Astrex
The Astrex is a rex-coated rabbit whose fur is curled rather than merely short and plush, produced by a recessive mutation acting on the rex coat.
It appears sporadically in rex breeding and has never been widely standardised — most registries do not recognise it, and the curl often relaxes as the rabbit matures.
Because it is a coat variety rather than an established breed, size and build follow whatever rex stock produced it, typically three to four and a half kilograms. This is a rabbit kept by a small number of enthusiasts rather than a breed with a settled standard, and honest sources disagree about how stable the curl is.
- Origin
- A rex coat mutation; not widely standardised
- Size
- 3–4.5 kg, following rex type
- Lifespan
- 8–10 years
- Coat
- Curled rex fur; the curl often relaxes with age
- Temperament
- As for rex rabbits — generally calm and friendly
- Recognition
- Not recognised by most registries
2 astrex photos, newest first
Living with a astrex
Rex-type coats have very short guard hairs, which offers less padding on the hind feet — sore hocks are notably more common in rex rabbits than in normal-coated ones. Deep soft bedding and no wire flooring, and check the hocks weekly.
Groom gently and sparingly; the coat needs little and heavy brushing damages it.
Everything else is standard: neutered pairs, generous space, hay as the bulk of the diet, greens daily, annual vaccination against myxomatosis and both RHD strains, and a same-day vet visit for any rabbit that stops eating or passing droppings.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual rabbits vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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