Hard time drinking water

Baby Grrr · 02-07-2015, 05:15 PM

Hey everyone I don't know what happened but all of a sudden my hamster started to have a hard time getting the water out of her water bottle. It's not raised to high or to low.

BrainGirl · 02-07-2015, 07:29 PM

If the water isn't coming out and you don't see bubbles rising then you might need to adjust how tightly the cap is screwed down. Sometimes loosening it off can help or changing the level it's filled to. It's a common problem and you might just have to play with it until it works. The little ball in the spout (if it's that type) might have got stuck in place also.

Thin Lizzy · 02-08-2015, 02:02 AM

I usually check the spout and squeeze the bottle.

Pebbles82 · 02-08-2015, 03:07 AM

Braingirl's tip is good - it was ages before I realized (after someone on here mentioned it) that not screwing the cap so tight made the water come out easier. I'm paranoid about Charlie not getting water out after this happened once, so always have the cap screwed on loosely and the water comes out very easily when i test it by tapping my finger under the spout. But it could be that the ball bearing has got stuck or something, so I would get another bottle and always keep a spare. I'm using these now

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage

They are supposed to leak less - something about two ball bearings I think - but I leave the cap really quite loose so the water comes out easily - it still doesn't leak - maybe one or two drips when I've refilled it but that's all. I also use it in a stand in the cage so it stays at the same angle all the time. I got this stand which came with one of the small bottles (although the bottle it came with didn't work! So I got two more separately and now have a spare - they're cheap enough and even if I only half fill it it is plenty for Charlie for a couple of days and never gets emptied). That's the other tip I think - don't fill the bottle - I fill it about 2/3 fill and leave a gap. Bottles do fail sometimes. I used to have two bottles in the cage in case one failed, but now I've got the knack of these small ones not screwed up too tight I don't need a second one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage