Guinea Pig: Strange sleeping habit and living with rabbits(?)

Question
QUESTION: Hello.
So I got a baby guinea pig (Peanut) and 2 baby rabbits today. The place I got them from already had guinea pigs and rabbits living together so I figured it was okay, but when I was lookong online some articles said it was not okay. What is your opinion? Is it okay for them to live in the same cage?
Also Peanut likes to sleep in his food, I noticed, and he also poops in his food too. Do you know why? Do I need to make him a bed?
I am new to owning Guinea Pigs so any tips you may have would be much appreciated!
Thank you so much!

ANSWER: I would not leave the pig with the rabbits. As they grow rabbits can become aggressive and the pig will lose the battle.

The other issue is the food. Rabbit food often has antibiotics in it, but does not have vit C. Rabbits make their own vit C just as humans do. Guinea pigs do not. Therefore their feed much be supplemented with the additional Vit C. Guinea pigs cannot tolerate the antibiotics in the rabbit feed.

If the rabbit feed did not have antibiotics in it, it's okay for the pig to eat. However, your pig must have extra doses of parsley, kale, etc. to replace what he needs.

The biggest issue of Peanut living with the rabbits is that especially if he's a baby pig, he will likely suffer injury from the rabbits. I would keep him in his own cage.  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I would also like to know of ot is possible for a human to transder somwthing like a cold to their guinea pig or rabbit?
Thank you so much for your help!

Answer
Guinea pigs do not catch colds. The only thing we know of that is transmittable to them is Bortadella, aka Kennel Cough. This can be transmitted from a dog or cat to a pig if the dog  or cat has come close enough to the pig's face. That doesn't mean face to face, but just in close enough proximity in that same room.

Guinea pigs are inherently healthy animals. Rabbits are more susceptible to problems than guinea pigs are. Having said that, most breeders are still cautious when they enter their caviary or rabbitry as a precautionary practice.

Respiratory illness in either rabbits or cavies are more likely to happen when there is poor ventilation and poor hygiene habits on the part of the human taking care of them. Breathing air that is heavy with ammonia is bad for both animal and human.

I did not address your previous question about Peanut's sleeping and fouling his food bowl. Unlike rabbits, guinea cannot typically be litter box trained. They go wherever their backside happens to be. If Peanut is sleeping in his dish it's because that's where he feels comfortable and safe. Another reason he needs housing of his own.

If he continues to poo and pee in his dish get a bowl that can be mounted off the floor, attached to the side of the cage. Put it high enough that he must stand up to reach it. He will still eat from it, but will not be able to sleep in it.

Guinea pigs cannot live on a wire floor. Their body weight is proportionally heavier than a rabbits, making it possible for them to develop sores on the bottoms of their feet. Rabbit cages are built with wire floors so their droppings fall through. Guinea pigs should not be kept on a wire floor.