Need Help

[elocin]

My 5 year old guinea pig's sister just died, and I was querying if it's possible to keep her with my male dwarf lionhead bunny? They have been introduced before, and socialise together everyday. My bunny isn't really much of a kicker and keeps to himself, and gets on well with the guinea (I've spotted him grooming her a good few times, and in all the months I've had him he's never been aggressive towards her or anyone else).

I really don't want her to be lonely as she's lived with her sister her entire life, but my mum won't let me get another piggy to keep her company. I'm just wondering if considering how well they get along if it's possible to keep them in a large cage together?

Nala (the guinea pig) currently eats Wagg, but is transitioning over to Burgess Excel guinea pig nuggets. My rabbit also eats burgess excel (the mint dwarf rabbit formula), so I was wondering if I did keep them together, would I have to keep them on separate feeding schedules, or is it possible for them to share either of the nuggets at all?

They also both have all of their vaccines and my rabbit's neutered.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Janice C]

Sorry no! Guinea pigs and rabbits are an entirely different species!
Your rabbit may be a quiet gentle soul but both rabbits and guinea pigs need to be with their own kind. It would be similar to one of us being sent to live with an alien!
Also rabbits and guinea pigs tend to be alert at different times of the day and also need their own types of feed!
I know that years ago people did keep both species together but our care of animals has improved and we now know it's best to have them with their own kind!
Lots of us on the Forum have both rabbits and guinea pigs but they do have their own areas to live in although I know some happily share the garden et c in better weather.
Hope you will maybe try one of the Forum Rescue locators to find a friend for
Guinea pig and rabbit.

 

[elocin]

Sorry no! Guinea pigs and rabbits are an entirely different species!
Your rabbit may be a quiet gentle soul but both rabbits and guinea pigs need to be with their own kind. It would be similar to one of us being sent to live with an alien!
Also rabbits and guinea pigs tend to be alert at different times of the day and also need their own types of feed!
I know that years ago people did keep both species together but our care of animals has improved and we now know it's best to have them with their own kind!
Lots of us on the Forum have both rabbits and guinea pigs but they do have their own areas to live in although I know some happily share the garden et c in better weather.
Hope you will maybe try one of the Forum Rescue locators to find a friend for
Guinea pig and rabbit.

Ah okay thanks.

And I can't find friends for them as my mum won't let me.

 

[Reenie]

Ah okay thanks.

And I can't find friends for them as my mum won't let me.

Would your mum maybe let you get an older piggy as a friend? It could be that she's worried that you'll have to keep going as one passes on, replacing it. You could also see if a rescue could let you do a long term foster of a piggy, so that when the time comes when you only have one again, you could return it to the rescue without feeling you're surrendering your pet. Just a suggestion, that might not be your mum's reason.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Nala (the guinea pig) currently eats Wagg, but is transitioning over to Burgess Excel guinea pig nuggets. My rabbit also eats burgess excel (the mint dwarf rabbit formula), so I was wondering if I did keep them together, would I have to keep them on separate feeding schedules, or is it possible for them to share either of the nuggets at all?

They also both have all of their vaccines and my rabbit's neutered.

Thanks for the help!

I'm pretty sure I read in one book on guinea pig care, that rabbits' dry food usually contains a compound intended to prevent a particular rabbit illness, and that this compound is actually harmful to guineas; so your guinea pig should not share your rabbit's dry food unfortunately.

@Reenie 's suggestion of trying to see if you could long-term foster a piggie for a rescue, seems like the the best bet for providing companionship for your guinea pig if your mum doesn't want to keep pigs in the longer term.