Leaky water bottles anyone?

[broderp]

I have 4 water bottle, two that came with the cages we bought, and two I bought separately thinking they would be better.

This: (the middle purple one with the larger tube)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752722

After filling them up and installing them, they all seem to have a slow leak. Not much, just enough to create a wet spot about the size of a quarter every day.

Two of the bottles also have the spring loaded type balls on the end.

Is there some trick to this, do I need to remove all air somehow or somehow create a vaccum or something?

 

[Pikaia]

Are you filling them up all the way? I know that if you don't, they can have a drip. I have one of those and it seems to be working well, but my Tribble likes to knock it off once in a while. I am gonna get a Lixit. You can find them in some petstores and online.

 

[Cookie]

Are they plastic?? I have glass ones now but when I had guinea pigs I had plastic and they would leak unless I made the vacuum. When I filled them up (right to the top) then I just gave the bottle a squeeze to squirt some water out and then bubbles should go up and it shouldn't leak. After squeezing it though don't turn it back upside down, it ruins the vacuum you just made. With glass I just fill them all the way up and then turn it over and it doesn't leak. Hope that helps

 

[Amy555]

I had a leaky bottle (much like the petsmart one you linked to) that would drip whenever my chins would run around and shake their cage. So I bought an Edstrom bottle and I love it and they love it too! I found mine from Ryerson's, it's the small one, bottom left.

 

[3CsMommy]

I've got 2 lixit bottles and a "back up" Super pet-- all of them have a slow leak/drip. The Edstrom bottle that Amy mentioned, however, doesn't drip, and is consistently empty by comparison to the Lixit bottles, even though my new guys had Lixit bottles at the breeder's. Definitely worth every penny to upgrade to the Edstrom if you can.

 

[missjess10475]

I have tried almost every water bottle in the pet stores, and they have all eventually leaked. Even my lixit bottles are starting to leak! Thinking of paying Jan a visit and switching to the Edstrom bottles. Does it take the chins a while to get used to using them? (even though 4 of my chins are from them anyways lol)

 

[Gumby and Elmo]

Get an edstrom, been using it for 5yrs and never had one leak, if you're worried about the plastic, u can get a stainless steel cover to cover it.

 

[Chino]

Does it take the chins a while to get used to using them?

I'd also like to know the same. I have a bottle that drips a bit, so I'll be going today and see if I can find a Lixit bottle. If that doesn't work, I'll get the Edstrom bottle.

 

[SamiJami]

I use Oasis bell bottle. The breeder I got Ezio and Altair from recommended it. So far, it's perfect! It's a plastic bottle, but I got the guards for it. No one bites at it and there's no drips. I was using the glass Super Pet bottle. Both of my rabbits have it with no problem of leaks. But the ones I got the chins (months later) leaked like crazy.

 

[Tagna]

Most of mine are Lixit bottles and I don't have any issues with them at all. I did just break a lixit and now one of my chins has a super pet bottle and I hate it. It leaks and is a pain! Going to buy a lixit asap to replace it!

 

[Amy555]

I did the raisin trick (I do not feed my chins raisins) when switching to the Edstrom. I took their leaky water bottle out in the morning so they were without water for a couple hours and would be more likely to drink. Then I put up the Edstrom and rubbed half of a raisin on the spout so it would be tasty & sweet. Then I called their attention to it and put my finger on the little actuator tab so a drop of water came out. They figured it out pretty quick but didnt use it right away. When I went to bed I marked the water line with a washable marker and by the morning it was clear they had the hang of it. I saw them use it the next day and it's silent! No more clicking ball sound.

 

[broderp]

I see the Edstrom watter buddy on amazon (someone linked to a web site but it was too small to really see)

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Buddy-ounce-Topfill-Bottle/dp/B00123WWEQ

I think I saw those at the pet store and thought it was broken! Doesn't that pointy thing hurt thier little tougue or lips? Looks kinda dangerous! :hmm:

 

[Marie5656]

Hmm..will have to try the filling them full thing...see what happens.

 

[Amy555]

Mine seem to use their top teeth to press down on the center thing and lap up the drips with their tongue. Those cute little pink tongues are just the most adorable things ever!

 

[3CsMommy]

Nope, doesn't hurt them at all unless they'd happen to run into it or something. There are no sharp edges or anything that would normally cause cuts or damage, and while brass is a "soft" metal, it's harder to chew up than aluminum.

And as for the time period it takes to learn, Nova and YouBe's intro to the Water Buddy went like so:
5 PM: Dee caught them and put them in a 2 hole carrier
5:15 PM: I arrived and stuffed them in a cat carrier w/ Crash and the Water Buddy on the door (another +: it doesn't leak while you travel!)
7:45 PM: Cage was assembled and chins were in. Crash used the Water Buddy exclusively; Nova and YouBe watched him.
10 AM the next day: YouBe snuck past Crash to drink out of the Edstrom bottle, and ignored the much closer brand new from Sarah Lixit bottle exactly like the one he'd had since he was a kit. I was impressed.

BunnyRabbit.com still has a few of the 8 oz Water Buddy, and they offer an alternative flip top bottle w/ pressure valve that's like the Edstrom in all but plastic content. The Edstrom plastic is hard PVC (like the 'unbreakable' water bottles that were popular a few years ago) but the MJ bottle appears to be made of a softer plastic, like the ones the OP pictured in the first entry. I don't have a guard for my Edstrom bottle now, but if I get the MJ bottle (which I might, considering how well mine seem to like the valve v the ball/sipper tube) I'll DEFINITELY need a guard for it. Crash is like a brush hog when it comes to soft plastic...

Unfortunately, though, I have the Oasis bell pictured above for my hamster, and it has a slow drip in spite of filling it to the brim and tapping it to start the suction every time I refill. I think I've tried every single water bottle on the market, both online and in stores, and the only one I've been happy with is the Water Buddy. Although, I could just be picky... :hmm: