Brazilian Rabbit: Facts, Care, Diet, Pictures & More
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Brazil—home of the Amazon rainforest, Carnival, and…rabbits? The Brazilian rabbit, sometimes called the Rustico, is a hardy, good-tempered breed of rabbit that has a long and underappreciated history. Today, these friendly, hardy rabbits are one of the rarest breeds to find outside of Brazil. If you get a chance to own a Brazilian rabbit, it will be worth it!
| Size: | Medium |
| Weight: | 6 – 8 lbs |
| Lifespan: | 8 – 12 years |
| Similar Breeds: | English spot, Argent blue, Baladi |
| Suitable for: | All skill levels |
| Temperament: | Friendly, docile, adaptable |
Brazilian rabbits are believed to descend from rabbits kept on Portuguese sailing ships. When they made it to Brazil, they formed a new population with its own distinct traits. Brazilian rabbits are soft, friendly, and calm, making them a great choice of pets. But since they aren’t a recognized breed by most organizations and they’re hard to find in the US, you might have a hard time tracking one down.
Brazilian Rabbit Breed Characteristics
How Much Do These Rabbits Cost?
Brazilian rabbits are rare in the United States. While they are cheap and easy to find in Brazil, there are only a few breeders in the United States. Many of the Brazilian rabbits in the United States are descended from a few imported to Arizona in the 1980s. If you do find a Brazilian rabbit for sale, it will likely be for over $100 because of its rarity.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Brazilian Rabbit
Do These Rabbits Make Good Pets? 👪
Brazilian rabbits are often used as meat rabbits in Brazil, but they still make great pets. They are generally calm and even-tempered, meaning that they can be socialized well and get along with humans of all ages. Brazilian rabbits can also come when you call and learn other simple tricks. In Brazil, these rabbits are usually kept somewhat free range and given a lot of space to roam during the day before being called back to a small hutch or pen at night. This means that some Brazilian rabbits might not take well to being kept in a hutch.
Does This Rabbit Get Along With Other Pets?
In general, Brazilian rabbits get along well with other pets, including other rabbits. You may need to take care introducing them to other rabbits to help them make a good first impression. Brazilian Rabbits can learn to get along with dogs that have lower prey instincts, but many dogs need socialization before sharing space with a rabbit, and some aren’t suited to live with rabbits.
You should also take care when introducing a cat and a Brazilian rabbit. Cats often hunt small mammals, including smaller rabbits. However, a medium-sized Brazilian Rabbit is generally large enough to be safe from a cat, especially if your rabbit is on the larger end. If you own both a cat and a rabbit, it’s important to monitor them both carefully and avoid giving them free access to each other unless you are certain the cat doesn’t see your rabbit as prey. Never give a cat access to a baby Brazilian rabbit.
Things to Know When Owning a Brazilian Rabbit
Food & Diet Requirements 🥕
Rabbits thrive on a vegetable diet of mostly hay. Brazilian rabbits in Brazil often eat free-range, grazing on a variety of grasses and weeds that aren’t nutritious to humans. However, if you keep a Brazilian rabbit as a pet, they’ll be healthiest if you stick to a standard diet of hay supplemented by pellets and fresh veggies.
Most of your rabbit’s diet should be made of fresh hay. Look for high-quality grass hay, not alfalfa. Your rabbit should always have access to hay, and you shouldn’t limit the amount it eats in most circumstances. Along with hay, rabbits can have up to ¼ cup of pellets and 1–2 cups of fresh veggies daily. Some of the best vegetables for rabbits include bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and lettuce.
Habitat & Hutch Requirements 🏠
Your rabbit should have enough space to hop, stand, and stretch in its hutch. Brazilian rabbits need their space, and most sources recommend a hutch or cage of at least 6 x 2 x 2 feet. Your cage should have plenty of access to food (hay) and water, a litter tray, and a sleeping hide—a box or similar sheltered area filled with bedding. If your hutch is outdoors, it will need insulation to keep it between about 55 and 80 degrees.
Brazilian rabbits can also be successfully raised free range. You should make sure that you have a fenced, rabbit-proof yard that they can roam in. Free-range rabbits will generally still need access to a sheltered hutch that they can use for sleep and shelter from bad weather, but it can be a little smaller. You also will need to close them in their hutch at night. If you choose to free range your rabbits, you’ll want to start when they are still young so they can adapt to grazing and living outdoors.
Exercise & Sleeping Needs 🐇
Brazilian rabbits are active creatures that need space to hop and play. They love exploring and playing with various toys, so making sure that they have plenty of room to move and a variety of stimulating toys will help them stay happier. If your rabbit lives mainly in a hutch, make sure that it is big enough to have plenty of space for hopping.
Brazilian rabbits also need a safe sleeping space. In the wild, rabbits need to find or make dark, hidden nesting spots where they can sleep safe from predators. As pets, they’ll sleep best if you give them a sheltered box or other dark space to sleep in.
Training 🥎
Brazilian rabbits are very trainable! One of the best things to teach your rabbit is litter box usage. This will help keep your rabbit’s space clean and save you hassle too! Rabbits are naturally clean, so using a litter box is usually pretty easy for them to learn, especially for a spayed or neutered rabbit. You can also train Brazilian rabbits to do other useful tasks like coming when you call or jumping into and out of a hutch or carrier. You can even teach them to do fun tricks!
If you want to train your rabbit, the secret is positive reinforcement, patience, and lots of treats. Rabbits don’t respond well to punishment as they often don’t understand the connection between their punishment and their behavior. Instead, be consistent and firm.
Grooming ✂️
Brazilian rabbits have short, dense fur that doesn’t usually need much grooming; however, they may need an occasional nail trim. Rabbits don’t generally like water and being submerged in water can send them into a panic and or cause their body temperature to drop dangerously. Instead, you should give your rabbit a spot bath (using a wet washcloth to clean a specific spot) or a dry bath (cleaning your rabbit with cornstarch or another fine powder) to clean your rabbit’s fur if it gets dirty or grimy beyond what your rabbit can clean itself.
Lifespan and Health Conditions 🏥
Because the Brazilian rabbit is so rare, not much is known about its lifespan and health. However, the Brazilian rabbit is known to be hardy and adaptable, so it’s likely that they could live up to 12 years given proper care. This breed isn’t known to have any health conditions specific to the breed, but some health conditions are relatively common in all rabbits, including dental diseases, gut stasis, uterine tumors (common in unspayed female rabbits), fleas, and head tilt.
- Fleas
- Head tilt
- Dental disease
- Gut stasis
- Uterine tumors
Male vs Female
Male and female Brazilian rabbits have several differences. Males tend to be larger than females. Males also have a different body type than females; they are thick and blocky, a body type sometimes known as a “commercial” body type because it is best for meat-producing rabbits. On the other hand, females have a slimmer arched or semi-arched body type.
Females also have unique health conditions to be aware of. A majority of unspayed females will develop uterine tumors as they age, shortening their lifespan and leading to various health complications. Spaying or neutering is recommended for all rabbits that aren’t being used for breeding, but it’s especially important for females.
The 3 Little-Known Facts About Brazilian Rabbit
1. The Brazilian Rabbit Has Native Cousins
If you search for “Brazilian rabbit,” you might be surprised to have two types of rabbits come up. One is the domestic Brazilian rabbit, probably descended from rabbits brought to Brazil by European sailors. But there’s also the Brazilian Cottontail—a wild species of rabbit that’s completely unrelated.
2. Brazilian Rabbits Help Solve Hunger
In Brazil, rabbits are a great addition to a rural family’s diet. Because rabbits can eat corn husks, weeds, and other foods that we can’t, they don’t compete for food with their owners. They’re much cheaper and easier to breed than large mammals, making them perfect for impoverished families.
3. They’ve Got a Warm Double Coat
Despite coming from a warm country, Brazilian rabbits have a plush double coat. Their long, wiry guard hairs protect the plush, downy layer of fur underneath.
Final Thoughts
Brazilian rabbits might still be emerging as a breed, but they definitely stand out! The traits that make them well adapted to subsisting in Brazilian villages make them a hardy, adaptable breed as a pet. And because of their sweet, docile temperament, pet lovers of all ages and experience levels will find that this breed is a great match. If you get the chance to own a Brazilian rabbit, count yourself lucky.
Featured Image Credit to: Ilan Ejzykowicz, Shutterstock
