Scientific Facts
| Common Name: | Brazilian Rabbit |
| Scientific Name: | – |
| Life Span: | 5 to 10 years |
| Size: | 7 to 11 pounds |
| Habitat: | Domesticated |
| Country of Origin: | Brazil |
Brazilian Rabbit Information
The Brazilian Rabbit is a domesticated breed of rabbit that was originally bred in Brazil but have since found their way up to North American countries and states as popular but rare choices for rabbit lovers. However, it is believed that these rabbits were not actually from Brazil but are European rabbits that were brought to Brazil by Portuguese sailors.
Before they were considered to be domesticated rabbits that were purchased and bred as pets, the Brazilian Rabbit was primarily bred for its meat. They are not recognized as an official breed by the American Rabbit Breeders Association and are pretty hard to come by in America due to how not a lot of American breeders prefer this type of rabbit.
Physical Description
Brazilian Rabbits are medium-sized domesticated rabbits that have the size, weight, and heft that makes them a good choice for commercial purposes in places where rabbit meat is a delicacy. These rabbits look like European rabbits than the American ones in terms of their overall features, but they actually vary in terms of their color and physical attributes. The reason for this is that domesticated rabbits that are native to Brazil are most likely automatically classified as Brazilian Rabbits. But they usually are commercial-grade in terms of their overall appearance in the sense that they are stocky and plump.
In terms of color, these rabbits come in all kinds of appearances. Some of them come in coats that are jet black, while others tend to be pale or pinkish white. Some Brazilian Rabbits can also be close to a shade of brown while there are some that may come in different shades of gray. There are even those that are bluish. Color alone really is not the one factor you should rely on when classifying a Brazilian Rabbit.
Personality
The Brazilian Rabbit has always been thought of like a really gentle creature that has a temperament and demeanor that is quite appealing for many different types of pet owners due to how these rabbits are generally very good-natured. They are friendly rabbits that can be very affectionate towards their family.
As a friendly rabbit, the Brazilian Rabbit prefers to socialize with its human family. However, they are also very fond of other household pets, as well. They get along well with dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals so long as such animals also respect the rabbit. When interacting with fellow rabbits, they are generally very gentle and will almost never try to fight with one another. Instead, these animals are balls of snuggles as they like to interact and cuddle with other pets and with humans as well.
Life Span
Brazilian Rabbits are like most domesticated rabbits in terms of how long they tend to live. These rabbits have a standard lifespan of somewhere between 5 to 10 years, but they can reasonably go over 10 years when taken care of properly.
Reproduction
The reproductive pattern of a Brazilian Rabbit is similar to other domesticated rabbits. They can be sexually mature by the time they reach 4 months and are active all year long. That means that they can give birth to multiple batches of baby rabbits in a single calendar year.
Behavior
Brazilian Rabbits are some of the most well-behaved rabbit breeds in the entire world. They are generally very friendly and affectionate towards humans and other domesticated animals. These rabbits will most likely behave in the same way as a normal household pet does in the sense that it follows the pace of its owner and will more than likely want to interact with its human family more often than not.
Socializing with humans and other pets is one of the main hobbies of a Brazilian Rabbit. They are not very playful but are very fond of snuggling with their family. They rarely show their aggressive side and are almost never too shy when it comes to getting handled by their owners. On top of that, these rabbits can be handled well by small children as their mild-mannered demeanor, and overall friendly behavior allows them to interact well with kids.
Eating Habits
Brazilian Rabbits are strictly herbivores. These domesticated pets thrive well on a diet that is based primarily on grass or on hey. You can also feed them commercial rabbit feed due to how this type of food was made to have the same kind of nutritional value as hay. The rabbit’s diet should be focused more on hay or similar types of food, which should comprise about 70% of their total calorie intake.
The other 30% of their calorie intake on a daily basis can be made up of different types of vegetables, leafy greens, and fruits. Be careful when feeding them with such types of food as there are fruits and vegetables that can be toxic to the Brazilian Rabbit in large quantities. Another thing to be careful with is their body weight as these stocky rabbits are prone to obesity. Try to watch their portion sizes and see to it that you only feed them at the right time.
Water
Brazilian Rabbits have stocky and plump bodies that require them to drink water on a consistent and regular basis. The best way to provide them with water is through a fountain-like system or through a tube where they can sip their water. However, a dish can do just fine.
Cage
Brazilian Rabbits can do well when placed in a standard cage designed for domesticated rabbits that are medium to large-sized. They do not necessarily need to be in a pretty large cage as these rabbits are not too active when they are kept in their habitat. They only tend to start to become active when they are left to play and interact outside their cage. You can try to promote their playful side by providing them with toys inside their cage, but they generally prefer to be housed in a plain and simple rabbit cage.
Availability – Where to Get one?
Brazilian Rabbits are pretty rare in the US since they are not recognized by the ARBA. But you may be able to procure one from an underground source if you try hard enough. Other than that, the best place you can get your Brazilian Rabbit is in Brazil or any other South American country that is close to it.
How to Care for a Brazilian Rabbit?
Brazilian Rabbits require the standard care you would give any other kind of domesticated rabbit in terms of their overall health and nutritional needs. Just make sure to feed them hay, but you can supplement that kind of diet with vegetables and fruits that are safe for domesticated rabbits to consume.
The coat of a Brazilian Rabbit is not too thick and is not prone to matting. You can pretty much brush it a few times just to help maintain its coat. Avoid bathing the Brazilian Rabbits as domesticated rabbits do not like getting bathed.
As much as possible, try to interact and socialize with your Brazilian Rabbit because they love social interactions with humans and pets alike. Allow them to snuggle with you so that you can promote their sweet and caring side.
FAQs
Is the Brazilian Rabbit a good pet to have?
Brazilian Rabbits are ideal pets for families due to their friendly demeanor and very caring temperament.
Are Brazilian Rabbits easy to find?
Brazilian Rabbits are quite difficult to find because they are not recognized by the ARBA.
Are Brazilian Rabbits friendly?
Brazilian Rabbits are some of the friendliest and sweetest rabbits around.
Are Brazilian Rabbits sold for their meat?
Brazilian Rabbits were bred to be fat and stocky precisely because they were originally sold for commercial purposes in places where rabbit meat is a delicacy.
