Hermelin Rabbits 
© Manuel / stock.adobe.com
Hermelin rabbits are known for their white fur and red or blue eyes.
The Hermelin rabbit is considered the archetype of the dwarf rabbit. Its good-natured character and rounded body shape make it one of the most popular rabbit breeds. Discover what it’s like to live with these white dwarves and what to consider when keeping them in this guide.
Table of contents
- Appearance: What are the visual characteristics of Hermelin rabbits?
- Character: Peaceful Little Housemates
- Keeping: Social Groups a Must
- Nutrition: What do Hermelin rabbits eat?
- Care: Are Hermelin rabbits easy to care for?
- Health: How old can a Hermelin rabbit become?
- Origin: Where do Hermelin rabbits come from?
- Where can you buy a Hermelin rabbit?
- Conclusion: Are the white dwarfs right for me?
- Profile of Hermelin Rabbits
Appearance: What are the visual characteristics of Hermelin rabbits?
First and foremost, you can recognise a Hermelin rabbit by its slightly stocky build and small, rounded head. The ears of this breed typically stick out to the side or upwards.
The short and broad shape of their ears contributes to the dwarfs’ adorable appearance, just as much as their large eyes and flat muzzles.
How big do Hermelin rabbits get?
As Hermelin rabbits belong to the dwarf rabbits, they only weigh about 1.1 to 1.5 kilograms and reach a Hermelin rabbit size of 20 to 25 centimetres in adulthood.
Dwarfs in a clean look
All Hermelin rabbits have one thing in common: Their short and smooth fur dazzles in pure white. The two different variants of this breed are thus distinguished not by their fur colour, but by their eye colour. The albinos have red eyes, while the leucistic variant sees the world through blue eyes.
© LORENZOPASSINI / stock.adobe.com
Character: Peaceful Little Housemates
Owners of Hermelin rabbits can attest: these little hoppers are peaceful and calm companions. However, give them some time to get used to you. Because rabbits are naturally flighty animals and initially approach new situations with caution and mistrust.
Nevertheless, if you’re patient and tune in to your rabbits’ needs, the animals will gradually warm up. Hermelins can even become so tame that activities such as clicker training are entirely feasible.
Are Hermelins suitable for children?
The Hermelin rabbit is one of the most popular rabbit breeds – especially among families. However, for households with very young members or children who are not yet familiar with the language of rabbits, a Hermelin rabbit may not be the right choice.
Wrong handling can, in the worst case, have a negative impact on their health.
As a rule: Rabbits should never be purchased as a cuddly toy substitute for children.
Keeping: Social Groups a Must
Whether it’s Hermelin, Lohkaninchen or Angora rabbits, if the animals could choose, they would all wish for a life in social groups. Keeping rabbits alone is against their nature and only an option in very few exceptional cases.
In the zooplus magazine, you can find out how to put together your rabbit group and provide your long-eared companions with a species-appropriate life.
The ideal cage for Hermelin rabbits
To optimise rabbit keeping, several points must be clarified before purchasing a rabbit. One question is whether you prefer to keep your Hermelins in the house or in the garden. The size of the cage and the appropriate interior furnishings also play an important role.
Everything you need to know about the perfect rabbit home is available in our Dwarf Rabbit Guide. There we show you in detail how to keep your rabbits species-appropriate and ensure a healthy life for them in the long term.
Nutrition: What do Hermelin rabbits eat?
The digestion of rabbits is complex. Therefore, the nutrition of these animals is one of the most important topics future owners need to address. For example, if your rabbits do not get enough hay, it can have severe health consequences.
Therefore, inform yourself early about the most important aspects of healthy rabbit nutrition and learn how to feed your new housemates in a species-appropriate way.
Care: Are Hermelin rabbits easy to care for?
Caring for Hermelin rabbits is surprisingly straightforward, despite their bright white fur: the short and smooth coat can be brushed in no time.
Discover how to keep your Hermelin rabbit’s claws and teeth short and healthy in our overview on proper Dwarf Rabbit Care.
In addition to body care, regular cleaning of the rabbit hutch is also part of the care programme for Hermelin rabbits. Important: The daily care plan includes removing leftovers and changing the drinking water.
Health: How old can a Hermelin rabbit become?
Dwarf rabbits like Hermelins typically have a life expectancy of about eight to twelve years. The life span and quality of life of the animals largely depend on how you keep and feed your pets.
Are Hermelin rabbits the result of unethical breeding?
Those wishing to keep white dwarf rabbits should familiarise themselves with the peculiarities of Hermelin rabbit breeding. The so-called lethal factor plays a crucial role here.
This factor affects the external characteristics of some rabbit breeds and leads to the typical dwarfism in dwarf rabbits like the Hermelin. The problem: offspring from two rabbits that carry the lethal factor are not viable.
Therefore, breeding healthy Hermelins is only possible if one parent lacks the lethal factor. In many countries, it is therefore forbidden to mate two rabbits bearing the lethal factor.
Origin: Where do Hermelin rabbits come from?
It is often clear from what period and where many rabbit breeds originate. Not so with the Hermelin rabbit. The origins of these adorable dwarfs remain unclear to this day.
However, one thing is certain: since the early 19th century, the snow-white breed has been among the favourite dwarf rabbits.
The Hermelin as a namesake
Hermelin rabbits were named for their resemblance to ermines, whose white weasel fur was used for centuries by humans to make fur coats and accessories.
Initially bred to provide a cheap imitation of ermine fur, Hermelin rabbits were brought from Polish breeders to England, where they became known as Polish rabbits. Eventually, they made their way to Germany, where they were named Hermelin rabbits.
Where can you buy a Hermelin rabbit?
It is rare to find Hermelins in pet stores. Better chances lie in looking at animal shelters or approaching specialised Hermelin rabbit breeders.
How much does a Hermelin rabbit cost?
When buying Hermelin rabbits, expect costs of around ten to fifty euros per individual. However, depending on the age and origin, the price for a rabbit of this breed can vary.
If, for example, the rabbit is already neutered, the purchase price is usually slightly higher than for unneutered specimens.
Conclusion: Are the white dwarfs right for me?
Hermelins fit into any household that can provide the lively animals with enough space and care.
If you have children or other pets such as cats or dogs at home, you should carefully consider whether you can meet the small rabbits’ needs. Like most rodents, Hermelin rabbits are also sensitive to noise and stress.
However, if you approach the needs of these beautiful animals lovingly and attentively, you can look forward to a wonderful time with them.
Profile of Hermelin Rabbits
| Name: | Hermelin Rabbit |
| Weight: | 1.1-1.5kg |
| Life Expectancy: | Eight to ten years |
| Sleep-Wake Cycle: | Diurnal and crepuscular |
| Food: | Herbivore (herbs, grasses, fruit, vegetables) |
| Origin: | Unknown |
| Keeping: | In groups |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
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At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
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