Best small animal water bowls according to redditors
We found 62 Reddit comments discussing the best small animal water bowls. We ranked the 31 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 62 Reddit comments discussing the best small animal water bowls. We ranked the 31 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Etc:
[Glass bottle?] (https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chew-Proof-Water-Bottle-26-Ounce/dp/B000HHQ70S)
Water bottle -- Velco or buy one of the ones that can sit on the cage floor (like this one).
Mesh -- With a robo, you might not need it. I've kept mine in two bins/tanks and just left the lid off. That provides enough ventilation, and they're typically too tall for a robo to climb. But if you want to cut out sides and all that, look for something called "hardware cloth" at any major hardware store. You can also try chicken wire for something sturdier (but probably unnecessary with a robo).
Space -- Robos are the smallest but they are also the zoomiest, so need as much space as you can provide. If you have 65" of wall space available, I'd recommend the Detolf from Ikea ($60). If you can't manage that, look for a bin that has at least 450 square inches of floor space. Bigger is always better, and it will help if you're able to take him out at night and let him have some free range time. This can be a hamster-proofed room or a playpen area.
Toys -- A good wheel is the most important. Mine loves the 8" Wodent Wheel.
But most of their enrichment comes from your cage setup:
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!
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.
If you ever decide to replace yours, I've been very happy with this one
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
Yes, as pups, they really need someone with them all day or most of the day.
You should add a doggy bed for them. Make sure the kennel isn't too big. A medium size kennel would be ideal. (separate kennels too) If they have a lot of room to walk around in the kennel, they will potty in there. It'll take a couple weeks for them to get use to their kennel and a solid 3 months before potty training starts to really make progress. You will have accidents in the house, it just a given. Just have to take them out consistently, that's the only way to not have accidents. Taking them to the same spot every time to potty is also a recommendation.
I advise not crating them over night in the kennel as there still getting acclimated to their new home & young. Having them eat in their kennel is best, it will become a "safe space" or "bedroom" . They will be more willing to just sleep there when you're home with the kennel door open and even more so when you leave at a later time.
At 13 weeks, they can only hold their little bladder for 1 hour. Rule for pups is they can hold their bladder for how ever many months they are old. So 2 months old, two hours.
They really need to be taken out every 30 min. You should also purchase this for their water dispensing:
https://www.amazon.com/Drip-Water-bottle-free-proof/dp/B06XF3SBZQ/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1519239693&sr=8-15&keywords=rabbit+water+bottle+no+drip
You don't want to have an open water source as they will have to potty more frequently. Control their water, you'll be able to gauge how often they will need to potty.
Edit: be ready to not get much sleep for the 1st month LOL
PM me if you need anymore help. Happy to assist :)
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
I have the Choco Nose (11.2 oz, Nozzle Diameter, 10 mm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S1SKV48/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_U2NNDbRT83BSA). You just need to tap the ball a few times after it’s been refilled to make sure it’s working. I also leave a dish of water because they seem to prefer that sometimes. Just change the water in the bowl out daily.
This is what we used for water bottle. No drips!
We use fish tank as snowballs house so the glass walls stick very well to regular tapes.
Choco Nose H125 Patented No Drip Hamster Water Bottle. Best Mini-Sized Pet Water Feeder for Hamster/Hedgehog/Sugar Glider/Rat/Mice. BPA Free. Mess Free. 11.2 Oz. Nozzle Diameter: 10mm (Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S0B0X5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_c-TWCbRZPTMY7
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.
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!!
I use this water bottle for my guinea pigs, and my two birds enjoy drinking out of it, although the birds do have a ceramic crock specifically for their water. I'd suggest still offering a water dish even if you add the bottle. I haven't had issues with the Oasis bottle leaking like other bottles have.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
Might need one of these
ps://www.amazon.com/Lixit-Econo-Hamster-Water-Bottle/dp/B0002Z15Y8
EDIT; found a smaller url
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
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
Oh I found it; Ferplast Sippy. Problem with this water bottle that I can possible see is that the hamster has to tilt it’s neck at a 90* angle to drink from it or stand on its hind feet and stare straight up in the air. Seems uncomfortable.
A possible alternative to a suction cup is to have a water bottle with a holder or dispenser; either place a regular bottle into a homemade from popsicle sticks or one like this
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
It looks like this.
The nipple dispensers are so good and don't leak. I have a Rentacoop bottle and it's really good.
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!
My Syrian hamster has been very happy in this cage for the entire first year of his life so far. After a few days of exploratory climbing he has not once chewed on his bars or ever acted stressed because he wants out of his home.
30.5 x 8.5 x 18.5 inches:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Habitat-Multi-Level-Exotics-18-Inch/dp/B00CETSHN2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Excersize:
I recommend purchasing a Wodent Wheel 11inch http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JD8I2Y/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B005Y41UPQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JBB5ENE1BEBPRFYR6JR
and Flying Saucer 12 inches : http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Flying-Saucer-Exercise-4-Inch/dp/B001AT62H0/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462212985&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=flying+saucer+hamster+11+inch
Bathing and Natural Nail Trimming:
Also pick up some flat Reptile Rocks for underneath his water bottle so he will trim his nails naturally and a large ceramic bowl (needs to be deep not so much wide) filled with Repti Sand Desert White (No Calcium) http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSand%C2%AE-Pounds-Desert/dp/B0002DIZKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213181&sr=1-1&keywords=desert+white+repti+sand
My hamster is a fan of these Apple Orchard sticks for teeth filing though his lab blocks are semi hard and also good for dental health trimming.
http://www.amazon.com/SuperPet-Apple-Orchard-Sticks-Pieces/dp/B001CCXMP0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213890&sr=1-2&keywords=apple+wood+sticks
After you get those things pick up this item as a natural grass burrow for him to sleep in and clean his cage once every week. Plastic burrow are just awful for air circulation, and my hamster never liked them at all when i didnt know any better.
http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Nature-Willow-Grass-Small/dp/B001ATBMCU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00
For food I feed my hamster Higgins Sunburst and Kaytee Forti Diet Lab blocks everyday with fresh fruit and veggies every two days. Remember your hamster stomach is the size of your pinky finger nail so portion small. He loves 3-4 lab blocks a day with a small spoonful of nuts, seeds and fruit from the Higgins. Remember though 3 Sunflower Seeds max a day or they will get fat and unhealthy.
http://www.amazon.com/Higgins-Sunburst-Gourmet-Hamsters-Gerbils/dp/B009GHII5W/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213536&sr=1-1&keywords=higgins+sunburst
Looks like this but for Hamster not rat and mice:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Forti-Health-Mouse-5-Pound/dp/B001VJ56Z8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213507&sr=1-1&keywords=kaytee+forti+hamster
For bedding you want UNSCENTED (it messes with their respiratory system if its scented) this Kaytee Clean and Cozy is what I use. Absorbs liquid good and keeps the smell down if its close to cleaning day.
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Clean-Cozy-Small-Bedding/dp/B015MJB8PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462214215&sr=1-2&keywords=kaytee+bedding
and last but not least. Buy TWO water bottles in case one of them jams overnight you DO NOT want your hamster to suffer from dehydration. They do not need much water, but when they need it, they need it fast or will get sick quick. The kaytee water bottles have issues with the spout pointing straight so buyer beware. They often dont align properly into the cage bars. But they do work and dont leak for me. Stick with GLASS water bottles, it just tastes better honestly. 6 ounces if you will change the water daily. 12 ounces if you are not as attentive.
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-SSR61982-Animal-Bottle-12-Ounce/dp/B007TUNWM2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1462214981&sr=8-4&keywords=kaytee+water+bottle
It seems like a lot of money at first and it is but this hamster will be your new furry friend and relies on only you to care for it, so give it the best and longest life possible. You will have one happy hamster if you get all that and will never need to upgrade anything when your Syrian grows bigger.
It's not that they lied, many of the employees just don't know that much about animals. At least the ones at my local store don't. The best water bottle I've used is just one of the cheapo rolling ball ones. All of the fancy spring loaded or glass bottles have never worked for me. Make sure you fill this type of bottle up all the way because water will leak out due to the air pushing the water out.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LODPA8/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_cVOutb09MK68C
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
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!
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.
> 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.
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
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
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!
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.