Anyone figure out the water bottles?

[Skeet]

I can't stand these water bottles. Sometimes i can get it and sometimes i can try and try for an hour and it keeps leaking. I'm tired of their cages getting all wet, having to change it twice in a row. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had this problem, so please any tips would be apreacited.

 

[CornCrazy]

Put them into position and then give them a gentle squeeze. It helps to create a vacuum in the bottle which helps to prevent leaks. Also, make sure the lids are tight but not over tight.

 

[Porky]

What kind of bottles are you using? I've yet to have mine leak but I use the big ones for rats and rabbits for my mice.

 

[Quigs]

I have found the el cheapo bottles from Wal-mart work best for me. They are 8oz clear bottles made by Hartz Mountain and only cost a $1 or 2. I have some that are over 2 years old and still work great, no leaks, no replaced gaskets.

Q

 

[Skeet]

Awsome!! I can't believe that squeeze trick worked. I heard it sucking when I squeezed it, I knew it was gonna work then. Thanks!

I use the LM quick quench237 mililiter bottles. I wish there was a Walmart in New York, I don't even know where there's one in New Jersey. :shrugs:

 

[Bobo's Mama]

http://www.walmart.com/storeLocator/ca_storefinder_results.do?sfsearch_city=New+York&sfsearch_state=NY&sfsearch_zip=&continue=&x=20&y=21

 

[Skeet]

Ok, I will take my foot out of my mouth now. :cheers:

 

[CornCrazy]

I have found the el cheapo bottles from Wal-mart work best for me. They are 8oz clear bottles made by Hartz Mountain and only cost a $1 or 2.

Most of mine are the same brand. I do have a few others, but the Hartz ones work fine. I have one 'expensive" one that I really like, though. It has a spring loaded nozzle and it never leaks (or hasn't so far).

Awsome!! I can't believe that squeeze trick worked. I heard it sucking when I squeezed it, I knew it was gonna work then. Thanks!

You're welcome! I hope it works for you. It's always done great for me.

 

[Gintha]

I use the standard hagen bottles. I've found that any of them (I have tried almost every brand... my family like animals LOL) tend to leak if the bottles are filled too far. I guess they need an air bubble in them to help with the vacuum. =) Glad you got it working! I hate when I wake up and 1/2 a tank is soaked from a stupid bottle!

 

[Taceas]

I have a couple of the clear Hartz bottles, but I don't like the big clunky black lid. Doesn't fit all the way down through the wire on my racks nor into the metal holders for aquariums.

My favorite ones are the Critter Canteen's from most petstores, they're blue, cheap, and work great. About the same price as the Hartz ones from Walmart.

Another thing to check for if you're having continual leak problems is a chewed hole at the top of the bottle. Mice don't normally do it, but bored rats can decimate bottles in a heartbeat. If the top is chewed even the slightest, it loses suction and starts the incessant drip.

 

[Quigs]

I have a couple of the clear Hartz bottles, but I don't like the big clunky black lid. Doesn't fit all the way down through the wire on my racks nor into the metal holders for aquariums.

Big clunky lids? I only stick the metal spout into the hardware cloth. No chance of being gnawed on that way. They also come with a hanger, nothing elaborate but it works well. Never had a problem either way and I use both methods.

To each their own, I reckon. This has always worked great for me. Although, I'm contemplating going to a "commercial" rack (come tax return time) with automatic watering system.

Q

 

[Taceas]

My lids are different than that, its like a black extension of the bottle-size itself. They may not be Hartz, but they came from Walmart and they were in the Hartz pet section.

I just didn't like them as well because the plastic around the tube didn't allow it to stick through the wire far enough for some of the younger mice to utilize. Although now, all of my bottles are the blue ones.

An automatic watering system would be nice, for sure. With every colony having babies, they're going through a bottle every 2 days. Heh.

 

[Quigs]

Yep, I know the ones you are talking about. Funny thing is, all that extra plastic is useless to begin with. The threaded part is still small.

As for babies not being able to reach the spout, I think I use a more shallow tub than you do, so it's never been an issue.

Q

 

[Taceas]

Yeah, it is useless. It makes it really hard to use any bottle holder besides those cheapo wire loops they package them with, which only work with a wire cage. Which is ok for my rats, as they're in wire cages. But for mice in aquariums or the rack, its pointless.

I like the bottles, as they're pretty rigid and sturdy. But as the baby rats chewed the top ends off of a few of my blue ones, I'm just thankful their spouts fit the clear ones. I HATE throwing useful things away, so I've had a few of those spouts sitting around waiting for a use. =P

The tubs I'm using now are the same depth as the 12qt and 28qt Sterilites I was using. As I've pulled the stickers off, I'm not sure of the model # anymore.

Here's a pic of my latest incarnation, messy I know.

Before, I had 5 12qt's down the left, and 5 28qt's down the right. But when hubby built it, he didn't make size allowances for sliders that the lip of the tubs would fit into.

As a year wore on, the tubs didn't fit well anymore and started to fall out occasionally. So he put in the risers between the bottom levels and the bottom of the tubs to hold them into place. They slide really well and everything fits very tight. So far the mice are really enjoying the room to move and I don't have to clean but every 2 weeks so far.

But true to our closeness to Kentucky, the whole thing fits with our decorating scheme, don't you think? =P

 

[sumguy]

I'm using the flat-Back water bottles. The 20L weaner tank has the bottle's flat side velcroed to the inside of the tank. My ~45qt breeder tub has a hole drilled near the bottom. the flat side of the bottle is mounted against the outside of the tub, the tube goes through the hole. The bottle is held in place partially by a bracket and the frame of the tub top. It's been over a year and they haven't tried chewing around the hole the tube sticks through.