I apologize if I’m boring you guys with my constant questions about this but I’m at a bit of a loss.  It’s probably going to be a bit of a long explanation – sorry!!!

I’m considering three bunnies for Merry’s new pal (seeing them all on Saturday!) – 2 adult males, about 8 lbs each, and the little baby boy – who is tiny now but will eventually only be 4.5lbs or so.  I’m trying to figure out what the optimal setup solution woud be in the adult and baby instances.

Some background:  Merry has an xpen set up in my spare bedroom – which is approximately 97×98 inches.  I have it so that she’s got a huge space.  Inside the room are a big 35 gal fishtank, 1 tall bookshelf, and 2 small bookshelves (which would stay regardless).  She really only uses the room for her litter box now because she’s got full run of the adjoining “dining” room – aka, her maze and mini havens, and two big comfy chairs.

Option 1: Merry’s room

I figured that if I were to move the fish tank and bookshelf out of her room I still wouldn’t have room for two xpens (2 24″ panels each – 48×2 – doesn’t leave the requisite 3 inches).

Question 1: I was planning on having the pens at least 2 panels across – if I got the baby bun, would I be able to do 1 panel (maybe with a little extra) across?  The setup would be 3 or 4 panels deep – I forget which.  It’s also not within direct eyeline of the living room – I’d have to walk through the dining room to get there.

Option 2: Dining room

I could conceivably use the dining room as a space to put the two pens – but it would probably disrupt the flow from the kitchen/bed/bath to the living room.  The pens would have to be smack dab in the middle of the room – one side has an unused fireplace, Merry’s door, and the radiator, and the other side has a bay window and the kitchen door.  This option would mean I would only have to move the two comfy chairs, and I’d be able to keep the bunnies in my sights at all times.  It would also mean that I’d lose the biggest exercise space that I have available.

Option 3: Fish room

Yup, I’ve got a room that’s basically devoted to my fishies (and my fine china lol)  It’s a room at the front of the house that’s very wide and reasonably deep – I’d probably have to set the pens up 2 panels deep and then 3 or 4 wide.  Pro - there’s definitely enough space for me to set the pens up properly AND still be able to move around the room.   I’d also be able to have them do individual exercise in the dining room without the other one being jealous. Cons – I’d have to move 3 fishtanks! (small ones, but still) and probably some furniture.  It’s the coldest room in the house (I don’t know if that’s pro or con).  It’s heated, but for whatever reason it seems to be cold all of the time.  It gets all natural afternoon sunshine too!  I think it’s because it was an add on room so not so well insulated.  Oh, that brings up the other point, the pens would most likely be in front of two big windows (drafts would be an issue maybe?)  It’s right off the living room, and although I wouldn’t have direct view, they’d be right next to the couch so I could peek in.

I guess I should also factor in that Merry’s been free-range-ish for a month and a half or so now, so being penned up is probabably going to be irksome.  If I go with one of the adults, hopefully that would be only for a short time, but if it were the baby, it’d be for a few months.

So help! What do I do?!  I feel like this is one of those HGTV new homeowners shows – which option did she choose, option 1 – no space, option 2 – bad flow but no fish to move, or option 3 – best use of space but lots of moving to do.