Separating a bonded pair

Question
Hi there -- We have two young rabbits - a male and a female -- the male is 12 weeks and the female is 11 weeks old.  We plan on neutering the male as soon as possible as we do not want to breed them - but want them to be companions.  I understand from speaking to a vet that the male should not be altered before at least 16 weeks.  However, in the past week and a half - the male has been mounting the female a lot.  I am torn as to whether I should separate them until he is fixed.  I dont want her to be stressed from being harrased constantly by him - however they have been bonded since 6 and 7 weeks old and they do not like being apart.  What to do?

Answer
It is possible that he is starting to get his hormones, but doesn't have the ability to do anything yet (to phrase it politely).  Since he won't stop, is there any way you could keep them in adjoining cages, or pens, or leave them together when he is being good and separate them when he is being hormonal?  After he is neutered and the hormones have died down you will be able to put them back together.

Some males develop their parts at about 3 1/2 months of age, but 4 months is a common figure used for neutering male rabbits.  

I would try to keep them together as much as possible, but at some point you will have to separate them while he is recovering from surgery.

Kim