We recently welcomed two rabbits into our home to live with us as house pets, Caramac and Socks.
They are 14 weeks old and both male. They are obviously not from the same litter (one is a Trianta and one is a mini rex) but apparently they have been together since very young. They seemed to be the best of friends and were so cosy together that we couldn't have possibly separated them, however, they were not yet neutered.
The first thing I did was take them to the vet to have them vaccinated and to schedule them in for neutering but the operation isn't for another 4 weeks as the vet didn't think one of the rabbits was quite ready (she could only feel one ball!).
Right now they seem to be the greatest of friends about 90 percent of the time. Every so often, however, Caramac is mounting Socks (Caramac is a bit larger than Socks). Sometimes Socks just makes himself small and lets Caramac get on with it but other times he tries to run away with Caramac chasing after him. Often when this happens, Caramac doesn't take the hint and just keeps perusing Socks relentlessly and these chases can get quite out of control. Socks seems quite scared sometimes when it happens. Caramac also just seems to lunge towards Socks occasionally resulting in a chase so it's not always the mounting behaviour that initiates it. I've never actually seen Caramac bite him but I have seen tufts of fur sticking up on Socks back as if he's might have had a nip.
When we are at home and the bunnies are roaming about, we just make a noise or clap our hands or something and the chase usually stops. However, when we are at work or out of the house, we might have to leave them alone together for perhaps 4 hours at a stretch. One of us always pops home at lunch time but we're terrified that the chasing might turn into a fight while we're not there and that it may result in an injury or the bunnies falling out with each other.
The vet said it would be a shame to separate them, as they are such good friends, but is this good advice? Would we be better to keep them apart whilst we are out and only have them together when we are there to supervise or am I just overthinking things and at the age they are at, another 4 weeks won't hurt?
I've read a lot of horror stories about unneutered male rabbits fighting and we really don't want this to happen but I'd like to know what people think we should do in the interim. Are there any precautions I should take to minimise the risk?
They are 14 weeks old and both male. They are obviously not from the same litter (one is a Trianta and one is a mini rex) but apparently they have been together since very young. They seemed to be the best of friends and were so cosy together that we couldn't have possibly separated them, however, they were not yet neutered.
The first thing I did was take them to the vet to have them vaccinated and to schedule them in for neutering but the operation isn't for another 4 weeks as the vet didn't think one of the rabbits was quite ready (she could only feel one ball!).
Right now they seem to be the greatest of friends about 90 percent of the time. Every so often, however, Caramac is mounting Socks (Caramac is a bit larger than Socks). Sometimes Socks just makes himself small and lets Caramac get on with it but other times he tries to run away with Caramac chasing after him. Often when this happens, Caramac doesn't take the hint and just keeps perusing Socks relentlessly and these chases can get quite out of control. Socks seems quite scared sometimes when it happens. Caramac also just seems to lunge towards Socks occasionally resulting in a chase so it's not always the mounting behaviour that initiates it. I've never actually seen Caramac bite him but I have seen tufts of fur sticking up on Socks back as if he's might have had a nip.
When we are at home and the bunnies are roaming about, we just make a noise or clap our hands or something and the chase usually stops. However, when we are at work or out of the house, we might have to leave them alone together for perhaps 4 hours at a stretch. One of us always pops home at lunch time but we're terrified that the chasing might turn into a fight while we're not there and that it may result in an injury or the bunnies falling out with each other.
The vet said it would be a shame to separate them, as they are such good friends, but is this good advice? Would we be better to keep them apart whilst we are out and only have them together when we are there to supervise or am I just overthinking things and at the age they are at, another 4 weeks won't hurt?
I've read a lot of horror stories about unneutered male rabbits fighting and we really don't want this to happen but I'd like to know what people think we should do in the interim. Are there any precautions I should take to minimise the risk?