Best small animal feeding & watering supplies according to redditors
We found 99 Reddit comments discussing the best small animal feeding & watering supplies. We ranked the 50 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
A piece of friendly advice: I notice there is some digging of the rug going on, which might be unsafe if she eats any of the small bits. I highly recommend this indoor/outdoor rug instead - it is easy to clean, inexpensive, and due to a tight weave hard to chew or dig, and looks great. It fantastic and a lot of bunny parents use it.
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Also consider adding an xpen for the bunny to your set up... sorry but this cage is too small for the bun of this size especially. Bunnies need at least 4 by 4 ft of space at all time to be healthy and happy.
A cage is not enough, this is true during the night also and when you are sleeping. Rabbits are crepuscular - meaning most active at night and early mornings as prey animals, so they are quite active often when humans sleep...
I totally understand the idea of having the bun in a more secure space when you are asleep but given the crepuscular schedule I mentioned above try to expand that space from just a cage. You can get an xpen or some NIC grids and attach them to the cage edges with some zipties such that the hutch door always leads to a larger but still more secure space for him. Kind of like in here or this picture or this or this.
You might consider doing something like this and this. They are using a large dog crate (though you could use a medium size maybe too if bun has an xpen attached) and they added a second floor to it also. The person kindly shared their set up and how they made it in this thread.
My guide on bunny care here has tips on how to set up bunny housing if you'd like to take a look https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z_IvDuy5Fr-VOKwBVBSmZih0m1ATCIquIMhYyFl4aIw
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Diet:
I also see very little hay in the cage - it super hard to get out of that hay rack you have... hay is 90% of their diet and critical to digesting and keeping the teeth from overgrowing. You need to make sure good quality unlimited hay is available at all times and is a good hay eater. In that rack he will never be a good hay eater.
Instead of putting it in the rack or in addition to that, also put a HEAPING pile of hay on one corner of his cage for him to eat or get a hay rack like this or this.
The correct diet for an adult bunny is - UNLIMITED hay, 1/4 cup MAX of plain pellets per day (not colorful bits or seed in them, and do not give unlimited pellets), 1 to 2 cups of green leafy veggies. Carrot, kale, and fruit only as occasional very small treats. No yogurt drops or processed sugars.
My guide has more details.... please consider this advice as it will save a lot of money in vet bills.
Etc:
[Glass bottle?] (https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S)
X-pen: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083ZWZ2K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cage: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098L1Z9C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Litter boxes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075QFPB5C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Baby mat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071NSPSN3/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hay feeder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072C5LTY5/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kiwi cushion: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MPWWWDW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Kiwi bowl (non-tippable): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1L597Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Fleece blankets: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C1P3Z1B/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Wooden toys: https://www.farmerdavepetsupply.com/organic-apple-chew-toy-combination-pack
I've had the same problem with multiple water bottles! I can never tell why they are leaking, just that they do for some annoying reason. Some start out fine and then a few months pass and I realize they are leaking. I have had several of these for a few years and have been happy with them. Hope you find something that works for you!
The hay doesn't have to literally be in the litter box. I use a setup similar with paper and pine pellet bedding with a hay manger hanging into the litter box. Give that a try!
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Hay Manger i have
Just a note, those particular hay feeders are quite dangerous for guinea pigs. They can very easily jump into the top part head first, get stuck and suffocate. If you look through the 1-star ratings reviews here, you'll find many owners who happened upon this misfortune and lost their pigs.
My wife's rabbit had hay all over until we got one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FU4Z8I/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0
Seems to work quite well - no excess hay everywhere.
Awww. He's a cutie! And that playpen is AWESOME.
Usually I see advice to give them about a week to settle in. For an older hamster, it might take a bit longer.
I also got my dwarf as an older guy - and he did the same frantic running around thing! At first I thought he was excited, but like you I soon realized he was actually terrified.
I ended up doing something similar to what you have, where he could go in and out of his cage on his own terms. It still took about a week for him to feel confident doing that. And another week or two before he felt confident enough to roam around the room (once it was hamster proofed, of course).
What I found to be absolutely key was lighting -- he simply refused to emerge if the lights were on (which made monitoring him tricky). He'd tolerate very dim light, like the light from my laptop screen, but that's about it. It was about a month before he'd come out and play around his cage when the lights were on.
However to this day he refuses to get on his wheel if any lights are on. So if I accidentally fall asleep with a lamp on, he will go all night without running on his wheel.
(If this turns out to be the case with yours, I read somewhere that red light doesn't bother them. I now have some red LED Christmas lights hanging above his play area, and he seems to tolerate those just fine.)
Also keep in mind that hamsters are essentially blind - they navigate by smell, sound, and touch. Mine is totally comfortable with me now (although he'll probably never be hand-tamed), but he still doesn't respond to my voice. He knows me by my smell -- so if he's in his nest and I'm trying to get him to come out, I'll gently blow in the entrance. So maybe try doing something like that to help him get used to your scent.
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Regarding his cage/play pen --
Hamsters are like any other pet in that they each have their own distinct little personalities and quirks. For example, mine hates those igloo things and hates wicker (but other dwarves seem totally content with theirs!) So he might not like the hideout you've given him, and is finding it difficult to relax.
I'd try placing more hideouts in his play pen to see what he likes. You don't have to go out and spend a bunch of money. For example, we finally figured out that mine loves his hideouts to be dark and low -- so like one of those smaller kleenex boxes cut down with a little hole for an entrance. One of his favorite nests was when we cut a hole in a clean cardboard sandwich box from Arby's! Then he likes to stuff the entrance with bedding, to the point where you wonder how he manages to get in or out. He likes this one a lot, but won't really go in the top half.
You'll also eventually want to replace that wheel. This one is pretty popular - I have it and mine loves it. I've seen others on here recommend it as well. This one is also popular. Giving him a good wheel is pretty essential. It's how they exercise and run off all their excess energy, which is key to managing stress. (To check if he's using his wheel, place a seed or something on top of it. If it's still there in the morning, you'll know he's not using it.)
You can also give him stuff to make his play area more interesting, which might entice him out a bit more. Again, it doesn't mean you have to go spend a bunch of money. The tubes from empty paper towel or toilet rolls make perfectly fine tunnels. Things for him to climb over or through or under. If you have some extra boxes lying around, you can make him a cardboard maze. More/deeper bedding to dig through. Things like that. Lots of it he'll probably ignore, but eventually you'll start to get a sense of what he likes and doesn't like.
"Hide" seeds or treats around for him to find. Hide seeds in his bedding, or maybe put bit of broccoli or apple in one of the tubes. Mine likes when I put seeds in the back of an empty cereal box. Find out what treats he likes. Mine is a pretty picky eater as it turns out, but lately he's been crazy about snow peas and likes to pull them out of their shell. So at night I'll open them half way up and place them around so he can hunt them down and tug them out.
Another piece of advice I don't see given very often is to try to have two water bottles. I know someone who's hamster's water bottle broke or got jammed or something and they didn't realize it. The hamster ended up being ok, but they had no idea he had been unable to drink and felt pretty terrible about it. I use ones like this since I don't have cage bars to hang one on.
I have multiple of these: Choco Nose H128 Water Bottle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SY1X0/
They don't drip or leak. They are easy to put anywhere in our cage. They are easy to clean. And they are VERY quiet, which is good because the fuzzles cage is in my girls' room.
Petco is having a dollar/gallon sale! Aquariums are great for hamsters. A 40 gallon would give plenty of room for fun! Come visit us at /r/hamstercare there are a few hamster experts over there who will have tons of advice!
EDIT:
I don't think the new cage meets the minimum square footage, I'd definitely go with an aquarium. The minimum size for a hamster is the size of a 20G long. A 40 gallon would be perfect!
Edit: Have you tried a flying saucer or even a wooden wheel? The metal wheels tend to have small holes in them and that can be dangerous for hamster feet. (make sure the wheel is at least 8.5 inches in diameter, 12 is better for most syrian hams)
I don't think most hamsters will drink from a bowl of water. What kind of bottles have you tried?
Do you have plenty of toys and other things for the ham to chew on? Have you tried cardboard tubes? Mine go nuts for some cardboard! Normally when a ham is bar chewing it's a sign of boredom, have you tried having some time in a playpen?
If you do get an aquarium you can attatch it to the glass on the inside using velcro tape. (I use the glass bottles with a flat back) http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420755980&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+hamster+bottle
Haha yeah, I've got two African Greys who do this... Our solution was to replace the water dish entirely with a glass lixit bottle. It can take them a bit to get used to it, so don't just switch them cold turkey. Have both for a week or two, and make sure you show them how to use it (flick the metal bead so they can see the water come out). It's kinda pricy, but definitely worth it. Here's a link to what I'm talking about.
Lixit Pet Glass Water Bottle, 32-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002Z15ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_zgdnDbTZ88XFT
That was SO helpful- you have no idea. I just got a random video of guinea pig noises off of Youtube and played it to Rubick just to see how he would react. He immediately stopped eating and just sat down, and made a few wheeking noises. It got his attention immediately.
I have a few more questions if you don't mind answering them!
First, this is the cage I have Rubick in:
http://www.amazon.com/Petco-Bi-Level-Small-Animal-Habitat/dp/B005KJFJ2A
Do you think that would be big enough for two guinea pig? I bought the most expensive cage at the pet store, so I would prefer not buying another cage since I spent a decent amount of money on this one.
Also, I put this feeder:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Hay-N-Food-Feeder-Quick-Colors/dp/B005FU4Z8I on the ledge. Rubick jumps up and down to get to his food. I didn't want to put it on the ground level so he has more room to run around. Do you think I should move the feeder to the ground, or get another one so the two guinea pigs don't fight over them?
Since you have multiple guinea pigs per cage, do you get multiple water bottles and feeders for each guinea pig so they don't fight over who gets to eat and drink at a time, or is one set enough in each cage.
Thanks so much for your help! Your guinea pigs are absolutely adorable! Seeing all the little piggies huddled around the plate eating vegetables made my day! :)
Here's what I use for our Syrian's water bottle.
As for taming, I definitely recommend watching ErinsAnimals. I'm taming our new hamster at the moment and she's just about getting the hang of it after nearly a month - it took three weeks for her to get over her aversion to hands! Take her into a confined space (like a pen or bathtub) where she can get more used to your scent and your movements and just chat to her whenever you're with her. Top tip for handling: After washing your hands, rub them in her bedding/sawdust/etc so she recognises it as a safe smell.
But as you say, patience is key. Be consistent with taming her every day and be mindful of her mood. A 5 minute session is still as beneficial as a 15 minute session!
Good luck :)
correct me if im wrong, but that carrot is a small animal food dish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TZ3SNC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.noPCb2XAYRNW
https://www.amazon.com/Choco-Nose-H128-Patented-Critter/dp/B00S1SY1X0/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1520573785&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hamster+water+bottle&psc=1 this is the water bottle I use with this cage! It's a bit small and can be somewhat tricky screwing in but you get used to attaching it! Also doesn't leak!!
Yeah mine love their big dog bowl but they're in the cage for 8+ hours while we are at work during the week so I keep a bottle in there. I found one that doesn't leak super pet. But, the top is REALLY hard to open and close.
Get one of these--the water bottle is in the outside of the cage and the nozzle goes through the bars, which is secured by a plastic screw.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SY1X0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_cWWuDbVYPMM8J
When I googled "untippable dog water bowl" I got several suggestions you could try (or maybe already have). a) the classic wide metal dish with outward sloping sides, edges flush to the floor. b) a raised stand that holds the dish in a recessed well c) really heavy stoneware bowls. d) bowls with hardware to mount to the wall or floor.
You could also use a water bottle instead of a dish: https://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Glass-Water-Bottle-32-Ounce/dp/B0002Z15ZW
Here's some links to products I mentioned and products my pigs like:
Small Pet Select Timothy Hay Pet Food, 10-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ID70IEU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_tr8Eub1AJRAQ7
Ware Hand Woven Willow Twig Tunnel Small Pet Hideout, Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002H3BLCY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_-s8Eub0ETWT7J
Kaytee Forti Diet Pro Health Food for Guinea Pig, 5-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VB503Y/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Av8Eub1ERBJYN
eCOTRITION Snak Shak Treat Stuffer for Guinea Pig/Rabbit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WAGVO2/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_jw8Eub001T4KZ
Kaytee Chew-Proof Water Bottle, 26-Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHQ70S/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_eA8Eub1MCZ8ZJ (I fill it almost completely and mine never leaks, but some reviews mention it leaking).
Kaytee Super Sleeper Cuddle-E-Cup, Colors Vary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002ASBRM/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_qY8Eub0PE7E4Y best to get two of things like this, pigs will fight over it if there's only one.
My birds each have one of these in their cages, though only my Quaker uses his.
I prefer using exclusively water bottles (less wasted water, less potential for bacteria), but neither my caique or my IRN took to using a water bottle well, so I have to keep a bowl in their cages either way.
If you can get your birds using exclusively water bottles, then checking them daily for function and cleanliness is a must, but still makes them preferable to nasty water bowls in my opinion.
OMG hammys are AMAZING. I've had a few through the years. My favorite little guy was black and white, kind of looked like an inverted panda. I named him Kody.
As for addatives you may need - Ball with stand So you dont kick him around the house on accident, if you're busy. Food dish. For water, so the lil feller doesnt get it all messy. And for random factoid: If you get a dwarf hammy, they don't get very big. So any sized pin will work okay. But if you get like, a teddy bear hammy, they will grow to the size of their world. Some can get big, others stay small because of their habitat. I would think about getting a bigger pin, and possibly one you can add tubing to. Kody had three pins, and tubing that hooked to each one. He still was fairly small, honestly. But this ones nice.
Hammy names?! For dwarf, pick one of the 7 dwarf names. :P If you get a normal hammy, well, I dunno. I just go with what I like at the time. I've had hammies named Kody, Sammy, slim and jj.
It's the paws/ they have REALLLLLYYYY cute lil paws!!
You can surprise me, if theres anything even on the list. If not, no biggie. Pretty much hammies are adorbs and I'm glad youre getting one. Their tonnnnssss of fun!
I shall call him fluffy!
It's this one on amazon! We chose it over this style because we were worried she'd figure out how to reach her greedy little paws up in there!
Also yay for chubby black cats ♡♡
Might need one of these
ps://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Econo-Hamster-Water-Bottle/dp/B0002Z15Y8
EDIT; found a smaller url
In addition to the air filter, stop using hay as litter. No need to have that much loose hay about. I'm really allergic to hay as well, but I have had zero issues since I stopped using the hay as litter. I have a hay feeder that I only have to refill about once or twice a week so Sail gets his fill, and I cover my mouth and nose with a bandana and wear gloves when I refill it. I haven't had any reactions since I started giving Sailor hay that way, and he's pretty happy with the arrangement. He loves pulling the hay out of the feeder and sometimes even hopping in! (I don't use the lid, and he's still a teeny little thing).
Don't give up, and please please please please please please don't euthanize. There's absolutely no reason for that at all. Someone out there will be willing to take him off your hands if you can't resolve this problem. If you can afford euthanasia, you can afford to drive him to someone else who would be willing to take care of him that's outside of your immediate area. I'm sorry that you're in this situation, but putting him down is definitely not the answer.
I've had this Choco Nose bottle for several weeks and am very pleased with the quality. No leaks. Has a mounting clip that attaches to the cage and is easy to remove and reattach. I like that it's clear so I can easily see the water level.
This is one of the smaller ones Choco Nose makes, but they have larger ones if you want more than 12 oz.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00S1SY1X0/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Ret-conned's cardboard box idea is extremely effective and popular, but it's understood that not everyone likes the aesthetics of a cardboard box in their bunny's cage. I've seen very simple wooden boxes created (looking somewhat like a mail sorter) and I've also seen people use a litter pan with wooden bolts pushes through the bottom, and they weave the hay around it. They say the bunny doesn't get hurt on the bolts but I've never tried it when I had rabbits so I wouldn't know.
It's honestly not expensive to buy one, and for the cost of materials (unless you go the cardboard route) it would probably actually cost you more than buying a wire one. Amazon has a nice one for under $5 here
Kaytee and Living World both make glass bottles that work amazing and don’t leak.
https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Water-Bottle-12-Ounce/dp/B003TTZMIO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=living+world+bottle&qid=1563808102&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I put white distilled vinegar and water in a spray bottle (1/4 vinegar, 3/4 water). I swap the fleece on my c&c once a week and do a quick wipe down. I only have to scrub in the corners where they pee. We have a litter box too that we scoop out wet bedding almost daily. Then during the weekly cleaning, I just dump the litter box and scrub it down with the spray bottle. Seems to help with smells just fine.
I had a similar problem with Stella. She always tipped over her water bowl!
I ended up getting her something like this (not this exact one but same idea) and it worked wonders!
Totally found one nevermind! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00EQFP1R2/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_199_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KN90R822HWWQSNZ30P50
Thank you so much for the great advice! Currently he has some generic Timothy Hay from the girl I adopted him from. He has a small cup of the exact pellets you recommended (did some research and found Oxbow to be a respectable brand, and with him being so young, I figured the young bag was the way to go). He has a Kaytee water bottle that he won't drink out of. I'm assuming he just doesn't know to.
I am looking into the C&C enclosures and intend on using fleece once I have one.
Found it on Amazon! Thanks u/decptacon3!!
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-100079898-Vege-T-Bowl-22-Ounces/dp/B000TZ3SNC
Can you use a bowl/crock? Hydration is very important to a rabbit and there is a study that shows rabbits drink more for a bowl. It is also more 'natural' way that they would drink water in the wild. I used to use a Ferplast and then added a crock. Got lazy cleaning the bottle and only use the crock now.
The wiki has a bit of info on the subject: http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Diet#Water
Choco Nose H125 Patented No Drip Hamster Water Bottle, Best Mini-Sized Pet Water Feeder for Hamster/Hedgehog/Sugar Glider/Rat/Mice, 11.2 oz, Nozzle Diameter, 10mm, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S0ADAR2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_M.c0Bb454SSPJ
I swear by these. I can only find them in 12oz bottles so I just have 2 in the cage and fill them daily/every other day. But these have neverrrrrrr leaked for me.
You need at least the size of a 10-gallon talk PER RAT -- and you need at least two unless you plan on playing with this thing 24/7. If you need help affording something bigger, check with your local rattie rescue.
Don't invest in toys -- they're expensive and unless you've seen them playing with them already (i.e. you've seen them running in a wheel at the store), you're likely wasting the money. They need something durable for a house, yes, but they don't need durable playthings.
Rats love (and can have) damned near anything for toys and bedding, from old Chinese food cartons (remove the metal first!), discarded clothes (My boys love old boxer shorts!), and chicken bones. If you have items near the end of their usable lifespan anyway, the rats will find a way to get that last bit of life out of it. If you're really mindful, you can wash their "rat laundry" and make those discarded clothes last for months.
(note, you still need something like Aspen bedding as a cage litter even with things like shirts and boxers -- but rats like lining their sleeping spots with extra padding.)
Cagegear I recommend buying: ^(Disclaimer: Amazon referral links provided)
Hammocks are awesome, tunnels are awesome, and "perch points" for Ratties to hang out up at the top of the cage are awesome. Just change up the layout every now and then to keep their brains fresh.
I would recommend a hanging bottle. Many fuzzbutts are already trained on them before you get them from the pet store/breeder, but if not they learn pretty quick. Here is the bottle I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Z15ZW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's nice and big, glass (which makes it durable), but it is a tad pricey. Well worth the money, though. If you're on a tighter budget, you can get a cheap one for just $10 or so, but I would highly recommend paying a bit more for quality.
Obviously a hanging bottle will completely eliminate the water digging, but my problem is that my little guy likes to dig food! Does anyone have any advice on stopping that behavior? I may have to make a thread about it to get some advice. I tried scruffing him, but he likes the attention!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00S1SY1X0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519396961&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=choco+nose&psc=1
Choco nose bottles have worked the best for me, I haven’t tried the lixit but I got two of the smaller ones for my girls and they work great, I did have to replace one of them when the seal started to break down, but it lasted for about two years.
Got mine on Amazon.
Choco Nose H128 Patented No Drip Small Animal Water Bottle. Best Water Bottle for Small Pet/ Bunny/ Ferret/ Hamster/ Critter. BPA Free. 11.2 Oz. Nozzle Diameter: 10mm (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SY1X0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hP3cBbM2DGPCX
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000HHQ70S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1458612004&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=kaytee+glass+water+bottle&dpPl=1&dpID=41C57E2eN-L&ref=plSrch
This is what I use. Panda ended up chewing the plastic ones and I didn't notice until she had no water and her cage was sopping wet. Only thing with the glass one is that it might rust a little, so get 2 or 3. I've had one for well over 7 months before it started looking like it was rusting. There are different holders depending on which cage set up you have. There's one for tanks and one for wire cages that you can find on Amazon. Hope that helps!
I have had bottles die over the years, mostly bad ball-bearings, but never to the degree that you have, and I just under a dozen in use right now.
As a breeder for over a decade here is what I use. The mice are bred in 10 gallon tanks with screen lids and I use the small cheap bottles that have hangers that they sell at Walmart for ~$4 (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Happy-Home-Pet-Products-Water-Bottle-For-Small-Animals-Hamsters-Rodents/22210864) for the mice, 2 per tank. These fail here and there, but most ball-bearings last for years without issue. I agree that flooded cages suck big time! For my pet rats, use the same but bigger bottles with the wire clip (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Happy-Home-Pet-Products-Water-Bottle-For-Small-Animals-Ferrets-Gerbils-Guinea-Pigs-Rabbits/22210861) for the wire cages, and the small to large bottles with metal bottle guards on my rats in a tank. Again, rarely a drip or flood issue even as a cheaper brand, and same results with Pet'smart or Petco brand bottles.
As for chewing, Petco sells the metal guards the cheapest (http://www.petco.com/product/105628/Petco-Chew-Guard-And-Bottle-Holder.aspx). I have had the mice climb to the top of the tanks and chew on the hangers, not the bottles, but this is reduced if you make sure to keep the bottles to the top of the tank as well as a 'weight' over the bottles and to prevent escapes. Never had a rat chew a bottle. I also provide my rodents with wood chews and paper things to shred to discourage bored chewing, both species have and will chew on any plastic including igloo hides and food dishes. This is why most plastic cages suck for rodents, they eventually chew through them or on them. I gave up on food dishes with mice as they pee in them like crazy and enjoy scavenging for food instead. Rats love to cover their food dish in anything they can but they don't soil it much so they keep theirs, neater for them.
I haven't ordered anything special but I looked a little for you. For completely chew-proof, there is the parrot proof ones that cost a fortune (http://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Glass-Water-Bottle-32-Ounce/dp/B0002Z15ZW) or this cheaper wire cage model (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6067+10382+22733&pcatid=22733) and this one (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6067+10382+17098&pcatid=17098). I can't find any tank ones at the moment that are completely chew-proof glass/metal or that can swear beyond the normal that they will 'never' leak. There might be the option of putting a glass and metal bottle in the metal guard for tanks, not cheap but would be chew proof.
Good luck and have a good trip.
I use a glass bottle. If the noise is coming from them picking it up and wiggling it, the weight of the class may help. My plastic bottle fell on the floor once while filling and broke. The glass has fallen and not broken, and you can set it down if needed. Here's a link:
https://smile.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&ie=UTF8
Here's a couple on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Corporation-BLX0758-Aquarium-20-Ounce/dp/B00063KH86/
http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Plastic-Slide-N-Lock-Small-Crock/dp/B0046TMGA8/
http://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Lock-Crock-6-Ounce/dp/B005F3FCTQ/
What I was recommending below was something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Ethical-5-Inch-Stoneware-Crock-Dish/dp/B00025YU3Q/
Here's the water bottle I use -no issues with leaking etc : https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Water-Bottle-12-Ounce/dp/B003TTZMIO/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=living+world+water+bottle&qid=1567697227&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Choco Nose H128 Patented No Drip Small Animal Water Bottle. Best Water Bottle for Small Pet/Bunny/Ferret/Hamster/Critter. BPA Free. 11.2 Oz. Nozzle Diameter: 10mm (Blue) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SY1X0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EitCDbZYG8RAA
I use two of these for my girls, has never leaked in two years!
have you tried moving the food and water dishes further apart? i honestly dont know what could be causing this behavior. ive wracked my brain thinking of other scenarios that could be happening; have you seen him deliberately poop in the dish or are you just finding poop in there and not seeing how it's done? could it be possible he gets a poo stuck on him when he's running, then goes to drink and it falls off him into the dish? could it be getting thrown from the wheel while he runs and end up in there? other than that, ive seen this water dispenser on amazon and been meaning to get it to try for daphne, it's not expensive. you could also take a chance on a water bottle even tho theyre really not recommended. it may be the only way to ensure he was a drinkable water source. idk how possible it would be for you to set up a camera to see what exactly he's doing in there, maybe that will help solve this icky problem
ideal get a granite stand, not sure how easy they are to get outside of germany
but wooden stands are usually available easily like
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-World-Green-Bottle-Medium/dp/B00EQFP1R2/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=living+world&qid=1558380149&s=gateway&sr=8-8
I use 2 of these. Doesn't leak and is really easy to refill. Piggies prefer over their other standard water bottle too. http://www.amazon.com/Ferplast-Rabbit-Water-Bottle-Large/dp/B0133LR71M?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
I have 3 of these and love em. No leaks and easy to clean.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHQ70S/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_rCuPBbTP5GCRT
It looks like this.
The nipple dispensers are so good and don't leak. I have a Rentacoop bottle and it's really good.
from amazon !! i should warn you in case you might run into a similar issue — my piggies are really picky and like to select the hay they eat and like to use the rest as bedding/to burrow in (theyre boars if that matters). when they got this feeder, they were eating less hay and it worried me so i had to take it off the side of the cage and lay it down inside the cage. granted i didnt wait that long and should have let them get used to it but i didnt want them to feel like they didnt have access to hay. im only warning you bc it is 40$ which is a bit much, esp if you cant use it the way it was intended.
> Anything but this: https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S
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> Seriously, never buy that bottle.
I have that exact water bottle and it works very well, it doesn't leak at all. I actually clicked this thread to recommend that bottle.. meanwhile, the cheap plastic bottle that came with my cage would leak everywhere.
edit- I actually don't have that exact one, the one I have is a different brand, but it looks exactly the same. Mine is Critter ware that I got at the pet store.
Anything but this: https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S
Seriously, never buy that bottle.
I just use the cheapest plastic bottles available in any pet store and rarely have problems with leaks. If one does leak, I just replace it.
The thing with the bowl under the bottle is that you're basically accepting that the bottle will always leak. For $5 you can put a stop to the problem entirely!
I use two bottles and a shallow ceramic bowl. The thing with just a bowl is that even if it's bolted down, the rabbits will sit in it or fill it with cardboard or find some way to waste all the water, so I like to have a bottle as a backup. And then another bottle as a backup. Because I'm crazy I guess.