Water bottles for guinea pigs: clean water, all day long

A guinea pig drinks every day, and often more than people think. Guinea pigs eat hay all day and get dry pellets; that calls for plenty of fluid. A water bottle on the side of the enclosure keeps the water free of hay, droppings and bedding. Guinea pigs walk through everything and quickly dirty an open bowl. With a bottle, the water stays clear and the floor stays dry.

In this category you will find water bottles in glass and plastic, a holder made of bark wood, coolers for warm days and a cleaning brush. With our own guinea pigs in the shop and the breeding facility, a well-working bottle always hangs next to the hay rack. Together with unlimited hay and Zooply Guinea Pig Food, our own premium brand, fresh water forms the daily foundation.

In short

• ✓ Refresh the water every day and clean the bottle thoroughly at least once a week.
• ✓ Hang the spout low, at the height of a sitting guinea pig's nose, but clear of the bedding.
• ✓ For one or two guinea pigs choose at least 320 ml; for a group, a 500 or 600 ml bottle.
• ✓ Guinea pigs sometimes wash food into the spout: check daily that water comes out.
• ✓ Offer extra water in warm weather; guinea pigs cope poorly with heat.

What will you find in the Water bottles category?

500 ml glass water bottle

The Trixie glass water bottle holds 500 ml and has a bracket to hang it on the mesh or bars. A float bobs inside the bottle, so you can quickly see how much water is left. Glass picks up smells and residue less quickly than plastic and is therefore nice and easy to clean thoroughly. It is heavier and breakable, though, so hang it securely. For a pair or small group of guinea pigs, 500 ml is a good size.

Classic plastic water bottles

The Classic water bottles are transparent, light and unbreakable, and you can see the water level at a glance. For guinea pigs, the 320 ml and the 600 ml are the right sizes: the 320 ml for one or two guinea pigs, the 600 ml for a group or if you are away for long periods during the day. The small 75 ml and 150 ml bottles are also in this category, but they are made for hamsters and mice. For a guinea pig they hold too little water and the bottle runs empty within a short time.

Bark wood bottle holder

The Trixie bottle holder (ø 18 × 30 cm) is made of natural bark wood. It is handy in an open enclosure or run without bars, where you cannot simply hang a bottle. Guinea pigs love nibbling on bark wood; so check the holder now and then and replace it once it has been gnawed to pieces.

Coolers for the water bottle

The Beeztees Water Bottle Cooler (18 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm) is a sleeve with cooling gel. You put it in the freezer for a few hours and then slide it around the bottle. According to the product information, it fits around 600 ml water bottles, such as the 600 ml Classic. There is also a smaller Beeztees model of 16 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm in the category.

Cleaning brush

With the Savic cleaning brush you can reach the bottom of the bottle and into the neck, where residue builds up first.

Why the spout sometimes gets blocked

Guinea pigs have a habit that surprises many owners: they often drink right after eating, with some food or hay still in their mouth. That gets crumbs and bits of vegetable into the spout, and sometimes even into the bottle. The ball can then get stuck, or the water becomes cloudy. This is normal behaviour, but you do need to keep an eye on it.

So press the ball briefly with your finger every day. A drop should come out. If nothing comes out, clean the spout and refill the bottle. If you see bits floating in the water, rinse the bottle out straight away. It is best not to hang a bottle that gets dirty this often directly above the food bowl, but a little further along.

At what height do you hang a water bottle for guinea pigs?

Guinea pigs hardly climb and drink with their head tilted slightly upwards. So hang the spout so that a sitting guinea pig can reach it in a relaxed posture, without having to stand on its hind legs. That is lower than for a rabbit. If the spout hangs so low that it touches the bedding, the bedding draws the water out and the bottle runs empty.

If you have guinea pigs of different sizes, for example a young animal with adult guinea pigs, check that the smallest one can also reach it easily. If necessary, hang two bottles at different heights.

Water bottle or water bowl?

Most guinea pigs drink perfectly well from a bottle. A water bowl gives guinea pigs a more natural posture, but quickly fills up with hay and droppings and is often pushed over. If you use a bowl, choose a heavy ceramic or stoneware one and refresh the water several times a day. Many guinea pig owners offer both: the bottle as the main water source and a bowl as a backup. Especially with a group, a second drinking spot is sensible, so a dominant guinea pig cannot monopolise the bottle.

Vitamin C and drinking water

Guinea pigs cannot make vitamin C themselves and need it every day. You provide it through their diet: guinea pig pellets with vitamin C, such as Zooply Guinea Pig Food, and fresh vegetables such as bell pepper. We advise against adding vitamin C to the drinking water. You then do not know how much your guinea pig really gets, and some guinea pigs start drinking less when the water tastes different. So simply keep the water clean and fresh.

Warm weather and guinea pigs

Guinea pigs cope poorly with heat; above about 25 °C you need to be careful. On warm days they drink more and the water in the bottle warms up quickly. Hang the bottle out of the sun, check more often whether it is still full and use a cooler around the bottle. A second bottle or an extra bowl is no unnecessary luxury on days like these. If you see a guinea pig lying flat, breathing fast or limp, move it to a cool place and contact a vet with guinea pig experience straight away.

In winter, water in a bottle in an outdoor enclosure can freeze, especially in the spout. Guinea pigs also cope poorly with frost; keep them in a sheltered, frost-free place during the cold months and check the bottle several times a day.

Cleaning

Refresh the water daily, even if the bottle is still half full. Clean the bottle thoroughly at least once a week with warm water and a bottle brush, and do not forget the spout. Rinse well so that no smell is left behind. Green residue is caused by light and warmth; in that case hang the bottle in a darker spot and clean it more often.

Useful combinations

A water bottle is part of a fully furnished enclosure. These categories go with it:

• Hay: unlimited Zooply hay, the reason your guinea pigs drink a lot.
• Guinea pig food: Zooply Guinea Pig Food with vitamin C, the daily pellets alongside hay and water.
• Feeding bowls: for a heavy water bowl as a second drinking spot.
• Hay racks: hang the bottle nearby, but not above it, so the hay stays dry.
• Indoor cages: an enclosure where you can hang the bottle securely and at the right height.

Frequently asked questions about water bottles for guinea pigs

My guinea pig won't drink from the bottle. What now?

A guinea pig that is used to a water bowl sometimes needs a little time to adjust. For the first few days, press the ball a few times so that a drop hangs from the spout. During this period, also put out a bowl, so you know your guinea pig is drinking enough. Check that the spout is at the right height and that water comes out. If you see the water level dropping while the floor underneath stays dry, your guinea pig is simply drinking from the bottle.

How much does a guinea pig drink per day?

That depends on its weight, the temperature and how many fresh vegetables your guinea pig gets. A guinea pig that eats a lot of vegetables already gets fluid from them. More important than an exact figure is knowing what is normal. If your guinea pig suddenly drinks much more or less, and also eats less or becomes sluggish, contact a vet with guinea pig experience.

Why is there food in my guinea pig's water bottle?

Guinea pigs often drink with food in their mouth. That gets crumbs into the spout and sometimes into the bottle. Rinse the bottle out as soon as you see bits and clean the spout. Hang the bottle a little way from the food bowl and it will happen less often.

Glass or plastic: which is better for guinea pigs?

Both work well. Glass stays fresh longer and picks up fewer smells, but is heavier and can break. Plastic is light and unbreakable, but needs to be cleaned a little more carefully. In an indoor cage with bars, a glass bottle hangs perfectly well. In a run, or with children who fill the bottle themselves, plastic is often more practical.

How many water bottles do I need for three or four guinea pigs?

For a group, we recommend two drinking spots, in different places in the enclosure. For example a 600 ml bottle and a 500 ml bottle, or a bottle and a heavy water bowl. That way a dominant guinea pig cannot keep the others away from the water, and you always have a backup if a spout gets blocked.

Buying water bottles for guinea pigs at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find water bottles and accessories that suit the daily care of guinea pigs. Combine a good bottle with unlimited hay and Zooply Guinea Pig Food, our own premium brand that we use every day with our own guinea pigs. That way your group has fresh water, vitamin C and a full hay rack every day.