Its not uncommon for peppers.I leave mine and harvest when I know they need more space.At this time they are big enough to enjoy.You will also find that they manage quite well growing close to one another.

I don't see any reason to thin them unless you are going for large fruit size. This is the first year I've grown them in a greenhouse though, so my ideas are based on outdoor culture. I have about 6 peppers in the greenhouse (no bells though) and 64 plants outside.

If there are more than 5 or 6 in a small section of the plant you could cut a couple out, but otherwise I'd leave them. Maybe when they reach 3-4" across they will be big enough to have a little meat to 'em.

Thanks guys. I found a study that said that there wasn't a difference in yield, or maybe a slight decrease by pruning, but that pruning yielded larger fruits. So, I think I'll let them go and see how it turns out.