guinea pig rattling noise

Question
QUESTION: hi we have a guinea pig he lives with his friend emma she is a netherland dwarf rabbit they are both coming up to 6 months old...we have seen him try to mount her sometimes but lately she has been chasing him round the cage  and he makes a rattling/vibrating noise..are they fighting she has bitten his bottom making little sores sometimes...when this happens we let them out and she goes upstairs leaving him alone downstairs..do i need to get him a guinea pig friend and keep them seperately..i want them to be happy i hate to think she is attacking him and hes scared..or are they grooming or trying to mate..please advise me..neither are spayed or neutered.thanks sonja

ANSWER: Hi Sonja

The problem undoubtedly lies in the fact that rabbits and guinea pigs shouldnt be kept together so the pig is intimidated by the rabbit hence the noises.

You should separate them straight away.

Andy

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

QUESTION: OK THANKS THAT WILL BE DIFFICULT BUT I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY... WOULD YOU ADVISE A FRIEND OF THE SAME SPECIES SAME SEX FOR SQUEEK (GUINEA PIG) OR OTHER...AND EMMA (RABBIT) WHO WILL MAKE BEST COMPANION FOR HER..EVEN THIS VERY SITE GIVES CONFLICTING ADVICE RE KEEPING GUINEA PIGS AND RABBITS TOGETHER..SOME SAY YES ITS A GOOD THING TO DO..YOUR BLUNT REPLY WOULD INDICATE YOU HAVE STRONG FEELINGS TO THE CONTRARY.. WE BELIEVED AT THE TIME WE WERE ENSURING THE HAPPINESS OF OUR PETS BUYING THEM TOGETHER AND HOUSING INDOORS ETC..THANKS FOR YOUR HELP SO FAR..A GUILTY FEELING PET OWNER

Answer
Hi Sonja

I didnt intend for my reply to be blunt, just concise. I think some of the other volounteer experts on on holiday at the moment so I am being rather indundated. My apologies though, no offence intended.

The reason why rabbits and piggies should be kept separate is that they have different dietary requirements (rabbits cant have many greens, piggies can have as many as they like) but more importantly a rabbits powerful back legs can serious hurt a pig.

I have no doubt you intended to make your pets happy and I very much regret if I have contributed to making you feel guilty.

Going forward, you could try getting a baby male to go with your guinea pig but with males there is always a chance of fighting. I am not enough of an expert on rabbits to give you a definative answer but I believe a neutered male rabbit would make the best companion for your female rabbit.

Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future. I want to help you find a solution to your problem and i promise not to give such a brief answer next time :)

Andy