Lionhead rabbit
The Lionhead is a small show and pet rabbit with a wool mane at least 2 in long around its head. The show maximum is 3¾ lb, so it is easy to house, but the mane needs combing all year. Small rabbits are often more fragile and higher energy than large ones, so keep an adult close by when young children handle it.
- Cold tolerance
- Heat tolerance
- Space needed
- 3 sq ft
Is the Lionhead right for you?
Good fit if
- You want a small rabbit: the show maximum is 3¾ lb and the minimum cage is 18 × 24 in
- You're happy to comb a wool mane all year
- You want to show a breed that ARBA says is steadily gaining in popularity
Poor fit if
- You want a coat that looks after itself
- You want meat or pelts
- Young children would be handling it without an adult close by
Appearance and varieties
The mane is the breed. The standard calls for wool at least 2 in long that forms a full circle around the head, and it gives the mane 35 of the 100 judging points. A rabbit with no mane, or one shorter than 2 in, is disqualified from showing.
Behind the mane, the back must be clean of wool. Some longer wool is allowed on the flanks and lower hips, and young rabbits tend to carry more of it. The body is short, compact and well rounded, the head sits high with no visible neck, and the ears stand upright. Ears longer than 3½ in are a disqualification.3
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Black | 9 |
| Chocolate | 9 |
| Ruby Eyed White | Pure white with pink eyes. One of the two varieties in the standard when the breed was first recognised.93 |
| Seal | 9 |
| Siamese Sable | 9 |
| Smoke Pearl | 9 |
| Tortoise | Shown as one variety and registered as black, blue, chocolate or lilac tortoise. The other variety in the original standard.93 |
Temperament and handling
None of the sources describes Lionhead temperament directly, and breeders' claims vary.
What follows applies to small rabbits generally. Utah State University Extension notes that small breeds are often higher energy and more fragile than large ones. It advises that an adult supervises young children, and that you sit down to handle a rabbit, because rabbits frighten easily and have delicate bodies.
Comb the mane gently. The same guide says long-haired breeds need combing all year, not only when they shed, and that rabbit skin is thin and tears. Rabbits don't need baths. Check nails every 6 weeks.6
Animals vary within a breed. Treat this as what to expect, not a promise, and meet the animal before you buy if you can.
Breeding
What to expect from a healthy doe. If two sources disagree, you see the full range.
| Measure | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gestation | 28–32 days5 | Give the doe a nest box by day 28. Figure for rabbits in general. |
| First breeding age | 4–6 months5 | ARBA's recommendation for small breeds |
| Weaning | 6–8 weeks5 | ARBA's recommendation for best growth; always before 10 weeks |
Planning a litter? Use the rabbit gestation calculator.
Housing, feed and health
Housing
For a rabbit of 5 lb or less, Utah State University Extension gives a minimum cage of 18 in deep, 24 in wide and 12 in high, and adds that bigger is better: the rabbit should be able to lie down and hop at least twice in each direction.
ARBA gives 55–70°F as the ideal range. Rabbits acclimated to cold cope well with it; they do poorly above 85°F, so give shade and moving air in summer. ARBA also notes that wool collects on the wire of cages used for long-haired breeds and has to be cleaned off so droppings can fall through. Avoid cedar chips as bedding.65
Feed
For a pet rabbit, Utah State University Extension recommends unlimited water, grass hay as about 80% of the diet, leafy greens as about 10%, and small amounts of pellets and treats. Its pellet guide is ¼–½ cup per 6 lb of rabbit, so a Lionhead needs less than that.
Change feeds slowly over a few days. The same guide warns that a sudden change of diet can cause fatal gut upset.6
Health
Rabbit teeth grow all their lives, so give something safe to chew. Summer heat is a risk: Alabama Extension says rabbits don't cope well above 90°F and in high humidity. Penn State Extension lists cleanliness, good ventilation, close observation and protection from sun and rain as the basics of keeping rabbits healthy.
This is a starting point, not medical advice. If your rabbit stops eating or seems unwell, call a vet who treats rabbits, or your county extension office.61213
Price and where to buy
Prices are per rabbit, read from two breeders' pages on 2026-10-08. Neither page shows when its prices were last updated. One breeder prices show stock at $200 and up, so the top of the range is a starting figure.
Where to look
Start with a breeder you can visit. Nobody pays to be on this list.
| Seller or directory | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ARBA Find a Breeder | Directory | Search by breed and state |
| North American Lionhead Rabbit Club | Breed club | Member breeders listed by district and state |
| RedBrick Farms | Breeder | $75 without a pedigree, $100 with |
| Periwinkle Farms, Texas | Breeder | Pet $100, brood $150 and up, show $200 and up |
Budgeting for housing and feed as well? See the rabbit cost guide.
Similar breeds
| Breed | Adult weight | Litter size | Beginner | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lionhead (this breed) | Up to 3.75 lb | $75–$100 | ||
| Holland Lop | Up to 4 lb | $150–$375 |
History
Nobody is sure how the mane first appeared. The North American Lionhead Rabbit Club says one widely held account traces it to Belgium, to a litter from a Swiss Fox crossed with a Belgian Dwarf, and that the breed was then developed further in England.
The first Lionheads used in organised breeding in the United States were imported in 2000 by JoAnne Statler of Minnesota. The club was founded on 29 September 2001 and held its first national show in Columbus, Ohio in May 2003, with 204 Lionheads entered. ARBA has recognised the breed since 2014, and a Lionhead took Best in Show at the ARBA Convention for the first time in 2018.101
Common questions
How big do Lionhead rabbits get?
The show maximum for an adult is 3¾ lb. The standard sets no minimum for adults, and ears over 3½ in long are a disqualification.13
At what age can you breed a Lionhead rabbit?
ARBA recommends that small breeds start breeding at 4–6 months, which is also when rabbits reach sexual maturity. House bucks and does in separate cages so they don't breed by accident.5
How long is a Lionhead rabbit pregnant?
Rabbit gestation is typically 28–32 days. ARBA says to give the doe a nest box by day 28 at the latest.5
What colours do Lionhead rabbits come in?
ARBA lists seven showroom varieties: black, chocolate, ruby eyed white, seal, siamese sable, smoke pearl and tortoise.9
Do Lionhead rabbits need grooming?
Yes. Utah State University Extension says long-haired breeds need combing all year, and that it must be done gently because rabbit skin is thin and tears. They don't need baths.6
How much does a Lionhead rabbit cost?
On the two breeder pages we checked, a pet without a pedigree was $75–100 and pedigreed stock started at $100–200.78
Where do Lionhead rabbits come from?
Europe. The breed club says the origin is uncertain, with one common account placing the first maned litter in Belgium. The first breeding stock reached the United States in 2000.10
Sources
The small numbers beside each fact point to one of these.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, Recognized breeds: Lionhead.
- Utah State University Extension, Understanding the Basics of Rabbit Care.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by Michigan State University Extension, Lionhead Standard (ARBA standard as issued when the breed was newly recognised).
- BreedBarn, Editorial rating, method on the editorial policy page.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, hosted by University of New Hampshire Extension, ARBA Recommendations for the Care of Rabbits and Cavies.
- Utah State University Extension, Pet Rabbit Projects: Getting Started (PDF).
- RedBrick Farms, Lionhead Bunnies.
- Periwinkle Farms, Texas, Available Rabbits.
- American Rabbit Breeders Association, ARBA Official Breed ID Guide: Rabbit (updated January 2026).
- North American Lionhead Rabbit Club, About the breed: Overview.
- The Livestock Conservancy, Conservation Priority List.
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Summer Heat and Rabbit Production, UNP-0082 (PDF).
- Penn State Extension, Rabbit Production.
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