The Belier rabbit has a variety of names, including Mini Lop or the lop-eared rabbit, and of course its falls ears stand out to make it a unique and distinct specimen. Its scientific name is Oryctolagus Cuniculus.
There are two theories about the origin of this rabbit, some claim that they are descendants of the Flanders rabbits, although others point to a French origin due to mentions in books on cuinculture from the 19th century.
Physical appearance
The Belier rabbit has a voluminous and wide head that stands out for its long ears that descend to both sides, these at the beginning of its life are erect and little by little they fall as it grows. It is medium in size, weighing between 5 and 7 kilograms.
Females, in addition to being slightly smaller, have a dewlap that is non-existent in the case of males.
We can find them in a wide range of colors that include white, gray or brown for example. In addition, and depending on the country of breeding, they can present some slight distinctive physical characteristics, thus presenting several types of Belier rabbit:
- French Belier - Noted for its great weight and size, its ears are especially large.
- English Belier - The ears of this type of Belier are very large in relation to its body and can measure between 55 and 64 cm.
- Dutch Belier - It is quite small, it does not usually exceed 2 kg.
- German Belier or Lop - Somewhat larger than the Dutch Belier but still somewhat small.
- Belier or Cashmere Lop - Its hair is especially soft, somewhat long.
- Belier or Lion's Head Lop - Very furry and exotic.
Behaviour
Usually we talk about a lagomorph docile and calm unlike other breeds of rabbit, it is a particularly sweet specimen and meek. It is indicated for homes in which tranquility and harmony are prized, because the belier rabbit loves rest and comfort and even being inside a flat or house.
You should be careful if you have other pets in the home to avoid conflicts. You can try to promote a good environment, for this, you will find articles such as the coexistence between cats and rabbits that will be very useful.
Care
Rabbit care is essential for proper development. The Belier rabbit must have a large cage as well as ample space for him to play and run, and it is extremely important that he exercise his muscles. Remember that you must watch whenever it is on the floor, it can end up biting a cable or dangerous object.
Place wood chips or sawdust in its cage, materials that absorb urine well. It should also have something to gnaw on to prevent the abnormal growth of its teeth, a feeder and drinker as well as a nest to hide at night. Offer a warm environment without sudden changes in temperature. Find out about the specific care of the Belier rabbit.
Although the frequency will depend on the breed, the Belier needs regular brushing to keep his coat free of tangles, dirt and dead hair. You don't need to bathe them, they groom themselves, if you see dirt you can rub a baby wipe over the area.
If your rabbit does not exercise enough it will suffer from the growth of its nails that will need to be cut from time to time, if you do not know how to do it, go to your veterinarian so that they can show you.
Finally you should know that it is very important to clean the rabbit's cage since staying near urine for too long can pose a risk of getting infections or fungus.
Feeding
Belier rabbits love to eat, for this reason and to avoid obesity we advise you to correctly calculate the amount of food needed (you can do this by looking at the instructions on the packaging) in addition to dividing the food into two or three feedings up to date. In addition, dividing the food promotes digestion.
Obviously you should have plenty of clean, fresh water at your fingertips, available throughout the day. We recommend the typical cage drinkers for rodents or large lagomorphs because the bowls are easy to tip over and get dirty more quickly.
Learn about feeding your rabbit to find out what it needs at each specific stage of its life.
He alth
The Belier rabbit usually lives an average of between 8 or 10 years, although the life expectancy of a rabbit is a matter that will depend on some factors such as feeding, care or the absence of diseases.
We recommend you to prevent all kinds of diseases by going to the vet and giving your rabbit the pertinent vaccines that immunize him against certain viruses. Even if your rabbit lives at home, it can become infected through bacteria or residue present on our clothes, for example. Below we detail the most common diseases that can affect your Belier rabbit:
- Scabies: This is a mite that directly attacks our pet's skin. It is difficult for our rabbit to suffer from it if it lives inside the home, quickly go to the vet to have it dewormed.
- Red urine: It is usually due to a lack of nutrients in the diet. See if he eats fruit and vegetables, if so it could be a urinary tract infection.
- Coccidiosis: It is caused by microorganisms called Coccidos, a parasite that spreads easily through infected feces. It causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. See your vet as it can be treated if you act fast.
- Pneumonia: It usually occurs during cold times of the year or if we leave our pet exposed to drafts. If we don't provide some extra care our rabbit could get worse.
- Keys: They occur when the rabbit is physically inactive. If he spends too much time in his cage or is obese it can happen, especially in his hind legs.
- Abnormal growth of teeth: It is common when we do not provide our pet with forage or elements so that it can bite, just like would in nature.
Remember that if you have decided to adopt a rabbit it is very important that you find a good name for it.
