Hey binkybunniers,

I am ecstatic to announce the arrival of my second bunny!
I have had my first rabbit, Cosmo (a 2 year old, neutered, Neatherland Dwarf) for about a year – from a rescue), and have now brought home Elsa (a 1-2 year old, spayed, mixed breed – from the same rescue).

They are currently sharing an x-pen set up (which is separated with NIC grids and dowels) leaving them with about 15 square feet of space each and plenty of separate playtime.

They have gotten along quite well, there is not much biting/nipping through the bars, so here is just where I am looking for some opinions.

Elsa has only been home for a five days, they swap cages daily (she had the first three days in one cage to settle in though). They have been out together in the common play area, and it went well the first time, but then after that not so much (chasing galore), so I took them to the end of my hallway (a different day!) and had them together for an hour, there were a few nips, but both groomed themselves and loafed about a foot apart. The next day I put them in the bathtub, again, nips, but both groomed themselves, and I put some food in, Cosmo greedily ate, Elsa got one leaf of arugula (but there was no food aggression) – so they sit together, groom themselves, lay down, but if they sniff each other or get to close it usually ends in a nip (which sometimes turns into a small scuffle)

I am just looking to hear if it sounds like things are on the right track; I don’t expect that they would have already bonded, but I just need to be sure I’m doing some of what’s right. Neither of the buns want to give up that dominant position, both starting the nips (though on common ground it was Elsa that chased Cosmo).

Sorry, very long post! Just looking for opinions! Thanks so much for your help!!

The first photo is the cage set up, the second photo was them lying down when I bonded them in my hallway.