How to Buy a Mini Lop Rabbit in the United States
To buy a Mini Lop rabbit in the United States, find a breeder or owner you can visit, confirm that the rabbit really is a US Mini Lop and not a Holland Lop by asking the parents' adult weights, check its ears and teeth yourself, and take it home only when it is at least 8 weeks old and eating hay on its own. The Vet Desk puts pet Mini Lops at about $30 to $100 and show rabbits at up to $500, and spay or neuter surgery and an RHDV2 vaccine usually cost more than the rabbit.
The name causes real confusion. The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Mini Lop has a 6.5-pound maximum, against 4 pounds for the Holland Lop, while the British "Mini Lop" is a much smaller breed closer to the Holland Lop.
Key points
- In the US, a Mini Lop is the ARBA breed with a 6.5-pound maximum; a Holland Lop tops out at 4 pounds.
- UK care pages often describe a different, smaller "Mini Lop", the British Miniature Lop, with a 1.6 kg (about 3.5-pound) maximum.
- Look inside both ears: in a 2023 UK survey, about 25% of lop-eared rabbits had a vet-noted ear condition, against 10% of erect-eared ones.
- PetMD gives an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years and suggests at least 3 hours a day outside the enclosure.
- Budget about $500 to $1,200 for spay or neuter, and ask your vet about RHDV2, which USDA says kills 50 to 100 percent of infected rabbits.
How is a Mini Lop different from a Holland Lop?
Bob Herschbach saw the breed, then called the Klein Widder, at a German rabbit show in Essen in 1972, according to Wikipedia's breed history; it came from the German Big Lop and small Chinchilla rabbits. Breeders in the US worked to make it more compact, and ARBA recognized it as the Mini Lop in 1980 (PetMD). The American Mini Lop Rabbit Club has been ARBA's chartered club for the breed since 2011.
| Breed | Registry | Maximum adult weight | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Lop (US) | ARBA, recognized 1980 | 6.5 pounds | Stocky and compact, with long, thick ears |
| Holland Lop (US) | ARBA, recognized 1979 | 4 pounds | Dwarf type: large head, short face |
| Miniature Lop, often called Mini Lop (UK) | British Rabbit Council, 1994 | 1.6 kg, about 3.5 pounds | Most similar to the US Holland Lop |
So a US seller offering a "Mini Lop that stays under 4 pounds" is most likely describing a Holland Lop or a mix, and a "Holland Lop" that grows well past 5 pounds may be a Mini Lop or a cross. Either can be a lovely pet, but you should know what you are paying for. Wikipedia sums up the ideal Mini Lop shape as "a basketball with a head".
Who it suits: PetMD describes Mini Lops as friendly, affectionate and laid-back, bonding with the whole family, but warns they may bite or kick without enough attention and exercise. The House Rabbit Society says that with small children, the bigger the rabbit, the better, and typically recommends rabbits for older children. A Mini Lop is sturdier than a Holland Lop, but an adult should still be its main carer.
Where can you find Mini Lop rabbits for sale in the US?
- Show breeders at ARBA-sanctioned shows. The American Mini Lop Rabbit Club points buyers to ARBA shows and can put them in touch with members nearby.
- Owners rehoming an adult, often spayed or neutered and with a known history; see taking in a rehomed Mini Lop.
- Rabbit rescues and shelters. The House Rabbit Society's own adoption fee is $50, including spay or neuter, vaccination and a microchip.
You can browse Mini Lop rabbits for sale, filter by location and save the search to get an alert when a new litter is listed. If nothing suits, post a Mini Lop wanted ad describing the rabbit and home you can offer.
How do you check a Mini Lop's ears and teeth?
Lop ears fold over the ear canal, and studies keep linking them to ear disease. In a 2023 UK owner survey in PLOS ONE (Chivers and colleagues), about 25% of lop-eared rabbits had an ear condition indicated by a vet, against 10% of erect-eared rabbits. A study published in The Veterinary Journal in 2026 examined 435 pedigree rabbits at British shows and found lop-eared rabbits had higher odds of 9 of 11 ear abnormalities, including narrowed ear canals and discharge.
Ears
- Look into both ears: pale pink, with no thick wax, discharge, crust or smell.
- Watch for head shaking, scratching, flinching when the ears are touched, or a head tilt.
- Ask whether the parents have had ear infections or mites; PetMD lists both for the breed and advises regular ear checks and cleaning with a rabbit-safe product your vet recommends.
Teeth and rear
- Lift the lips: the upper front teeth should sit just in front of the lowers.
- Ask whether any relative has needed tooth trims. PetMD notes that overgrown teeth can cause mouth ulcers; plenty of hay keeps them worn.
- Check under the tail. A 2024 VetCompass study of UK pet rabbits found lop-eared rabbits had higher odds of a soiled, impacted rear and of tear duct problems, though little evidence that ear carriage drives overall disease risk.
What should you ask a Mini Lop breeder?
- What do the parents weigh as adults? Both should be within ARBA's 6.5-pound maximum and clearly above a Holland Lop's 4 pounds.
- How old is the kit? It should be at least 8 weeks old; North Carolina, for example, bans selling rabbits younger than that as pets.
- Who checked the sex? Wrongly sexed rabbits are a common cause of surprise litters.
- Have the parents had ear infections, mites or tooth trims?
- Is it pet or show quality, and why? Does it come with a pedigree?
- Has it had an RHDV2 vaccine?
- Will you take it back if I cannot keep it?
A pedigree is the breeder's record of ancestors. ARBA registration is separate: a licensed registrar examines a rabbit of at least 6 months that meets the senior weight rules and has a three-generation pedigree. A young kit can therefore come with a pedigree but not registration.
How much does a Mini Lop rabbit cost?
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pet Mini Lop from a breeder | About $30 to $100 | The Vet Desk, 2025 |
| Show-quality Mini Lop | Up to about $500 | The Vet Desk, 2025 |
| Adopting from a rescue | $50, with spay or neuter, vaccine and microchip | House Rabbit Society |
| Spay or neuter | About $500 to $1,200 | Chewy vet-reviewed cost guide, 2026 |
| RHDV2 vaccine | $90 to $160 a year at a Southern California exotic vet | San Diego House Rabbit Society |
Spaying matters: the Merck Veterinary Manual says uterine cancer can affect as many as 60 percent of unspayed does over 3 years old. For RHDV2, the House Rabbit Society says indoor rabbits are still at risk and strongly recommends vaccination, with two doses 21 days apart and then a yearly booster.
How should you set up a home for a Mini Lop?
- Space: the House Rabbit Society calls a 4 by 4 foot exercise pen with free-roam time an ideal setup for most rabbits; a rabbit of up to 6.5 pounds needs all of it.
- Time out: PetMD suggests at least 3 hours a day of supervised time outside the enclosure.
- Diet: unlimited fresh hay, about 1 cup of greens per 2 pounds of body weight a day, and about a third of a cup of pellets for an adult (PetMD).
- Grooming: weekly brushing, more during the two yearly molts, and nail trims every month or two; PetMD advises against baths.
- Indoors: the House Rabbit Society recommends keeping rabbits indoors, safer from predators, heat and disease.
How do you avoid Mini Lop scams?
- Meet the rabbit in person, or on a live video call in which the seller shows its ears, teeth and rear.
- Live rabbits cannot be sent through the US Postal Service, so an offer to mail a bunny is false.
- The Federal Trade Commission says legitimate sellers do not require payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- Be wary of a "Mini Lop" promised to stay tiny: the US breed can reach 6.5 pounds.
Use the Report Scam button on a listing that looks wrong. If you may breed later, read how to sell Mini Lop rabbits to see what careful breeders do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Mini Lop the same as a Holland Lop?
No. In the US they are separate ARBA breeds: the Mini Lop has a 6.5-pound maximum and the Holland Lop a 4-pound maximum. Confusingly, the British "Mini Lop" is a small breed most similar to the US Holland Lop.
How big does a Mini Lop rabbit get?
ARBA lists a maximum of 6.5 pounds, and The Vet Desk gives a typical range of 4.5 to 6.5 pounds. Ask the breeder what the parents weigh to judge the adult size of a kit.
How much are Mini Lop rabbits for sale?
The Vet Desk puts pet Mini Lops at about $30 to $100 and show-quality rabbits at up to $500. Spay or neuter surgery, about $500 to $1,200 in Chewy's 2026 guide, usually costs more than the rabbit.
How long do Mini Lops live?
PetMD gives an average of 8 to 10 years. The House Rabbit Society says a well-kept indoor rabbit can live 8 to 12 years or more, so plan for a long commitment.
Do Mini Lops get ear problems?
They can. UK studies have linked lop ears to more ear canal narrowing, wax and infection, so check the ears regularly and ask your vet which cleaner, if any, to use. Head shaking, scratching or a head tilt needs a vet visit.
Do Mini Lops need an RHDV2 vaccine?
Ask your vet. USDA says rabbit hemorrhagic disease kills 50 to 100 percent of infected rabbits and can spread on people's clothing, shoes and hands, and the House Rabbit Society strongly recommends vaccinating indoor rabbits too.
Helpful guides
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Mini Lop Rabbits in the United StatesSell Mini Lop rabbits in the US by breeding only from rabbits with healthy ears and teeth, keeping kits until 8 weeks, labeling them honestly with the parents' weights, pricing within typical ranges and meeting buyers in person.
Pet for RehomingHow to Take In a Rehomed Mini Lop in the United StatesTake in a rehomed Mini Lop in the US by asking for its ear, teeth, weight and spay history, checking it in person, collecting its records and food, and keeping its routine steady while it settles.
Pet for RehomingHow to Rehome Your Mini Lop Responsibly in the United StatesRehome your Mini Lop in the US by asking its breeder and local rabbit rescues first, disclosing its ears, teeth, weight and spay status honestly, setting a modest fee and screening applicants before an in-person handover.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Mini Lop Wanted" Ad in the United StatesBefore answering a Mini Lop wanted ad in the US, confirm your rabbit is a US Mini Lop that fits the request, describe its ears, teeth, weight and spay status honestly, check the requester and meet in person.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Mini Lop Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesPost a Mini Lop wanted ad in the US that says you mean the ARBA Mini Lop (or any small lop), pet or show, sex, age, budget and home, then meet every rabbit and check its ears, teeth and weight before paying.