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No federal permit to keep

Domestic rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Also known as European Rabbit

Mammals › Rabbits and hares (Lagomorpha) › Leporidae (Rabbits and hares)

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France.

Pet trade

Experience: Easy

FamilyRabbits and hares

Record lifespan18 years

Adult weight65.2 oz

Kept byPet trade

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Enclosure minimum	length: 3 m; width: 2 m; height: 1 m Compatible pair of small-to-medium domestic rabbits; continuously accessible	293
Social	Compatible bonded domestic rabbits; provide enough resources and escape space.	293

Care guide

Group care guide

Rabbits and hares

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Grassland and woodland edges. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

RWAF recommends 3×2×1 m for a compatible pair of small-to-medium domestic rabbits; this is not a hare specification.

Housing & setup

A large exercise pen or rabbit-proofed room (not just a hutch), with hiding places and a litter box.
Domestic rabbits need continuous access to an exercise area, including dawn, dusk and overnight.

Sources 130 131 293

Diet

Unlimited grass hay (about 80% of the diet), leafy greens and a small portion of timothy pellets.

Sources 130 131 293

Social life

Social; bonded pairs are ideal.

Sources 130 131 293

Health watch

GI stasis (an emergency), dental overgrowth, and uterine cancer in unspayed does.
RHDV2 is a fatal viral disease in the U.S.; vaccination is available.

Sources 130 131 293

Understanding the animal

About this animal

It has been introduced to hundreds of locations around the world. Wild and domesticated European rabbits around the world can vary widely in size, shape, and colour.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “European rabbit” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹²

Where it lives	Wild European rabbits originate in southwestern Europe and occupy grassland, scrub and woodland edges, with introduced populations elsewhere. They forage near protective vegetation and underground warrens; domestic rabbits belong to this species.
Ground it lives on	Burrowable, well-drained soil with nearby grasses and cover.
Climate	Temperate and tropical habitat regions are listed, but the provided sources give no temperature, humidity, or seasonal values.
Active	Crepuscular and nocturnal; rests underground during much of the day.
Social life	Gregarious and territorial; colonies commonly contain 6–10 adults with social hierarchies.
Wild diet	Grasses, leaves, buds, bark and roots.
Behavior to plan for	Digs communal warrens and retreats rapidly from predators. Hind-foot thumping signals danger.

What this means for care

Provide digging opportunities and enclosed retreats with more than one exit.
Manage compatible bonded companions and allow escape from conflict.
Emphasize fibrous vegetation and ground-level foraging.

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 72°F (up to 74°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 33°F (down to 26°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	45–51°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	79–82% on average (driest month about 71%)
Rainfall	about 772 mm a year, spread fairly evenly
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 33°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 90 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

European rabbits have been hunted since the Paleolithic and raised as a food source since at least the first century BCE. Humans later introduced them widely for food and sport, while domesticated rabbits spread worldwide.

Keeper tips

Provide opportunities for digging because wild rabbits construct extensive warrens.
Provide hiding and cover opportunities consistent with their natural escape behavior.
Base feeding on their herbivorous pattern of grasses and leaves rather than animal foods.
Account for the species' social behavior when considering how rabbits are housed.
Soft substrates correspond with the sandy soils they prefer for easy burrowing.

Behaviors reported

Digging networks of burrows called warrens.
Spending most non-feeding time in warrens.
Running and hiding when threatened.
Remaining close to an established warren.
Females leaving the warren mainly to establish nests for their young.

Unique adaptations

Burrowing provides shelter and predator refuge.
Running and hiding in vegetation or burrows are the species' main defenses against predators.
The species has shown enough adaptability to colonize many human-modified environments and regions outside its native range.

Remarkable facts

Oryctolagus cuniculus is native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France.
It is the only domesticated rabbit species, and every known domestic rabbit breed descends from it.
The species has been introduced to at least 800 islands and every continent except Antarctica according to the Wikipedia source.
Wild rabbits weigh about 1.5 to 2.5 kg and measure about 38 to 50 cm long according to Animal Diversity Web; domestic individuals may be larger.
Rabbit young are born blind and helpless and require maternal care.
The European rabbit is listed as near threatened because of declines in its native range caused by factors including overhunting, habitat destruction, and disease.

Stories

Introductions to islands and other regions have sometimes caused severe damage to local biodiversity because introduced rabbit populations lacked sufficient predators.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) or coney is a species of rabbit native to the Iberian Peninsula and southwestern France. It has been introduced to hundreds of locations around the world. Wild and domesticated European rabbits around the world can vary widely in size, shape, and colour. The average adult European rabbit is smaller than the European hare, though size and weight vary with habitat and diet. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	The preferred habitats of this species include dry areas near sea level with soft, sandy soil (for easy burrowing). — Animal Diversity Web
Social life and communication	Oryctolagus cuniculus is generally nocturnal, spending its days underground and foraging from evening until morning. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	Oryctolagus cuniculus is a generalized herbivore, eating a diverse diet of grasses, leaves, buds, tree bark, and roots. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	European rabbits are gregarious, territorial animals. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	Mating in rabbits is generally polygynandrous, though males will attempt to monopolize particular females. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	Domestic rabbits can live to be up to nine years old. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Wild O. cuniculus weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, and are from 38 to 50 cm long. — Animal Diversity Web
History and naming	Originally assigned to the genus Lepus by Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758, the European rabbit was placed in the newly created genus Oryctolagus in 1874 by Swedish zoologist Wilhelm Lilljeborg. This generic name derives from ὀρυκτός (oryktos, 'burrowing') and λαγώς (lagōs, 'hare'). Its species name, cuniculus, stems from the Low Latin root word cunicularia, the feminine form of the adjective cunicularius. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Domestic Rabbit (species)

Dietary fibre supports gastrointestinal and dental function.¹
The owner guide describes a hay-dominated diet with rabbit-formulated pellets rather than seed, nut, or fruit mixes.²
RSPCA independently supports freely available hay/grass, appropriate daily leafy foods, and a small measured pellet ration.³
Provide constant clean drinking water and check bottle outlets if used.³
Introduce dietary changes gradually.³

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported18years

AnAge 16213

Myhrvold et al. 16318

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources65.2oz

AnAge 16263.5

Myhrvold et al. 16367

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources5.1young

AnAge 1625

Myhrvold et al. 1635.2

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources30.5days

AnAge 16230

Myhrvold et al. 16331

Female maturity

Average of sources15.1months

AnAge 16224

Myhrvold et al. 1636.1

Veterinary & husbandry research

Anaemia in pet rabbits: causes, severity and reticulocyte response Dettweiler A et al., The Veterinary record 2017
Encephalitozoon cuniculi in pet rabbits: diagnosis and optimal management Latney LV et al., Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 2014
Intraocular Chondrosarcoma in a Rabbit Mikiewicz M et al., Journal of comparative pathology 2020
Rabbit Pediatrics Ozawa S et al., The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice 2024

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 216 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

Lacey Act: European rabbit genus listed. 50 CFR 16.11 lists the genus Oryctolagus as injurious wildlife, which restricts importing live European rabbits into the U.S. Domestic rabbit breeds are widely bred and sold across the country; check with USFWS before importing a rabbit from abroad. 177
USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Rabbits (Subpart C). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Enclosures must keep rabbits dry and clean, keep predators out, and have floors that protect feet and legs; solid floors need litter. §3.53
Minimum interior height 14 in (35.6 cm). Minimum floor space per weaned rabbit: 1.5 sq ft under 4.4 lb, 3 sq ft for 4.4–8.8 lb, 4 sq ft for 8.8–11.9 lb, 5 sq ft over 11.9 lb. §3.53
A nest box with clean nesting material is required for a female with a litter under one month old. §3.53
Food must be clean, wholesome and palatable, fed at least once a day. §3.54

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity
Reviewed by Clint's Reptiles
12611 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Clint's Reptiles review

Clint Laidlaw reviews this animal in his "The Best Pet?" series: Rabbit, The Best Pet Mammal?. He scores handleability, care, hardiness, availability and upfront cost, and explains the reasons behind each score.

Watch Clint's review →

Sources for this sheet

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
50 CFR Part 16: Injurious wildlife (Lacey Act) Zoo, university or veterinaryCurrent federal regulation, read from eCFR.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Housing of rabbits Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutrition of rabbits Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund: Good Practice Code for the Welfare of Rabbits — July 2023 Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Clint's Reptiles (YouTube): Rabbit, The Best Pet Mammal? Expert educator & keeperClint Laidlaw, PhD in Biology Education and MS in Evolutionary Ecology; owner of Clint's Reptile Room and a longtime keeper. His "Best Pet?" series reviews each species' care in depth.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.