Guinea Pig and Rabbit

Question
Recently I noticed that my rabbit seemed depressed and lonely so I decided to get him a friend. At the pet store, I was told that since he was a male a better bet would be to get a guinea pig so I adopted a young female guinea pig. Things started off well and it seemed as though they were friends. Now, I've noticed the guinea pig nipping him and jumping on him and he seems more depressed than before. I don't have enough space for a second cage and I would feel terrible giving the guinea pig away. Please help... what should I do? Would it be better to find the guinea pig a new home and get a spayed female rabbit? Do you think the guinea pig and rabbit can be friends?

Answer
First thanks for asking all experts and me, too.

In many cases it is said that guinea pigs and rabbits are good companions for one another and that you also don't risk having offspring. This is also easy because their diets, caging, and ect are almost the same. However you must also know that when dealing with two different species there is going to be different ways each communicate, this may cause frustration between the two.

For instance a guinea pig communicates vocally using clicks and screeches to "talk:, however a rabbit is going to use physical movement, like stomping feet or moving ears. In this respect they have to figure out how to communicate with one another. Sometimes you get a pair of animals that click, and then other that just don't like one another. Not every human likes each other and the same is for animals.

If your guinea is biting you should look at things like...is the rabbit trying to "mate" and making her irritated? Is she biting and causing blood or sores? If she isn't just biting to maybe get his attention or to show her dominance then it would be normal. What you worry about is biting that causes blood, sores, or injury of some kind. Both rabbits and guinea pigs also do like dogs, cats, ect and have to find who is dominant. This may be what is happening.

What I suggest it keep any eye out on when she bits and why. If you feel that he is getting hurt you can either sale the guinea pig and get another rabbit or you can do "play time" and have them live separately, but play together daily. This can be arranged on the floor with supervision and then you get to keep both pets and they get private time and play time.


Here are some websites that may also help:

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/gpfriends.shtml

http://www.angelfire.com/mi/FAST/bunniesandpiggies.html#10

http://www.petwebsite.com/article_read.asp?id=316&title=Why%20Rabbits%20and%20Gu...