Time flies but i'm still here (me n my pets)

They are so small and innocent when i brought them home, but now i couldn't believe my eyes on how much they've changed. This little kids still as small as i remembered, but i noticed something different when they grown up. 

This is my first duo i got after several weeks dreaming to adopt them. To be honest i'm not a kind of person that like to talk and call pets with their name, it just sound weird talking to a pet but they can't talk to me back. Nevertheless, i still gave name to them just to make sure they don't feel sad (^_^).

On the left is Kass (boar) and Akai (sow). Boar is a term for male and sow is female for guinea pig. Both are peruvian breed which has a long, forward hair. 

Hair dried Akai after a bath.....this is one of troublesome work to do

Kass with after-wake-up-from-sleep-hair style...not bad huh

Now their age are over 8 months and their hair start growing longer from day to day. Akai (top) and Kass (below). The most troublesome part in having a long hair breed is they need regular grooming, but i usually groom them after their bath.

In the following weeks, i adopt three little bunnies since i can't resist their cuteness. At first i thought ..."i just wanna buy a pair, better than single so they can cuddle with each other.." At last i couldn't make up my mind an ended buying those three bunnies.

Her name is Shiro. Sadly she died 2 weeks after i brought her home due to serious diarrhea.

This active buck named Kuro is Netherland Dwarf breed. I just lost him 2 day before Raya. The reason of the death is because heart attack...seriously....i don't believe it either...damn

This is Hai (doe), mix breed between angora and teddy bear. She's the one that still accompany me and hopefully she will have a long and healthy life.

She's grown into a fine looking bunny. 

She looks like a mom for 4 cute little piggies

Rabbit 101: Angora

Assalamualaikum wbt

History

There're several stories regarding the origin of Angora rabbit. One of the accepted theory said that the origin of Angora was date back to the early 18th century, approximately in 1723. A sight seeing sailors from France who pulled into Turkish port called Angora (now Ankara) saw a native women wearing really beautiful shawls  that they never seen before.  

The fitness and silkiness are surpassed the shawls in their country of France. So they ask about the shawls and to their surprised it was made from Angora wool. So the sailors take some of the rabbit back to France. Later, other country also start to develop Angora rabbit which was specifically breed for their fine and excellent wool. 

Care

Angora rabbit needs special attention compare to other breeds. Believe it or not, its long hair is the real enemy    face by the rabbit and its owner. If left ungroomed, the rabbit will attempt to groom itself. Too much grooming will cause a wool block, where the rabbit's digestive system will be greatly impeded by the rabbit's hair.

Rabbit can die from serious wool block. Cat and dog can vomit when they have hair ball, but unfortunately rabbit can't. 

How to overcome hair balls?

Prevention is better than cure. Several precautions should be taken in mind when keeping this breed:

1. Regular grooming

2. Provide a proper diet (feed them hay, various fruits and veggies)

3. Give them pineapple juice and papaya treats (contain enzyme that can prevent wool block)

4. Cut their long hair properly

Fur Mites

Chances for Angora to has fur mites is quite high. If the rabbit's skin turn red, irritated and constantly scratching, or you notice a bad case of dandruff, then fur mites may be the major cause. Once you notice this problems, it's best to consult professional breeders for advice and treatment. Otherwise, you may also take your rabbit to the vet before the disease become awfully worse.

Exercise

Don't prison your rabbit in the cage all the time. They need regular exercise (just like us so we don't end being unhealthy) which also can help to prevent wool block. If you don't have a good time monitoring them playing outdoor, allow your rabbit running in a fenced area, e.g.play pen. The bigger the better.

Predators

For those who keep this prey animal as a pet, they should really concern about the predators as well. No matter where you live, town or rural areas, predators will be your major problems. Dogs are the most common problems and potential killer. Even when you keep your rabbit in the cage, there's no guarantee for your rabbit safety. You must put your rabbit in a very safe place (inside your house) or a place where predators cannot reach them. 

Dogs can be surprisingly determined to get access to rabbit. There's always a report about dog attack; cages ripped apart, head lost, rabbit still alive with part of their body was eaten, skin ripped off rabbits etc. Thus, don't be such a naive about the possibility of dog attacks or else you'll be regret.

English Angora

French Angora

Giant Angora

Satin Angora

Rabbit 101 Part 4

Assalamualaikum wbt

Siberian Rabbit

It is a very graceful rabbit with an attractive coat, coloured black, blue, brown or lilac. The siberian was first bred in the UK around 1930 but its ancestral is unknown. They're bred mainly for its nice fur and also as a pet. 

Silver Fox

The Silver Fox's fur is coarser than the fur of other rabbits, one and half to two inches long, and when stroked from tail to head, the fur stands up. It has an unusual unique coat. This combined with the length and coarseness of the fur resembles the fur of the Arctic Silver Fox for which the Silver Fox rabbit is named.

Tan

The color marking of the Tan are reminiscent of a Doberman pinscher, especially the black and chocolate varieties. The undersides of this rabbit, which include the tail, stomach, chin, and ears, are colored in "tan" fur (almost more of a bright orange). The rest of the rabbit is colored in black, blue, chocolate, or lilac. They are very energetic rabbits.

Jerry Woody

Originated from Thailand. It's a crossbreed from local rabbit in Thailand and English angora. The purpose of this breed is to enhance the short fur of local rabbit and make it become more fluffy and attractive.

Teddy Bear

Originated from Thailand. It's a hybrid from Jerry Woody and other hairy breed. Teddy bear rabbit is very popular in Thailand and Malaysia not only because of its attractive coat color and long hair, but also because of its price that's affordable (the price in Thailand is far more cheaper than Malaysia, hence it's affordable). 

Woody Toy

Also from Tailand. It's developed from Teddy bear rabbit but Woody Toy is smaller in size compare to Teddy bear because of dwarf gene (come from Netherland dwarf's gene).Its appearance is similar to Teddy bear in term of their long fur, only their ears is shorter and bodyweight is lighter. 

P/S. All these three breeds (jerry woody, teddy bear, woody toy) is not in the list of ARBA (american rabbit association) and only popular in Thailand and Malaysia. So you'll never found this rabbit in other country. Their names also is not very popular in google compare to other breed. But for sure they're very cute and fluffy! 

Rabbit 101 Part 3

Assalamualaikum wbt

Checkered Giant- It's a huge and active breed which only available in blue and black in colour varieties. Among its ancestors were the Flemish Giant and purportedly a breed known as the Checkered Lop, a spotted lop.

Cinnamon- Originating in Montana in the 1960s, this breed was developed by rabbit breeder Ellis Houseman. This rabbit is only available in reddish color. 

Dwarf Hotot- The rabbit can be found in only white with dark eyes and weigh about 3 pounds. The Dwarf Hotot is small and compact, a stocky, docile little rabbit much like the Netherland Dwarf.

Lilac- It has a dense silky fur evenly coloured throughout in a pinkish dove shade, and of course they've lilac to lavender coloration.

Satin- A genetic mutation found first in a litter of Havana, the Satin is named because of its soft, shiny coat. They are a commercial type rabbit, with one of the best meat to bone ratios. The satin is a medium size rabbit that weighs about 9 pounds.

p/s: Tomorrow (3/2/2011) is Chinese New Year. Once again I wish Gong Xi Fa Chai to all of you. Happy gathering and have a nice holidays with your beloved family (^_~)