So I got mixed signals?

[Squirtleface]

So I adopted a spayed female rabbit a month ago at the humane society for my neutered male Squirtle, her name is Charmander lol. I wanted to introduce them first, but they wouldn’t let me bring him because they didn’t want damage done, so I adopted her without an introduction. For a week I did the stuffed animal switch and they didn’t seem bothered by the others scent, then a week I did switching cages which they also appeared unaffected, and then for a week I’ve been slowly moving their cages closer together until they were an inch away. For a while I had them like this, close but not close enough to be able to touch through the cages, and it seemed like all good signs. They’d every so often sniff towards each other, they’d sit next to each other for long periods of time, groom next to each other and I even fed them next to each other and no problems.

So today I put them in the bathroom for their first true introduction. They sniffed around at first, and then Squirtle lunged towards her and nipped her. She ran off to the other side and both resumed sniffing around. Then she passed infront of Squirtle and again he nipped her and chased her a bit, and then back to sniffing. Then he nipped her once more and started chasing her and cornered her. Before I could move him, she lunged at him and they started to fight. I had a pasta strainer and was able to separate them pretty quickly. I picked them both up and held them against each other against my chest for a few moments, then I put them away. There was tufts of hair everywhere in the bathroom, but I have yet to see any blood on them.

Once I put them back I expected them to harbor bad feelings and try to get at each other through the cage bars, but they didn’t. Squirtle sat on his side and she came over and ate food right next to him. He then started to groom himself and she laid down next to him and then he finished grooming and just sat there next to her and now there just hanging out like they have been. So now I’m just confused. Is there really a chance they like each other? Do I keep trying? Just all the articles I’ve read about bonding, fighting is a huge negative.

[Pomandcourt]

My bonded pair fought when I first brought them home (they were bonded together by their previous owner and had lived together for years) because of the new environment and my other bun (even though she was separate.) After they were separated for about an hour, they went right back to loving each other.

What I’m saying is, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker. I doesn’t sound like they caused too much damage to one another or that it lasted very long so they should be able to move past it. Right now they’re trying to establish dominance. It’s a good sign that they were fine when you put them back in their cages.

How long was your first bonding session? Maybe you need to do shorter ones to start. Return them to their cages BEFORE they start a fight and gradually extend their time together.

It’s also a good idea to discourage chasing. Chasing usually leads to a fight. I typically discourage this by just placing my hand in the chasers path. Gives them both a chance to calm down.

A lot of sources suggest keeping them in very confined quarters for bonding sessions (litter box sized so they’re forced to interact.) I haven’t personally tried this but it’s supposed to be the key.

I found the best “trick” is switching their litterboxes every day to every other day and not completely cleaning it in between changes so some of the other bun’s fur and pellets are in the box.

[Squirtleface]

They were only in the bathroom for maybe three or four minutes before the fight happened. I read about putting them in a small space, but I have hesitations because I feel if a fight broke out in a small space, it would be ten times worse because neither rabbit has anywhere to retreat, just to sit there and take the beating of the other before I can intervene.

[Pomandcourt]

That was my fear with super small spaces so I never tried it. So many people swear by it that I felt the need to mention it.

I think you should be okay to proceed if they haven’t injured each other. Just make sure not to let them chase each other and keep a close eye.

Unfortunately, it can sometimes take quite awhile before they start to get along.

Good luck!

[Pomandcourt]

That was my fear with super small spaces so I never tried it. So many people swear by it that I felt the need to mention it.

I think you should be okay to proceed if they haven’t injured each other. Just make sure not to let them chase each other and keep a close eye.

Unfortunately, it can sometimes take quite awhile before they start to get along.

Good luck!

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