Water

[xwhateverx92]

Do you prefer to use water bottles or water dishes for you hedgies?

Annie has always had a water bottle, but for her new C&C cage, I am going to need to buy a different one. (The one she has now is a flat back style which locks into place with this little holder that is pretty permanently screwed into her sterilite bin.) So I was just wondering if I should go with a dish instead, since I have heard that maybe dishes are a better option.

Thanks,

 

[Nancy]

Bowls. I would never purposely use a bottle. Over the years I have had a couple of rescues arrive using a bottle and I've left it for a few weeks so as not to add any more changes to their lives. Bottles are a pain and take far longer to clean than a bowl, not to mention bowls are much safer and healthier for hedgehogs.


- Hedgehogs necks do not articulate the way rodents do so drinking from a bottle is un-natural and uncomfortable for them.

- Because of the unnatural position they tend to bite at the spout trying to get more water. They can break their teeth and hedgehog teeth unlike rodents, do not grow back. Once broken they are broken.

- There have been cases of hedgehogs getting their long tongues stuck between the ball and the tube.

- Bottles are difficult to clean properly and bacteria can build up quickly.

- People tend to leave water in bottles longer without changing than they do when using a dish. Fresh water must be given daily.

- Bottles can leak and soak the cage. Yes, bowls can get spilled but using the proper size and weight of dish prevents this.

- Bottles can get clogged and not work which makes the hedgehog bite even more at the spout which makes even more risk of breaking teeth.

- Many people who have used bottles and switched to bowls have found their hedgehogs drank much more with the bowl. Drinking more water is healthier.

 

[xwhateverx92]

Well then I'll change Annie to a bowl. All the things you said, Nancy, are the same things I have heard from other people. So bowls seem to be a much more safe and healthy option.

 

[LucksAngel28]

I tried both with Maserati before I read about how much safer bowls are, and she actually preferred the bowl, so maybe Annie will like it better anyway. And, like Nancy said, bowls are much easier to clean, which is nice when you have a wheel to clean every day as well.

 

[PeaceB2U]

I'll second what Nancy has said. I've always used bowls with my hedgehogs.

 

[xwhateverx92]

Well Annie likes her new water bowl. I woke up last night and thought "what is that noise?"...it was Annie lapping up some water. Poor thing must have been very thirsty because she was drinking for a long time. I never used to see her use her water bottle much- just figured hedgies didn't drink very much, but I guess the bowl is just the prefered choice.

 

[LucksAngel28]

I was also amazed at how much more Maserati drank with the bowl as opposed to the bottle. Glad she likes it and made the transition well!

 

[Kaycoocachoo]

I've recently changed mine over to bowls after I found that both of them were attempting to chew on the tube like Nancy had stated. They both have taken to the bowls very well and seem to have no problem with it at all. And, like the rest of you, they seem to be drinking a lot more now that it is available easier.

 

[PeaceB2U]

Glad to hear the water bowl is working for you.

 

[Zalea]

My little guy would stand at the water bottle for 5 minutes straight trying to drink. I don't think he was getting enough out of it. I had him on the water bottle because that's what the breeder told me she used, and was what he was used to. I switched him to a bowl but left the water bottle so he could choose, and he definitely prefers the bowl to the bottle. He can drink as much as he wants/can and not have to stand there lapping 5 minutes at a time for it. He seems much happier with the bowl. And I hated cleaning that bottle, so it's a win-win for both of us.