If you’re thinking about getting a rabbit and you have started looking into the different breeds and markings that these creatures can have, you might be curious about what a Vienna marked rabbit is and how you could identify one.
Vienna marked rabbits are popular and can be exceptionally beautiful, but it’s important to understand what this gene is and how it affects a rabbit’s appearance and whether the rabbit is showable.
There are many different kinds of rabbit genes and all will alter the appearance of the rabbit, so it’s a good idea to put some time into researching and understanding the subject in more detail, especially if you want to breed or show rabbits.
This will help you to identify what the different rabbits that you might purchase are, or work out what the rabbit you already own is. Even if you aren’t interested in showing your bunny, this can be interesting.
The Vienna gene is somewhat unusual, so it’s an interesting one to learn about, as you may never have come across it before.
Understanding how it interacts with the other genes can be tricky, but it’s worth the effort, as this will help you to recognize how breeding Vienna marked rabbits affects the offspring.
What Is A Vienna Marked Rabbit?
A Vienna marked rabbit is one that carries the Vienna gene, which creates Blue Eyed White (BEW) rabbits, but is recessive and therefore fairly uncommon.
You need two copies of the Vienna gene to be present (V/V) if the rabbit is to be a Blue Eyed White, but even then, the gene may not show, or may only show partially by affecting the markings on the faces and feet.
If you breed a Vienna marked rabbit with one that does not carry the Vienna gene, the kits will either be Vienna marked (having white markings), or plain, but may still be carriers of the Vienna gene and potentially able to pass it on in the future.
For a Vienna marked rabbit to be a true Blue Eyed White, it must be the result of breeding two Vienna carrying parents. If you breed a Blue Eyed White with a Vienna carrier or Vienna marked rabbit, around fifty percent of the offspring will be Blue Eyed Whites, and the other half will be Vienna marked or simply Vienna carriers with normal markings.
If you breed two Vienna carriers that are not Blue Eyed Whites, they still have a chance of producing Blue Eyed Whites among their kits, which can result in babies that look nothing like their parents.
The genetics are sometimes surprising, but as long as you have a Vienna carrier, there is a chance of this gene being passed on. This can result in interesting markings appearing!
Are Vienna Marked Holland Lops Showable?
Vienna marked rabbits are not acceptable in any breed (according to the American Rabbit Breeders Association), so you will not be able to show any rabbit – including a Holland Lop – that displays the Vienna markings, regardless of the circumstances.
White markings or blue eyes will disqualify the rabbit from being a show specimen.
It is important to know this in advance if you are thinking of getting a rabbit and you want to be able to show it, or if you are going to breed rabbits.
Rabbits with white markings are often popular as pets, but any Vienna marked rabbits cannot be taken to a show; they will be immediately disqualified.
You should be aware that even if a kit does not show any Vienna markings, it can still carry the gene, and this may cause problems further down the line.
A lot of people are cautious of purchasing Vienna carriers for this reason, even if the rabbit has no visible markings and seems entirely “normal” for its breed.
Do not buy a Vienna marked Holland Lop if you intend to use it for showing, because you will be disappointed and unable to take it to the shows or breed it for any show purposes.
How Big Do White Vienna Rabbits Get?
White Vienna rabbits originated in Austria, and they can reach between seven and twelve pounds in weight – making them a pretty large rabbit, mostly categorized as medium to large by breeders and pet owners.
You should be aware of this if you are thinking of buying one, as this makes them stronger and slightly more difficult to handle than smaller varieties, although they are very docile and relaxed creatures on the whole.
They will get much bigger than many of the other rabbits that you might choose to keep.
It is important to note that there are many other white rabbits, even pure white rabbits, that are not White Viennas, and these might range in size, often being much smaller or somewhat larger.
It is possible for white fur and blue eyes to appear in other kinds of rabbits, although the White Vienna is the only consistently white breed that does not also have red eyes.
If you aren’t sure what kind of rabbit you have, it may be worth asking a vet or breeder for advice on this; they might not be able to give you a definitive answer, but they should be able to take an educated guess at the rabbit’s parentage.
Remember, however, that rabbits can carry a hidden Vienna gene for many generations before it suddenly appears in a kit, so unless you know your rabbit’s parentage, it could carry this gene even if it does not show any signs of it.
Conclusion
A Vienna marked rabbit is a relatively unusual bunny, and this gene is responsible for the existence of Blue Eyed Whites, although it needs somewhat specific conditions in order to produce this coloration. In many cases, the Vienna gene will remain recessive, although offspring of a carrier can become carriers themselves. The Vienna gene can cause white markings to appear almost anywhere on the coat of a rabbit, even if it would not normally have any white fur on its body.
