I used to think raising rabbits was easy. Just feed them, give them water, and that’s it.
This photo was taken on day 4 since they arrived at home, the white one used to be the most active of all, I put it on top of the cage to get some sun for a bit, because today I suddenly noticed my white rabbit looked weak. The day before, it was still running around like crazy, I tried giving it carrots and cabbage, but the white rabbit just sat there, It didn’t want to eat.
I was so confused yesterday afternoon it was still fine, no signs of being sick at all, and then, that same evening, my white rabbit was gone. For good. I regret it so much, I should’ve bought pellets for it sooner, finding a store that sells rabbit food here is way harder than finding cat food.
I bought these rabbits at Pasar Burung in Semarang, The ride from my house is about 35 to 40 km, It was 4 days ago, on our way back from a family vacation.
On the way home we decided to stop by the biggest bird market in the city, after walking around, I saw a seller with Rex carpet rabbits.
I bought 4 of them, 2 males and 2 females, for $9 the seller put all 4 into a small cardboard box and placed it in front of my motorbike. My wife and kid rode behind me, the hot Semarang sun followed us all the way home to Jepara from the capital city.
Who would’ve thought… the real struggle was just starting from there.
This is what they looked like 3 days after arriving home, Still complete, still 4 rabbits.
They like yellow watermelon the most, every time I give it, they always fight over it, the black and white one is the bravest, always in front, the gray one at the back is shy instead.
I thought, "Oh, raising ornamental rabbits is easy, just feed them, they'll grow fast and have lots of babies." Turns out I was completely wrong. They get sick easily if the cage is dirty, they get stressed easily if it's too hot, and you can't feed them just anything, too much cabbage can make them bloated.
From here I started learning , turns out raising ornamental rabbits needs more attention than I thought.
This is my rabbit cage. I put it beside the house, but I cover it with sacks so it doesn't get too hot and doesn't get wet from the rain.
Every morning my routine is: clean the cage, change the water, give them vegetables, sometimes I'm tired too, especially after work, but when I see them running around, eating happily, I feel happy.
Back then when I brought them from Semarang, I was so scared they would die on the road, because I rode a motorbike for more than 2 hours carrying 4 rabbits in a cardboard box, my wife was at the back holding our child, and I was in front holding the box so it wouldn't fall.
But turns out, being safe on the road doesn't mean they'll be safe at home.
This is the one I love the most, the black rabbit.
He’s pretty active but tame, whenever I open the cage, he’s the first one to come to me, I like to pet him while talking to him.
I still remember the first time I held him at the animal market, his fur was so soft, the seller said, "This is still a baby sir, it’s easy to adapt."
Yeah, adapting at home is easy. "The hard part is keeping them healthy," I replied to the rabbit seller, one little mistake, and they can get sick, and when rabbits get sick, it happens really fast.
This photo was taken after the white rabbit died.
This is my favorite moment, feeding them directly.
They are smart, they know if the one holding the carrot is me, so they all gather around, this gray and white one is the greediest, i haven't even gotten close yet and it already bites first.
I used to think, "You just buy carrots, give them, done." Turns out no, too many carrots are not good, you have to alternate with grass, pellets, other vegetables. The vegetables have to be clean and they have to be fresh, not to mention if a rabbit gets diarrhea, the whole family immediately panics.
Taking care of 1 rabbit is already troublesome, let alone 4 rabbits. That's why I say, raising ornamental rabbits is not easy.
Now there are only 3 left. One... is already gone, gone forever.
I don't want to tell the details here. It will just make me sad, but from that experience I learned a lot, turns out love alone is not enough you need knowledge, you need time, you need energy.
For my #hivepets friends who want to start raising rabbits, prepare your mental and your knowledge.
They are really cute and adorable,but the responsibility is big.
Now I'm still learning, for these 3 Rex carpet rabbits that are still with me.
Have you ever experienced the same thing?
That taking care of pets is way harder than we imagined?
Tell me your story in the comments
Original photos & story by 
Written in Indonesian, translated to English with help from Meta AI
