FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for small pets

Droppings, bedding and urine fall into it from above, so the food soon gets soiled. Place the bowl in an open spot or on the top level.

It is a triangular bowl that fits into a cage corner and often fixes to the bars. It saves space and is hard to tip over, but should not go in the toilet corner.

A bottle is usually enough for hamsters, as they soon fill open water with bedding and small hamsters can easily get wet in a bowl. If you give a bowl, it must be very shallow and heavy.

Low, wide, heavy bowls placed on the floor or the lowest level suit an older animal, so it does not have to climb or stretch. Keep food and water close to its favourite resting spot.

Hang the bottle lower or put a shallow, heavy water bowl next to it. If the animal struggles to move or drink because of pain, tell a vet.

The key is not moving the bowls, bottle and hay rack, so the animal finds them by memory and smell. Choose heavy, stable dishes it will not knock over by accident.

Put down a shallow water bowl straight away and watch whether the animal drinks. Being unable to drink may be linked to dental or other health problems, so see a vet.

A set is convenient, but check each part: whether the bowls are heavy enough, the bottle spout is metal and the sizes suit your animal. Sometimes it is better to choose each item separately.

Many cages come with basic plastic bowls and a bottle. They are fine to start with, but over time it is worth replacing them with heavier or fixed bowls and a sturdier bottle.

Usually not. Bird drinkers have an open dish and are made of plastic that rodents soon chew, and the water gets soiled. For small pets choose bottles with a metal spout.

The smallest heavy ceramic or metal dog and cat bowls can work for rabbits and guinea pigs. For small rodents they are often too big and tall, so the animal climbs in and soils them.

Look at the capacity for the animal’s size, whether the spout is metal, whether it fits your cage with a sturdy holder, what it is made of and how easy it is to clean. It helps if spare parts are available.

A wide neck makes it easier to pour in water, fit a brush in and clean the bottom and corners. Narrow-necked bottles are harder to clean, so residue builds up faster.

No, zoogidas.lt sells nothing: the site compares prices of Lithuanian online pet shops. Once you choose a product, you buy it on the shop’s own website.

Prices on zoogidas.lt are collected about daily, and each product shows when its price was last checked. Before buying, confirm the price on the shop’s website.

Yes, each product page on zoogidas.lt shows price history. That lets you judge whether the current price is higher or lower than before.

It is a metal clip, skewer or basket that holds greens or vegetables above the bedding. The food stays clean, and the animal eats it by pulling, much as in nature.

Racks and baskets made of untreated willow, hay or seagrass are safe and rodents happily gnaw them. They wear out quickly, so they need replacing often, and soiled ones should be thrown away.

Shake out leftover hay and dust daily, and once a week wash a metal rack in hot water and dry it. Brush a wooden rack and only wash it occasionally, as wood absorbs moisture.

Replace a wooden rack when it is badly chewed, smells of urine, turns black or shows mould. Chewed edges can become sharp and unstable.