Have you ever heard of the butterfly rabbit? If not, you may be imagining a mutation between insects and mammals, quite the opposite! These nice and delicate little friends that it is not very common to talk about are an interesting breed of rabbit.
Where are you from?
Certainly, its origin generates a lot of curiosity because hearing about a butterfly rabbit is not common. This breed of rabbit has existed for some time in England, it has been distributed in various parts of the world due to its different and original colors.
Anyone passionate about rabbits would like to have a english spot, but exactly where does it come from? They are typical of a selected cross between German and English breeds, the result of them is really interesting. In addition, there is no other type of rabbit with this peculiar spot.
Why the butterfly name?
The butterfly nickname refers to the unique spot on its nose in the form of double wings on both sides of the face, reflecting the image of the striking insect.
Characteristics of butterfly rabbits
They are medium-sized rabbits and weigh 2 or 3 kilograms, this depends on whether it is male or female, if the species belongs to the latter gender, its dimensions will be smaller. The prolongation of their existence for both is about 12 years and the shape of their body is curved, surpassing the front legs of their belly.
Their round hips make them look like corpulent little animals, their back has a marked arch that goes from the neck to their hind legs, which are rounded and elongated, which allows the body to maintain an instance of the floor. Another of its outstanding features are its elongated and rounded ears.
Although these traits help to differentiate their race from others, they have a very peculiar characteristic that is the design of their unique coat. The base of the fur is clear, on it some small spots that go from its hind legs and tail to the neck where a line begins, better known as herringbone spots that runs down the back to the end of its tail following the spine of the animal. .
As on their hind legs, they also have markings on their front legs and cheeks. They have circles around their eyes, a painted nose, their ears and base have the same color as the well-defined spots. That fur is usually always abundant and short, which makes them differentiate from other rabbits.
Types according to their color
That's right, it's not just one species of butterfly rabbit. There are several that are interesting because of the bright colors they have, among the different colorations are:
- The Black Butterfly Rabbit: It has a white base with spots of an accentuated and shiny black color with a bluish base. His eye color is dark brown.
- The blue butterfly rabbit: It has a white base and its flecks are a shimmery medium blue. Also, his eyes are grayish blue.
- The Chocolate Butterfly Rabbit: It also has a white base and bright deep brown spots, its eyes are brown.
- The Golden Butterfly Rabbit: It has very specific golden spots, which are distinguished from its white base, being impeccable and shiny. His eye color is brown.
- The Gray Butterfly Rabbit: It is a very particular rabbit, due to its gray color that is unique in its breed. It is differentiated by its particular spots on the face, the color of its eyes is the same as that of the golden-brown rabbit.
- The Lilac Butterfly Rabbit: His flecks are gray with a soft pink hue approaching a lilac tone the color of his blue-gray eyes.
- The Tortoise Butterfly Rabbit: In them, their back is lined with orange specks while on their sides they have a smoky gray color, these being dark on the part of the head and ears, the color of their eyes is brown.
What attitude do these spotted rabbits have?
El english rabbit it is a small animal that is generally in good health and potentially vigorous. In addition, being very restless and fun daily requires one to two hours of play. Well, it allows them to drain all the stored energies, being very conducive to doing this activity in the morning or at night.
In turn, these hours of fun will help you stay in a state of rest throughout the day. They appreciate company and do not like to be alone for a long time.
The butterfly rabbit needs to interact with the environment, it can be happily surrounded by children as well as other animals, as long as they have become accustomed to being together. Similarly, we must exercise caution and supervision when these little animals are going to spend time with children to avoid any damage or nerves in the rabbit.
What are the care for this breed of rabbit?
Like any rabbit or other animal that is intended to be in the home, the details regarding its care are essential.
Food
Lo what do rabbits eat Spotted is dry grass, which provides the recommended doses of protein, calories and calcium vegetables except for lettuce, cauliflower and broccoli, as they can cause intestinal discomfort.
Also, fruits so that they have a healthier and more varied diet, but we must be careful in the amount of fruit that we supply, since they have a large amount of sugars, which is not very advisable. This can be given only twice a week, likewise give them good hydration by placing a drinker filled with water.
Hygiene
It is recommended to brush his coat frequently, as this helps to remove dead hair and maintain its cleanliness. Just like the puppy care It is recommended not to bathe them, because this would only eliminate the natural barrier of their skin. This protects them and keeps them away from respiratory infections, and since they are not completely dry and free of moisture, they are exposed.
Another thing that we must take into account is to cut their nails regularly, in case of being first-timers of these little furry ones, the veterinarian will tell us the correct way to do it so as not to cause them any damage.
Also, give him some wood so he can gnaw, because the English rabbit will permanently grow teeth throughout his life. When they are free they do not need this, but when they are turned into household pets, it must be controlled.
Behavior
As has already been said, they are of a very dynamic and happy species. They love being free and playing, which is why they need to be in a large and suitable space for their development.
The use of cages is not highly recommended for these animals, since their space would be reduced and this could cause a level of stress in them. The use of the cage is only recommended when these little animals are going to spend a long time alone, and it should be made of a soft material with a base that is not made of grids, in order to avoid hurting their paws.
Are they healthy animals?
In general, these cute little friends do not have congenital diseases, but unlike other breeds, over time they can suffer from discomfort in their teeth. Since they tend to grow very fast and if they are not worn out in time, it can cause problems such as malocclusions and dental abscesses.
They can be kept as a pet
Despite the fact that it is not very common to talk about this peculiar breed of rabbit, the small butterfly rabbits can be found more easily in places such as shelters or associations specialized in the reception or adoption of butterfly rabbits in their different colors.
Normally, these rabbits are acquired to exhibit them for their characteristic fur, rather than as a pet, as it could well be a golden retriever. However, if we want to adopt a butterfly rabbit as a pet, we must do so with the responsibility and care that they deserve, in this way we will prevent them from getting sick and dying sooner than expected.