FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for small pets

Chinchillas chew plastic, so a glass bottle or a plastic one with a metal guard, hung outside the cage, suits them best. The spout should be metal.

Degus are keen chewers, so choose a glass bottle or one with a metal guard and metal spout. Hang it outside the cage so the degu cannot reach the bottle.

Small rodents need small bottles with a thin spout and a ball that moves easily. Hang them low so the animal can reach the spout without stretching.

Usually the bottle hangs outside the cage on a wire hook or holder, with the spout pushed through the bars. Fix it firmly so the animal cannot push it off or twist it.

The spout tip should be at a height where the animal drinks standing naturally, head slightly raised, without stretching up on its hind legs. Hang it lower for youngsters and older animals.

The animal cannot chew a bottle hung outside, it takes no space inside the cage, and it is easier to refill without opening the door. Only the metal spout sticks inside.

Use bottle holders that hang over the tank edge, or suction cups. Suction cups can come loose over time, so check daily that the bottle is held firmly.

On wooden walls fix the bottle with a screw-on holder, or on mesh with a wire hook. The spout must be reachable and the bottle protected from chewing.

Hang the bottle where the animal can reach it easily, away from the toilet corner and not above the food bowl, so drips do not wet the food. It is best where the animal spends most of its time.

No. Bedding, hay or shavings touching the spout draw the water out, so the bottle empties within hours and the bedding gets soaked. Hang the bottle so there is a gap between the spout and the bedding.

Hang the bottle on the level the animal uses most, and in a large cage it is worth having two bottles on different levels. For older or less mobile animals, water should be on the bottom level.

A wire hook usually works on ordinary cage bars. If the bars are thick or close together, the cage is wooden, or the animal knocks the bottle off, a separate sturdy holder is more convenient.

After hanging the bottle, push the ball with your finger: a drop of water should appear. Do this daily, as a stuck ball or limescale can leave the animal without water even though the bottle looks full.

Bottles usually drip because of temperature changes, being only partly filled, hanging crooked or a damaged seal. Fill it to the top, screw it on tightly and check the seal.

Usually the ball is stuck with limescale or dirt, or the spout is clogged with food. Take the bottle apart, clean the spout and ball, and if it still does not work, replace it.

Remove the spout, clean it with a narrow brush and soak it in diluted vinegar to dissolve limescale, then rinse well. If the ball still sticks or the spout is bent, replace it.

First check that the bottle works and the animal can reach the spout. If it is fine, add a water bowl and watch; if the animal does not drink at all or seems lethargic, see a vet.

It depends on the species, size, temperature and diet: animals eating lots of juicy vegetables drink less. What matters most is knowing how much your pet normally drinks and noticing sudden changes.

Usually the bottle drips, the spout touches the bedding or the animal plays with it. If the animal really drinks much more than usual, especially in cool weather, tell a vet.

Rodents gnaw anything within reach, especially when bored, and sometimes to get attention. A metal spout can take it, but replace it if it is chewed or bent, and offer more chews in the cage.