I was told that my rabbit will become ‘autistic’ if he doesn’t socialize with other bunnies

I was getting my rabbit’s nails trimmed at a local parrot store that services small animals as well. There was a little enclosure with bunnies that I let my rabbit play in after the nail cutting was finished.

My rabbit seemed pleased and the owner proceeded to tell me that if a rabbit isn’t socialized with other rabbits, they become autistic. I asked if he was kidding and he was actually serious. He also cut too close to the quick which caused some bleeding

Curious to hear what you all think. Personally, sounds crazy to me but I’d love to be enlightened.

Complete nonsense. Rabbits don't benefit the same way cats and dogs do from socialization.

Many can benefit from being properly bonded as adults after being spayed/neutered. And they can do better when socialized with people when babies, but they will not become autistic from not socializing with other rabbits. Plus you can't just put rabbits together to play. They have to be properly bonded by matching the right personalities together.

I’ve never heard of rabbit autism...but rabbits are very social animals. They can benefit from living with another rabbit, IF it is a proper pair and there are also spaying/neutering considerations.
However, I’ve had my rabbit for his whole life just on his own and he’s very content with just me. But as said before, it’s important to handle them and make sure you interact with them a lot. That’s all the interaction my rabbit seems to need!

JBun said:

Complete nonsense. Rabbits don't benefit the same way cats and dogs do from socialization.

Many can benefit from being properly bonded as adults after being spayed/neutered. And they can do better when socialized with people when babies, but they will not become autistic from not socializing with other rabbits. Plus you can't just put rabbits together to play. They have to be properly bonded by matching the right personalities together.

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I was monitoring him really carefully. He seemed totally fine and not stressed. But I know to never leave him alone with another rabbit if they’re not bonded.