Water Bottles Falling Down

[PiggySmitten]

Am hoping the brilliant minds in here might be able to suggest something. First photo shows our cage set up - it's a two tier 120 ferplast cage but laid side by side instead of on top of each other.

I haven't used the ferplast water bottle that came with it as it was huge and I wanted to have 4 bottles in too.

I'm struggling to get the water bottles I'm using to stay up though - because there are not many vertical bars the wire to hold the bottles keeps slipping (a few photos of those below too) . Sometimes I can get the water bottle to balance on the plastic rim of the cage base but they don't seem to stay put when they are used and I'm frequently finding water bottles with drinking spouts buried in the sawdust.

Any ideas? Preferably that don't involved buying new bottles!

 

[sophieandhoney]

hang on the bottle on the outside and the spout through the bars?

 

[PiggySmitten]

hang on the bottle on the outside and the spout through the bars?

The spout seems to be too high up when I do that - am I being too protective do you think? Would they reach it?

 

[sophieandhoney]

If the base is the same height as the single 120cm I think they will be fine? Mine drank fine in that cage.The bottles are designed to be used like that. you have quite small bottles but weirdly I think the spouts are the same length on the bigger bottles so it should be fine.
Good idea having four tho.

The other thing that might work is hanging the bottles in a hay rack? I did that on a cage that was just a high base. I had to wire it in though.

 

[PiggySmitten]

This is what they look like hung on outside. I'm not sure they can reach the spout - what do you think?

The spouts are the same size and length as on the bigger bottles of the same brand I think. I went for this size as they are not big drinkers - maybe a third of two of the bottles gets drink each day - I'm using the old water to water house plants when I change each day to save it all getting wasted.

 

[maxdawn]

I have the ferplast 150 It has a very deep base and my piggys, from the age of 6wks old could reach the spout if I hung bottle on the outside.

 

[sophieandhoney]

Yeah, they are the same size, I can use the hamster and gerbil spouts on the piggies' bottles. I think they will be fine, but see what other people think That cage is pretty common so someone must have it.

 

[PiggySmitten]

Thanks both. Would love to hear others experiences too. I can try a couple on the outside and a couple on the inside first perhaps to reassure myself they will have access to water. I'll try and pick their favourite ones and move those to the outside first.

 

[Davey-cavy]

Here is your answer. Have the metal clip under the edge of the bottle around the screw off nozzle and then loosely wrap a tie wrap around the top so you can slide bottle in an out.

 

[PiggySmitten]

Thanks @Davey-cavy much as I hate cable ties (only due to never being able to cut the smaller versions sometimes used on children's toys packaging) this may be something I need to resort to.

It has occurred to me that bottles on the outside of the cage are more exposed to toddlers....!

I've just noticed actually that one of my water bottles I've accidentally clipped one side of the wire a rung higher than the other side - that coupled with one side clipped just beyond a vertical bar seems to be a bit more secure too.

 

[Davey-cavy]

Not sure if it is clear in the phot but the to wrap is quite loose to allow the bottle in and out. I'm sure sting or ribbon would support the top same of the wire is clipped under bottle. You don't want the wire clip to be too tight round the bottle as it may apply pressure and cause bottle to leak!

 

[adelhide]

i was lucky, mine came with like a spring with a clip on either end, and you stretch it on the top of the bottle (which as this came with it conveniently has a groove for it) between two vertical bars, and it can stretch pretty dang far, and my piggys cant reach it, and i only have a small water bottle in at the moment (its winter here so they aren't drinking a lot, i have a big bottle to put in in summer) but mine are glass bottles, but in theory it should work on plastic bottles, the pressure would be spread a bit and so long as its not too tight there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[theoretikos]

Ebay sell some metal spring type bottle holders that I a currently using but I also like the cable tie idea!

 

[madguinealady]

when mine are on their hind legs they can reach the top of a c&c cage 36cm high and the majority of mine are small piggies.Easier for them to go high than bend i would think