Hi All!

I made an account for this website for some advice on my situation. I used this forum for insight before as a rabbit owner and it has been extremely helpful so far, and I am hoping you could maybe help me. Right now I am at an impasse. I am having rabbit trouble and need some perspective on some next steps I have been pondering.

Here is the context:
I am the happy owner of a (roughly) 2-year-old female rabbit named Mochi. She is extremely timid and scared of everything, yet when things are quiet and late she likes to zoom around the living room in my small apt. She used to be bonded with my first rabbit, Kimchi, until he passed away last Fall from illness. Kimchi and Mochi’s bonding process was miraculous. They loved each other instantly and I did not have to do ANY steps in the bonding process. They practically moved in immediately and had no problems ever. After he passed, I struggled with what to do next for Mochi. I observed her during Kimchi’s absence and noticed she wasn’t all that bothered by the lack of company; she never seemed depressed. She would still come and run around and had no eating issues.

I work mornings, and often leave the house to hang out with company; my roommate does the same. When we are both home Mochi is allowed to roam, but when we are gone we put a fence up to half of the apartment where there aren’t any wires she could snack on. Essentially, we are only home with her for half the day on weekdays. So, I believed having another rabbit friend to spend time with her when we were gone was the next best step. I waited some time for me to grieve and looked into a new rabbit.

I reached out to the same place I adopted Mochi and went through a few speed dates. After a couple of rabbits, I settled on a 2-year-old male rabbit named Russell. During the speed date, Mochi was scared and did not really react to anybody. I chose Russell because he was friendly to me and didn’t seem to harm Mochi in any way, plus he was a new rescue and I have a soft spot for underdogs. I took Mochi and Russell home and did a test date in the spot I had planned for them to stay. After having a speed date without any problems, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to see how they interacted without all the pressure. Russell immediately went to mount Mochi and they did some chasing with some fur flew off. I separated them into their own pens in different rooms immediately. I understand mounting is a natural bonding process so at first I did not worry too much.

I followed the steps on this Website, and others, and took some ideas from people with experience in bonding. I tried dates in neutral territory. I tried stress dates in car rides. Etc. No matter what, Russell tries to mount Mochi with no relief. Russell will ask to be groomed and Mochi will groom him but he does not groom back. When she stops grooming he immediately mounts her again. For context: If it went on excessively, I separated them to keep stress from Mochi and/or any possible fights.

It has been one month now, and they are currently in side-by-side pens with a divider so they can still interact with each other. I will switch them from pen to pen so they get used to each other’s scents. Russell often tugs at the divider to try and reach Mochi. Since the bonding process, Mochi has not been herself and I believe she is stressed all the time. She still eats fine but I never see her sleep often and whenever Russell moves she flinches. Recently, I had one date in a neutral zone where Mochi groomed Russell, then tried to dig at him and mount him instead, and then a tussle broke out.

I spoke with the rescuer I got Russell from and kept them in the loop for the month, and they said that they were surprised and believed I had been doing everything right. They said if I wanted to return Russell I could. My problem is that I love animals very much, and Russell is a great rabbit. He likes pets, he’s very sweet, and when he isn’t trying to mount Mochi, he likes to interact with people. However, I’ve had Mochi for longer and her needs come first for me. I told the Rescue I would house Russell for another week in case anything drastic changes, but I have been stressed about these two for a month now and I am unsure of what to do next. I am scared to return Russell because I know how hard is for rabbits to be adopted and there are so many animals that need homes, and returning him seems so unfair. I am also reserved about getting another rabbit and putting Mochi through this process again and again. I am wondering if Mochi is happier by herself.

Right now I believe that Russell and Mochi are not a good fit. I think Russell is great but I think he wants it all and Mochi does not want to deliver. I believe Russell has the potential to be adopted again and find a better home than I have to offer him. I do not know if I am being selfish or unfair to Russell, or Mochi. I kind of at my wit’s end.

Any advice, support, etc. is greatly appreciated. I know a lot of you have greater experience than I do.

If there is missing context I forgot to add or have questions, ask away!

Sorry for the long thread. Thank you in advance.