The contents of a pet's cage must include a certain set of elements necessary for life and health. This includes a feeder, a house, a running wheel and a drinking bowl for the hamster. The latter can be easily purchased in a specialized store or online, but if you are not satisfied with how much the purchased container costs, its type or size, then you can make this item yourself.
The small animal needs constant access to clean water. Contrary to popular belief, especially about the Syrian breed of hamsters living in deserts, the moisture obtained from vegetables/fruits is not enough, so if the hamster does not drink regularly, it will get sick and die.
How to make a water bowl for a hamster with your own hands video
Assembly from a baby bottle
You will need a lid for the container and a small piece of hose. Take the lid and punch a hole in it. Insert the hose. Fill the bottle with water and screw on the cap. The main thing is to make sure that the liquid does not drip in a vertical position.
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Making a flat drinker
This sippy cup is equipped with one or more straws, depending on the number of pets living in one cage. Manufacturing stages:
- make markings in the shape of a rectangle. The bottle must be in a horizontal position;
- cut out the excess part;
- make holes on the side;
- insert the tubes into the holes so that the bend and corrugation are on the outside.
The sippy cup is ready. All that remains is to fill the container with water through the rectangular top and secure it to the cage.
Rat carrier
Sometimes there is a need to transport a pet, for example, you need to take the animal to the veterinarian, visit an exhibition with it, or simply take it with you to the dacha. For such cases, it is advisable to purchase a special carrier to make the animal’s trip as comfortable and convenient as possible.
Rat carriers are a container made of opaque plastic with a hinged lid. There are longitudinal ventilation holes on the sides of the container or on the lid to supply oxygen. Some carriers are equipped with a feeder so that the rodent can have a snack on the go.
When choosing a rat carrier, you should remember:
Important: you cannot use a cardboard box to transport the animal. In such a homemade carrier, the animal can not only gnaw a hole, but also suffocate from lack of oxygen.
Types of drinking bowls: advantages, disadvantages, features
Nipple
The most convenient and common option. This is a small container equipped with a straw. There is a nipple installed inside the tube - a special ball on a spring. The structure is suspended from the bars of the cage. When the animal is thirsty, it approaches the drinking bowl and presses the ball with its tongue. The nipple is triggered and a small portion of liquid enters the mouth.
- nipple sippy cup saves space in the cage;
- it is easy to use;
- safe for the hamster;
- Only clean water comes from the container, without plaque or rust.
It is difficult to train a hamster to be independent, especially to press the ball. The main drawback appears - not every animal will like a nipple drinker.
From a whole bottle
A simple and economical version of a drinking bowl for a hamster. The design consists of a plastic or glass bottle and a straw for juice. The device is suspended inside the cage, or on the back side. The animal has access to fresh and clean water at any time.
- production does not require special skills and knowledge;
- the bottle is easy to wash and clean;
- dust and dirt do not get into the container;
- The animal is healthy and feels great.
What are they?
Drinkers that are used for hamsters at home can be internal or external. They differ in the method of attachment, that is, they can be located inside or outside the cage. In the second case, it turns out to save space inside the pet’s habitat, this is especially true when the home is not too large.
There are many factors to consider when selecting. This is primarily size, convenience, reliability, and method of fastening.
You should also pay attention to stability, safety for the pet, as well as the aesthetic appearance of the structure.
You can also classify devices by design type. They can be suspended or floor-mounted.
As for floor options, they are placed inside the cage. The bowl should have enough weight so that a mobile pet cannot turn it over.
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However, it is necessary to take into account the following: since water is in the public domain, it becomes contaminated quite quickly, and it is still possible to accidentally knock it over.
Hanging structures can be secured inside or outside the cage. The container can be open, but closed options are still the most popular. There are vacuum designs that include a container standing on a wide tray with high sides, from which water flows. Not everyone likes this option, since the liquid gets dirty quite quickly and you need to wash the entire device to clean it. Since such drinkers are most often made of soft materials (like plastic), hamsters often chew them.
Nipple drinkers for pets include a flask from which water flows through a tube ending with a locking mechanism. The hamster gets liquid by pressing its tongue on the latch, and the animal will have to get used to this. There are also ball mechanisms that operate in a similar way to the previous one.
Such options are used especially often, because the water remains clean and does not spill throughout the cage.
Some owners choose bottle drinkers with a reservoir. Water slowly flows out of the container into a small depression. These drinkers are most often used by bird owners, but hamsters can also use them. However, with this choice, you need to take into account that the water will also be open and the structure will have to be washed and cleaned frequently.
Making a flat drinker
You can make the polika yourself
How can you make a hamster's drinking bowl more convenient and accessible for your pet? The best option would be a flat drinker. If you want a flatter drinker with an interesting design, you can use the method for which we will need:
- plastic bottle;
- scissors or knife;
- felt-tip pen;
- ruler;
- tube (if you have two or more hamsters, then there should be 2-3 tubes);
- nail.
Let's take a bottle of any liquid with a volume of 0.5 liters. Be sure to wash it thoroughly. Turn it over vertically and mark it in the shape of a rectangle: approximate dimensions 2cm in height and 7cm in length. Using a knife or scissors, cut a hole according to the diagram; we will need it to pour liquid into the bottle. We make holes on the side using a nail, use the following method: we clamp the nail with pliers and heat it over an open fire; at home, you can use a gas burner as a heating element. So, when the nail is hot, we make the required number of holes in our bottle blank.
Next, take the tubes, pre-cut to the size you need. In the container they should be 1 cm high, and outside 3 cm. The main thing is to ensure that the tubes are at the same distance from each other and at the same height from the bottom of the cell. Animals should be able to reach the product with ease.
Now let's start the installation - there is nothing complicated here. Your homemade water container is attached to the bottom of the cage using wire. You just need to tie the opposite sides of the product to the bottom of the cage one by one. Everything is ready, now fill the container with water through the rectangular cutout at the top.
Clothes for rats
Some famous fashion designers have repeatedly presented their collections of fashionable clothing for cats and dogs. And American designer of animal outfits Ada Nieves decided to surprise the public and created a unique collection of outfits for rodents. Clothes for rats aroused great interest among lovers of these animals and many owners were ready to pay a considerable amount for a suit or dress for their beloved pet.
The Ada Nieves collection included:
Clothes for pet rodents are just gaining popularity, but the enterprising American is confident that her innovation will be an unprecedented success, and soon most owners will be happy to dress their little pets in a variety of outfits.
Products for rats will help diversify the life of a rodent and make his home cozy and comfortable. But before you offer your animal a new toy or accessory for exercise, you need to make sure that these things are safe and harmless to the animal.
Source
Types of drinking bowls
To understand the issue, you need to know how a drinking bowl for hamsters works, and only then get down to business. The hanging drinker consists of two parts – a container and a tube. There are drinking bowls that constantly drip at short intervals - most often homemade, made from droppers or juice straws. Nipple sippy cups supply water only when the animal presses the tongue on the ball. Floor-mounted drinkers are similar in principle to bird drinkers, which work according to Archimedes' law.
hanging drinkers
How to attach to the cage?
How to install, attach or hang a hamster water bottle is an important question for inexperienced hamster owners.
The fastenings are as follows:
- A wire or rope attached to the cage stem.
- A spring with hooks that surrounds the drinker, fixing it to the cage wall.
- Fastening between the cage rods. To use it correctly, you need to select fasteners according to the type of arrangement of the rods: vertical, horizontal.
- The suction cup is suitable for housings with plastic or glass walls.
Floor drinking bowls cost less than 20 - 200 rubles, depending on the material. It is best to choose a stainless steel or ceramic mug as plastic is easy to chew.
Do not place your hamster in a deep bowl; he may fall into it, suffocate or drown!
Actions to take if your pet is in an unnatural condition
Sometimes hamster owners notice strange behavior in their pets. These include frequent and heavy drinking, refusal of food and water, and other symptoms. If there is no improvement in the animal’s condition within two days, you should consult a veterinarian.
Doesn't drink or eat
In severe illnesses, the rodent refuses to eat and drink, which leads to exhaustion and dehydration. To avoid this, it is important for the hamster owner to know what to do if the animal does not drink water from the drinking bowl and does not eat. In this situation, you often have to force-feed your pet using a pipette or an insulin syringe without a needle. It is necessary to pour water into the animal’s mouth in small portions that the rodent can easily and quickly swallow. You can't put your hamster on its back.
Drinks a lot
The reason for increased thirst is the lack of succulent food in the animal’s diet. It is worth reviewing your pet’s diet and including more fresh fruits and vegetables. If after this the situation has not changed and the animal still drinks a lot, this is a sign of illness. One such disease is diabetes, which is common in dwarf hamsters.
The automatic drinking bowl will help the animal quench its thirst without difficulty. It is worth spending a few days teaching your hamster to drink from a water bowl. There is no need to worry if your rodent doesn't drink enough. A good appetite and active pet will make it clear that there is no reason to worry.
Alternative to a sippy cup
If it is not possible to satisfy the animal’s needs (moving, the sippy cup is not ready, etc.), then how can you feed a hamster without a drinking bowl? Water can be replaced with succulent food, vegetables and fruits that contain a lot of moisture . Cucumbers, which are very loved by hamsters, cope well with this task.
Should you give hamsters apples?
The drinking bowl must first of all satisfy the rodent's need for fresh drinking water, and its aesthetic function is a secondary matter. The main thing is to regularly maintain cleanliness and ensure that the drinking bowl is full .
How to make your own water supply system for a hamster
For those who like to DIY, you might like our tips for creating water bottles for small animals. With these tips, you'll learn how to make a hamster bowl using the tools you have. It won't take you much time. Among the materials for making a drinking bowl you will need:
- Plastic water container, capacity 500 ml.
- Plastic tube.
- Corkscrew.
The first step is to thoroughly wash the plastic container, removing all promotional labels from its outer surface. Then shorten the plastic tube, unscrew the cap and drill a small hole using a corkscrew. Pull the cut tube through the hole. After this, fill the bottle with fresh boiled water, place the crumbs on the bottle and secure it upside down in the pet's house.
You can build a freestanding drinking bowl at home by simply cutting a plastic container. Another more aesthetic and hygienic option is a water intake device. To make it yourself, you will need:
- Plastic containers.
- Nail.
- Plastic plate, glass saucer.
- Drinking straw.
At the first stage, thoroughly wash the inside of the container with sodium soap solution and rinse with running water. Make a small hole in the center of the lid with a nail heated on the fire, and pull a small juice straw through the hole. Fill the bottle with clean water and carefully invert it on a plastic plate or glass saucer.
To make a water bowl for a hamster with your own hands, use the following tools:
- Plastic container.
- Nail.
- The glass component of a pipette or fountain pen bottle.
Using a solution of baking soda and soap, sterilize the future water bowl for your hamster, and then wash it thoroughly under running water. Make a small hole in the lid and insert a glass or fountain pen. Fill the container with water and secure it in the hamster's cage.
Step-by-step instruction
Now let's look at how to make a drinking bowl for a hamster with your own hands of one type or another.
Perhaps the best option, which is highly recommended if you want to make it for your pet yourself. You will need a small plastic bottle - half-liter or liter, a body from a regular ballpoint pen, a ball from a bicycle bearing, a weak spring from a fountain pen and a thin stick (even a lollipop will do).
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Here's what you'll need to do:
- Place the ball from the bearing into the handle body. Measure the place where it is stuck, and this must be done so that the ball protrudes a little, literally a millimeter, above this mark;
- then remove the ball and saw off part of the body along the mark using a hacksaw;
- put the ball back, then connect the spring with the lollipop stick and also install it inside the prepared body;
- fix the stick on the reverse side so that it, together with the spring, acts as a stop;
- then make a hole in the bottle and insert the manufactured structure;
- Seal the joint thoroughly to prevent water leakage.
You can make a drinking bowl yourself
It is better to use sealant as a waterproofing agent. The glue takes a long time to dry, and besides, it is very toxic, especially for the weak body of a hamster.
- Drinking bowl from a plastic bottle
A very simple and popular solution. This option is perfect for a large and friendly hamster family or for large hamsters that consume a lot of water. Ideally, it is best to take a 0.5 liter bottle.
The process of making such a drinking bowl is extremely simple. You will need to unscrew the cap and make a small hole in the center. It can be drilled or pierced with a hammer and nail, but it is better to heat the nail and melt the hole.
To make a drinking bowl from a plastic bottle, you must follow the instructions
After this, insert a regular cocktail tube into the resulting hole. It is advisable that its diameter be larger than the diameter of the hole - this will help avoid water leakage and the need to solve this problem. If, however, the straw turns out to be smaller than the hole, you will have to seal it using the same sealant or glue.
The straw must be inserted so that the end with the corrugated element is on the outside.
- Drinking bowl from a cut bottle
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The technology for making such a drinking bowl is similar to the method described above. But there is one important difference - you will first need to cut the plastic bottle into two parts. Its lower part will not be required in the future.
You can cut the bottle with a stationery knife - this is the best option, and this task is performed very easily. If this tool is not at hand, you can take scissors or a regular kitchen knife, but it is recommended to warm them up first - this will allow you to cut the plastic more evenly and quickly.
The main advantage of a drinker made from a cut bottle over a design made from an uncut bottle is that you don’t need to disassemble anything to replenish water supplies - just top it up. But you need to remember that it is strongly recommended for any breed of hamster to change the water at least once every two days. So in any case, you will have to remove the homemade drinking bowl to change the water.
Here you don’t need to have any skills at all, since such a drinking bowl for a hamster can be made very quickly with your own hands. But such designs also have a number of disadvantages. First of all, it is very easy to knock them over; therefore, all the water will fall on the litter, which will have to be taken out and dried for a long time. It should also be noted that the water will quickly become polluted. It will have to be changed at least once a day - and this is not always convenient for the person himself.
This drinking bowl for a hamster is very simple, but not very convenient.
How to avoid this? First, you need to make higher sides so that water does not overflow over them. But the height must be optimal so that the rodent can reach the water without climbing into the drinking bowl. One or two centimeters will be enough. Secondly, attach the container to some heavy object, for example, a wooden block - the hamster will not be able to knock it over.
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It is not recommended to use plastic bottles to make floor drinking bowls - the cut edges are very sharp, and the rodent can be injured by them. Choose something with thick, smooth sides, such as bottle caps.
Why does a hamster refuse to drink from a water bowl?
If an animal has just arrived in a new place, it may experience stress. In this case, the pet refuses water and food for several days, this is normal. It is best not to touch the animal for several days so that it gets used to it. If your hamster suddenly stops drinking from an existing water bowl, this may be a signal from the body indicating that the pet is not feeling well. We need to show him to the doctor.
If the drinking bowl is new, it may have an unpleasant odor for the animal. Then you should thoroughly rinse the device. You also need to take into account that some pets drink mainly at night, so it is better to check the water level in the morning. For clarity, you can make marks with a marker.
How often to refresh the water
The water in the drinking bowl is changed daily
It doesn’t matter whether the hamster managed to drink all the water or not. Otherwise, you risk exposing your pet to illness.
In summer, water should be changed two or three times a day, in winter and autumn at least once a day. It is important to raise the issue of water regime for newborn babies.
They are not yet able to reach the automatic drinker, so the best option would be a small saucer. The water in it needs to be changed every 3-4 hours. In order for your pet to be healthy and happy, he needs good care. Providing clean, fresh water is one way to take care of your pet. You can buy or you can build a simple drinking bowl yourself.
Why doesn't a hamster drink from a drinking bowl?
If the hamster does not drink from the water bowl, then perhaps he has not yet gotten used to the new place, he is stressed, leave him alone for a few days. If he doesn't know how to drink, then he needs to be taught. The reason for refusing water may be succulent food or the physiological characteristics of the pet. All hamsters are different, they are nocturnal animals, they can drink at night, and you won’t see it. Monitor the water level in the drinking bowl.
So, we looked at the main types of drinking bowls for hamsters, the principle of operation, and ways to make and secure them yourself. We can conclude that homemade devices are a temporary option, they are inferior in reliability and can leak, so it is better to purchase a ready-made one. The best option is a nipple drinker; you can choose one on an original stand or a compact hanging one.
Walking ball for rat
In specialized stores offering everything for rats, the seller often recommends that owners of their tailed pets purchase a walking ball. The sellers assure that with such an accessory the animal will be able to roam freely around the apartment without damaging surrounding objects.
But, most rats do not show any desire to run around in a walking ball, and some rodents even experience panic when trying to place them in this accessory.
The fact is that, unlike other rodents, inquisitive rats need not only to move, but to get acquainted with their surroundings, sniff different things and even taste them. And, moving in a ball, the pet will not be able to satisfy its curiosity, as a result of which the animals quickly lose interest in it.
We should also not forget that decorative rats are afraid of confined spaces. If you lock an animal in a tight ball, the animal will decide that it is trapped and will try to get out of there in any way. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to force a tailed pet into a walking ball, in the hope that over time it will get used to this method of movement, as this will cause severe fright in the animal and cause stress.
Don't be afraid to set up your rodent's cage yourself
As you can see, making a drinking bowl is not difficult; you don’t need any special tools or skills to do the job. Don't stop there - create other items the animal needs. For example, you can make a wide variety of toys for your hamster with your own hands: hanging bridges made of wood, dolls made of fabric, halves of walnut shells strung on a rope to grind down the claws and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Don’t be afraid to show your own imagination and get creative, creating things that will decorate your hamster’s life and allow you to take care of the animal.
Preparation of material
The idea of how to make a drinking bowl for a hamster with your own hands may be yours: in this matter, the main thing is imagination and the availability of available materials. Of course, if it is more convenient for you, you can buy a drinking bowl in the store. But considering that by making a drinking bowl yourself, you won’t spend a penny, but on the contrary, show creativity and, in addition, get rid of some unnecessary things. We conclude that it is worth it.
How long will it take you to make a drinking bowl? In total, all preparation and assembly will take 15-20 minutes. The main thing to remember is to use environmentally friendly materials, which need to be prepared before assembly.
- Regardless of what material you use as a container, it should be kept in order. It should be clean on the outside, remove labels and wash off any residue left behind.
- Wash the middle of the container thoroughly.
- When using glue, you should choose non-toxic types.
- If you use sharp objects when cutting something out of plastic, you should make sure that your product does not have jagged edges or sharp edges. As a precaution, be sure to sand all cuts.
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