SIgns of a Sexually Mature Female Doe [Mini Lop]

Question
I got another rabbit (this time it was a female mini lop) and the pet store could not tell us approximately how old she was. I was wondering if there was any way (through looking at her teeth or her vagina) to tell how old she is. I called a couple of vet offices and they said it would cost about 75 dollars to find out how old she is. To be honest, I do not think I could afford to
spend 75 dollars to JUSt know my rabbit's age, and
then have to spend another 150 dollars to spay her
(that's if she was even sexually mature). Oh another thing, Oreo, my neutered male rabbit has been chased by the female rabbit and she always seems to want to bite Oreo's tail or at least nudges there; at first they were so friendly but then now my female rabbit Gem is the aggressor. So would that type of behavior be a sign of a sexually mature doe? Please help me. She is very agreeable to be carried and I could check her vagina easily. I just need to know what to look for -- With her vagina, is there a particular color of it that is a sign that she is sexually mature? All the darn pet store could tell
me was that her teeth was relatively white so she is "not that old."  Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Fritz Baldugo

Answer
Dear Fritz,

Your vet can't tell how old she is from looking either.  They could *at best* estimate her age based on the development of her teeth and internal organs.

Keep track of how much she grows over the next few months, and that will help you determine how old she is now, once she's done growing.  If she's still growing, then she's under a year old.  There is simply no reliable way to tell the age of a rabbit, unfortunately.  But her size should tell a good rabbit vet whether or not she's old enough to be spayed.

Gem is exhibiting sexual behavior and is frustrated because Oreo isn't reciprocating.  The sooner she's spayed, the better.  This type of challenge from her to him could eventually end up in a serious fight that will forever prevent them from becoming friends.

Wish I could wave a magic wand and tell you how old she is. But unfortunately, no one on earth can do that, no matter what they might tell you.

Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana