Bunny enclosures

You can get dwarfs who are quite tiny (and cute!) but you should always check out shelters! Try http://www.rabbitrescue.org.au/ for Perth.

Thanks

Netherlands dwarf bunnies are the smallest bunnies you can get. You have to be aware, all the flat-faced bunnies are very likely to get dental problems (bunnies like dwarf buns including Nethies, lops) so you have to put that in mind when adopting.
You must get two! They're very social. Fussy, and have to pick their own friend, but social.
We can help you out with diet advice (pretty simple really, hay-I think you have meadow hay? Not sure if there's oaten hay in WA- and vegetables. Here's a safe list http://www.adoptarabbit.org/articles/packet/abcvegi.html )
You need a bunny vet though! Not all vets can look after rabbits.

Guys these suggestions are awesome! Thank you all so very much for your help.

Leighbunny, the Hyatt and the Hilton are fantastic. I might have to show my boyfriend your photos and start hinting

I have a lop eared bunny, name Bunny, and a Abby guinea Pig, name Piglet. They live outside in a hutch that I had custom made. It has an outside area with toys, bits of wood to chew on etc, and a sleep area with soft hay. Bunny gets let out to run around my backyard during the day. I move the hutch around everyday to fresh grass, but it's super heavy because of the size, and ideally I would like to make it bigger. So I'm thinking of maybe going with one of the 'fixed' houses. I would then have room to adopt some more rescued friends for my babies too. Although they are pretty tight knit.

Thanks again

How old are your bunny and guinea pig Steph?

Can I mention something, and my intention isn't to freak you out, but I think it definitely will!

I work at a shelter, and I rehome the rabbits and guinea pigs. I NEVER rehome rabbits and guinea pigs together. They are also not housed together. Here's an explanation from a forum why not to house rabbits and guinea pigs together:


It is never ok to keep them together under any circumstances im afraid....

Here are the reasons.

1. The dominant behavior of the rabbit often means the guinea pig(s) get injured and to put it bluntly they do not speak the same language and nipping ect is a rabbit method of communication.

2 They both require a different diet....get it right for the rabbit and it will be wrong for the guinea pig and visa versa.....potentially very serious for both.

3 A large number of rabbits carry a bacteria commonly called Bordatella which is nothing much more than a sniffle for the rabbit but is pathenogenic to the guinea pig and frequently the only sign is a dead guinea pig in the morning. It follows that 99.9% of such dead guinea pigs just get disposed of and no autopsy or subsequent investigation takes place so the incidence of this is probably much higher than is thought.

It may never happen of course, the bordatella thing, but that's why we say not to risk it.
It's best to have rabbits with rabbits and guinea pigs with guinea pigs.
If you're concerned at all, or wish to get a vet check, can I suggest the best rabbit clinic in the world for bunnies and guinea pigs? Melbourne Rabbit Clinic. It's in Ferntree Gully. www.melbournerabbitclinic.com

I'm going there tomorrow, I'll ask them if they've seen much of it.

MondaysChild (and any other Perthites) - if you DO get bunnies, I'm not sure where you are in Perth but I recommend Vetcentre in Morley (just near Galleria). One of the nurses there is a bunny breeder (ugh I know!) and their vet is a specialist in small animals. They desexed both my buns.

I second that!!

I was looking at bunnies online all day yesterday lol. I didn't want to sidetrack the thread so havn't posted anything but I do have one question, how are bunnies around dogs? Not that I would be letting them run alone together, but my smallest dog is 1.2 kilos which by the sounds of things is around the same size as some bunnies. Is this a conncern?

When it comes to how well two animals get along it really is up to the nature of those two animals. My cat and birds used to get along, and noone would have said that was possible. As long as the dog is friendly I would let them see how it goes together "closely monitored of course" the rabbit may be a bit freaked out, but give it time and they will get along fine I'm sure.

Rav, thanks so much for that link. I've wanted a rabbit for as long as I could remember (couldn't have one in QLD though) and have really been wanting one, Getting one from a shelter would be so much more rewarding xD Now to beg the landlord...

They are about 2 & 1/2 years old each and I've had them since they were very small. Would any dominant type behaviour be apparent by now if it was going to happen? I've never seen any at all. They cuddle up together and that's about it.

Re: the food, I've downloaded two lists - one for bunnies and one for guinea pigs - and I feed them the food that is on both of the lists, and nothing that is toxic or unhealthy to either one. Do you think that is ok (as a general rule - if the food lists were correct).

I hadn't heard of the bacteria either - that's terrible. I thought I had done lots of research but obviously not enough! If bunny was carrying it would guinea pig have caught it by now?

Thanks for all of the info, and the suggestion for the vet too