Bonded sisters beginning to fight

[JessicaElizabeth]

Hi everyone I’m just writing with a new concern that seems to have come up between my bonded pair of sisters. A bit of back story here to start, they came to me at about 8 weeks old as a bonded pair, and Spud (the black one) was very clearly the “runt”. Her sister, Arnold- brown bunny (we had a sexing issue early on and the names stuck), was the boss, and also was relied upon heavily by spud for comfort and love. Fast forward nearly two years and the tables have turned. Our once dominant Arnold now spends her meals and routines being dictated by Spud in that at meal times she is chased, nipped and has fur pulled (never anything more extreme). This also occurs when Spud seems to decide that she wants to sit where Arnold is or she wants what she has.

The issue I am coming to you with is why this possibly has happened and is there anything I can do to help? They are now eating separately (different bowls), and I am doing my best to mediate the negative behaviours.

Any advice is appreciated ?

[JessicaElizabeth]

Sorry forgot to add! They are spayed and have been since about six months old! Is there a possibility of an incomplete spay lending itself to this dominant behaviour in spud?

[jerseygirl]

I suppose that could be possible, though I think you may have seen some of these behaviours present earlier if that was the case.

There can also be some slight hormone increases in desexed rabbits, particularly in Spring. 

Now that you have them from different bowls, are you noticing one (particularly Spud) eating slower then the other?
The things you mention are common triggers to see territorial behaviour. The litterbox or hidey houses are another that rabbits can become possessive over.
Is Spud only acting out toward Arnold or has she been grumpy with you sometimes?

Have either of them had recent health issues?
Have they recently been boarded somewhere or had a pet sitter tending to them at home?

What about other changes within the home? New furniture or moved furniture in their space? New pets? Visitors?

[jerseygirl]

I just looked over your older posts and see that you are in Australia. Has this behaviour been happening mostly in the past few weeks? ie Spring!

[JessicaElizabeth]

Hi there! Thank you for your response, I hadn’t even thought of it possibly being a seasonal thing! I suppose there has been a difference in the way spud eats, she does leave some and then come back to it later sometimes and she does seem to only let Arnold in the litter box when she feels like it. And yes she does get grumpy with me also, hahahah. And there have been no recent changes at all, no trips anywhere, no health issues, no anything. I feel like I’m at my wits end, I feel sorry for Arnold as I don’t know how to help

[jerseygirl]

I suppose there has been a difference in the way spud eats, she does leave some and then come back to it later sometimes

Does she drop food also, when eating? Did she used to polish of her portion of food all at once before? Or was it hard to tell since they shared a bowl? Im just wondering if she’s harbouring some teeth issues causing her to be grumpy.

and she does seem to only let Arnold in the litter box when she feels like it.

Is she spending a lot of time in there? If so, is that a new thing for her to do?

[JessicaElizabeth]

Not that I have noticed, and no more than usual

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