Okay, so I'm kinda going out on a stretch here hoping to gather some info concerning rabbits. My wife wants a rabbit really badly and with our 1 year coming up, I figured this would be one of the most kickass gifts I could get for, er, us. (I have to admit, these damn things are cute).

I'm interested in the following:

Lop - Velveteen
Chinchilla - American
Chinchilla - Giant
Chinchilla - Standard

Are there any local breeders that you guys know of? There are so many forums out there and it could be my google searches are weak that I can't find any "reputable" local breeders for these particular rabbits. Any tips/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

5/18/2009 9:34:56 PM

wait til winter and i'll give you a holy cottontail

[Edited on May 18, 2009 at 9:43 PM. Reason : or maybe even a marsh rabbit]

5/18/2009 9:42:53 PM

I got a rabbit because I thought they were "cute." Worst pet ever.
Many people think of rabbits as cute, cuddly and lovable, but this thing is the opposite. She's not very nice. You can't take her out of the cage without risking being bitten. I know not all rabbits are like this. I know that for every example of a bad animal there is a good one of the same breed/species. But I had been wanting a bunny for a long time before finally getting her and this is not what I expected at all.

Okay, I won't be all negative. A good thing is after the initial expense of the cage and accessories, upkeep is not costly. Rabbit feed is not expensive and a big bag of pellets can last a long time. I give her fresh veggies often. Whenever I chop up veggies for my own meals, I put some aside for her. Even though I really don't like her, I do that for her. Feeding a rabbit is easy, just be careful not to overfeed.

And if you do any gardening, their poop makes great fertilizer. They shit mountains! I hear they are easy to potty train. Mine typically goes in the same spot in the cage. Which leads to another issue. Mineral build-up. Rabbit pee leaves a hard mineral residue that is very hard to remove from the cage. Even if you clean the cage daily, it can still build up. Renuzit air fresheners go great behind or near the cage. I keep my rabbit in my bedroom and this keeps the smell down.
Rabbits may also be noisy at night. Mine is but I've gotten used to her, and I take her toys away at night so I can sleep without hearing them.

That's all I can think of at the moment. I always recommend thinking through any pet purchase. Good luck with your new rabbit if you get one.

5/18/2009 11:02:43 PM

thumper?

5/18/2009 11:13:07 PM

haha... thumper... How much you charge? *snicker snicker*


^^ I appreciate those tips. I really wanted a chincilla, however, they seem much higher maintenance compared to a rabbit so I sadly ruled it out.
I may have to rethink this... The whole pee thing is a turnoff (something I haven't read in forums, thanks for that tidbit). I was hoping that I clean the cage once a week opposed to every day, which is more than can be said about when I had a hamster. Noise and smell won't be an issue. The future pet would have a room all to itself.

I know that generally speaking, the pet store rabbits aren't the best to pick up if you are looking for something cuddly. Private breeders generally offer tamer rabbits with "softer" personalities. Any other "cute/cuddly" low maintenance pet ideas? (no cats. If I get a cat, it better be something badass like a serval. Otherwise, [NO])

5/19/2009 8:47:10 AM

i got someone you can talk to, sending you a PM

5/19/2009 10:33:19 AM

Most rabbits aren't going to really be "cuddly."

Also, you will have to clean the cage way more often than once a week. Even if the smell doesn't bother you, the ammonia in their urine can mess with their sensitive respiratory system if you let their pee sit around.

And to

Quote :

"just be careful not to overfeed. "

... rabbits need to eat all the time so their digestive system doesn't shut down. My rabbit recently got sick and went into gastrointestinal stasis (the same thing that can happen if, say, their bowl goes empty for several hours) and the vet bill to get her better was $$$. You do not want that to happen. Just make sure they have ample hay all the time and a lot of veggies in addition to their pellets.

But that being said, I really do not think you should get a rabbit. They aren't low-maintenance pets, and it doesn't sound to me like you're prepared to properly take care of one.

5/19/2009 10:47:04 AM

^ Bingo :/ K thanks t-dub. I guess the forums are biased into saying "oh hey, my rabbit loves spending time with me and being held and they are pretty $RI to maintain" Thanks guys.

5/19/2009 10:54:19 AM

Quote :

"... rabbits need to eat all the time so their digestive system doesn't shut down. My rabbit recently got sick and went into gastrointestinal stasis (the same thing that can happen if, say, their bowl goes empty for several hours) and the vet bill to get her better was $$$. You do not want that to happen. Just make sure they have ample hay all the time and a lot of veggies in addition to their pellets."

That's good to know. Thanks.

5/19/2009 3:29:55 PM

As far as cats go, you should consider a Maine Coon. They aren't quite servals, but they are bigger than your standard house cat and they're really cool, loyal cats.

5/19/2009 3:43:29 PM

wow. glad i read that thread. I was going to buy my fiance's little girls a couple of neatherland dwarf rabbits.

5/19/2009 4:04:19 PM

Quote :

"As far as cats go"

umm

wut

5/19/2009 4:05:22 PM

Quote :

"If I get a cat, it better be something badass like a serval."

5/19/2009 8:31:46 PM

Quote :

"They shit mountains!"

True story.

5/19/2009 8:44:15 PM

my brother's gf has rabbits that just had a litter about 2 months ago or something. She's selling the babies now for cheap. PM me if you're interested in one.

5/19/2009 10:00:03 PM