy and clean. You can put the litter box at a certain distance and teach them how to use it. It takes a little time but once they know how to use it, they are habituated to use the litter box. But to advance the process and make it more effective you can give your rabbit potty training for better results. Always keep the litter box far from the rabbit’s eating place and drinking water to avoid contamination.

Walking Training:

With the help of a leash, you can easily give the rabbit walking training. You can take the rabbit for a walk in the morning and evening with the help of the leash.

Grooming:

The White Rabbits have short fur and they don’t shed very often. Hence a lot of grooming is not necessary. In general, grooming them once a week is enough in normal times but during shedding season, you should brush them twice or thrice a week depending on the situation with slicker brushes and de-tangling brushes.

You shouldn’t bathe your rabbit unless it can be a traumatizing experience for them. You need to check their nails and ears regularly. Trim their nails and clean their ears whenever required. Trimming their nails once every 4-6 weeks is enough for a rabbit.

Family Compatibility:

Florida White Rabbits are one of the most docile and friendly rabbit breeds once they feel comfortable with you. Unlike other domestic rabbit breeds, the white rabbits take a little longer time to become familiar with the family and the members. Once you achieve the trust of the rabbits, they are good-natured, relaxed, and love to be petted, cuddled, and picked up.

As an owner, you must respect the personal space of your rabbit when it is new to your home. You must give the rabbit enough space, liberty, and food to become comfortable first. If your rabbit feels uncomfortable or frightened then it might bite you.

The rabbit breed is suitable for any family or person irrespective of age, gender, experience, and financial condition. They are not expensive and also very cheap to maintain. The rabbits can create a strong bond with the elders and the young pretty easily. The rabbits can also socialize with strangers if you train them to socialize at a young age and show them humans are not a threat.

Compatibility with other pets:

Florida White Rabbits are compatible with other pets as well if they are non-harming to the rabbit. If you train the rabbit to co-exist with other domestic pets from a young age, it’ll be easier for you.

Vulnerability to heat:

The Florida White Rabbits are vulnerable to extremely hot temperatures. Hence, give them cool shelter and drinking water in summer to maintain their body temperature.

About Florida White Rabbit Sales: How do you purchase the rabbit?

The rabbits are very well-known and easily found in the USA and Canada. You can also find them in the United Kingdom and other European countries. Depending on your location, you can purchase them online. However, you can easily find them at your nearby pet shop or buy them from a reputed rabbit breeder. If you want to find ARBA-certified rabbit breeders, you can click here.

What is the price of a Florida White Rabbit?

The price of a White Rabbit depends on the rabbit’s age, gender, and availability in your location. In the USA, the average price of the rabbits varies from $35-$100. Reputed breeders may charge a bit higher than normal because they provide the history of the rabbit and ensure that the rabbit is healthy and disease-free. But for a show-quality rabbit, you may have to spend a little more.

5 Facts to Remember Before Purchasing a Florida White Rabbit:

The rabbits have a very bad habit of chewing anything that has fallen on the ground. Hence, make the floor electric wire-free and ensure clothes and important documents are out of rabbit’s reach.
The White rabbits are very vulnerable to heat and thus you need to provide them with a cool shelter and clean drinking water to maintain their body temperature.
If you plan to buy a Florida White Rabbit, ensure you have enough time to give attention to the rabbit, otherwise, the rabbit might feel lonely and create problems.
The rabbit breed was originally made for laboratory purposes and meats. For their delicious meats, many potential predators like dogs, cats, foxes, etc. can attack and kill them. Hence, monitor your rabbit closely while it is playing in the garden or park.
Always ensure the cage/hutch for the rabbit is big enough so that it allows the rabbit to move and play inside without much effort. Also check the bed is soft and smooth, otherwise the rabbit might feel irritation in the paws.