Major agression issues

[tskelly93]

We had our rabbit Chaos for 3 and a half years (male, now 4 and a half, neutered, mini lop)when we decided to adpot a new rabbit for companionship. We adopted Artemis (female, spayed, now 2 and 9months, darf breed, slightly larger than Chaos) in May 2016, they were bonded by the animal shelter and during the bonding period it seemed that things went well. Chaos initially humped Artemis, but this settled down after a few days and they began to snuggle and groom each other. Artemis did appear to be the dominant, but it was still friendly.

But everything changed when they came home. Chaos went straight onto a ledge in their cage (made it brand new for them both) and Atremis stayed on the floor. They did start circling each other, and Artemis began humping Chaos, reaffirming her doinance. We tried to stop them when they exhibited this behaviour. 

Fast forward to now and nothing has changed. Artemis regularly lashes out at Chaos (I don’t think we’ve managed to go 24 hours withut Artemis attacking Chaos), from pulling out his fur, nipping his bum, being possesive of food, territorial, chasing him away from her, stealing food from his mouth and forcing her head under his chin. It doesn’t seem like either likes the other really. They don’t really groom eachother, they occasionally lick the others ears or head but only for a minute or two. Chaos seems to have snapped and now fights back, which has caused the situation to escalate

We tried feeding them seperate, but near each other as Artemis was possesive of food, increased toys – especially food toys like veg and herbs hidden and rebuilt the cage so it is slightly smaller, but that seems to have made hings worse.

Just want to know if anyone has any suggestions, as I am worried that this match isn’t working for either rabbit

[Mikey]

It sounds like you brought her home and stuck her in his cage. Is that what happened? When you bring home a new rabbit, even if the previous rabbit picked out the new rabbit, they still need their own cages and have to go through the neutral territory bonding process

Since they cant go 24 hours without aggression, they need to be separated. If theyve been aggressive for the last 5 months, youll want to keep them both apart for atleast 5 months (a year is better recommended). After they are completely apart for atleast 5 months, you can start trying to bond them in a neutral space in your house/apartment/living space. Start with small 5 minute sessions multiple times a day and slowly work up to several hour long sessions once or twice a day before moving them to a non neutral area. Dont have them share a cage until their bond is cemented (no aggression). If at any point it is just obvious they arnt getting along and you dont think they will, then it would be best if they both stay single

[Mikey]

It sounds like you brought her home and stuck her in his cage. Is that what happened? When you bring home a new rabbit, even if the previous rabbit picked out the new rabbit, they still need their own cages and have to go through the neutral territory bonding process

Since they cant go 24 hours without aggression, they need to be separated. If theyve been aggressive for the last 5 months, youll want to keep them both apart for atleast 5 months (a year is better recommended). After they are completely apart for atleast 5 months, you can start trying to bond them in a neutral space in your house/apartment/living space. Start with small 5 minute sessions multiple times a day and slowly work up to several hour long sessions once or twice a day before moving them to a non neutral area. Dont have them share a cage until their bond is cemented (no aggression). If at any point it is just obvious they arnt getting along and you dont think they will, then it would be best if they both stay single

[tskelly93]

Chaos never went into the new cage we built for them before we brought them home together, he has always liked being on something high so he can see out and about. They were took home in the same box, after just under 2 weeks of bonding at the shelter, and the staff there were satisfied that they were a good couple, had a firm bond and reccomended that they were housed in the same cage when they were took home.

I was thinking about seperating them, we still have Chaos’ old cage which can be put beside the other cage so they can still see/smell each other. But I think seperating them is a last resort, they both get stressed when the other isn’t in the cage (a bit odd) and frantically try and find the other. So I’m not sure it would be the best option, especially for such a long time. I was hoping to try and work with Artemis and calm down her agression, but not sure what else I can do with her other than try and keep her mentally occupied with toys, and using possitive reinforcement for when Atremis she has been good. Chaos was never the agressive one, he only started within the last week, as Artemis kept taking the food out of his mouth.

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