peruvian guinea pig/rabbit

Question
hi, i just want to know what you think about mixing a male guinea pig, around 1 year, with a neutered male rabbit also  1 years old? the guinea pig belongs to my mum, she had a pair and they had two babies, now his in a cage on his own.
i have the rabbit in a out door hutch/run, and thought about putting the two together so they have some company.
do you think this is a good/bad idea, and what the best way around introduction. many thanks

Answer
Hello Alice,

No, Guinea Pigs housed with rabbits is not a good idea. The 2 have very different dietary needs. Rabbits, even neutered ones, tend to mount each other (and Guinea Pigs) frequently as part of their dominance routines. Rabbits can seriously hurt piggies doing this because they are much stronger. Happy bunnies also perform "lamb leaps" as part of their expression of joy. During lamb leaps their powerful back legs kick out and can seriously injure or kill a piggy who accidentally gets in the way. It's really just not a good idea for them to live together in the same cage. If you can get a second hutch and keep them hutches next to each other then they could be friends and still be safe.

-kkat
http://www.geocities.com/abyssinianguineapigs