If it’s your first time shopping for rabbit equipment, you might be surprised and how many decisions there are to make. It’s not as simple as just buying a water bottle; you have a choice of different brands, sizes, and nozzle types. This guide can help you select the best kind for your beloved pet.
What size water bottle does a pet rabbit need?
They say that the average rabbit will drink five ounces (5 fl oz) of water per day, but of course this varies a lot by the season and the individual. Also, you needed to make allowances for water that will be wasted. Almost all water bottles will drip for a little while after a rabbit drinks from them, as the nozzle doesn’t seal instantly. Some rabbits like to lean up against the nozzle and let the water run over their bodies. Considering this, it’s important to select a bottle that offers quite a bit more water than your rabbit will actually drink.
PremiumRabbits.com a great place to buy rabbit products online offers water bottles in several different sizes. The
works great as a take-along water bottle for one-day trips, but it’s not big enough for everyday use. The 16-ounce and 32-ounce bottles are the best for daily use for single rabbits. Which size you select should depend on how often you are available to check on your rabbit and refill the bottle if necessary. If two or more rabbits share a cage, you will definitely want a bottle that’s at least 32 ounces, or maybe even the giant
at PremiumRabbits.com
Are glass or plastic bottles better for rabbits?
Most rabbit water bottles are plastic, and they work fine. But if you want to bump up the class a little bit, you can try the
by Lixit. Some users report that glass water bottles seal a bit better than plastic ones, and thus are less likely to drip. Also available at PremiumRabbits.com, these bottles are topped off with a cute plastic “floating turtle” indicator to help you see the water level at a glance.
Is there more I should consider when buying a rabbit water bottle?
Actually there’s a lot more things to think about! One of the most important is how the bottle is filled. On most water bottles, the nozzle unscrews from the bottle, so that in order to fill it, you have to take the entire bottle off the cage. This isn’t always the case, though! The
has a flip-open lid, so that you can leave it attached to the cage and quickly fill it with a pitcher. The one disadvantage to this system is that you need to make sure the lid is tightly closed when you’re done filling it, or the bottle won’t seal and may drip.
Before making your final selection, you may also want to look at the way the bottle attaches to the cage: how securely it stays, and how easy it is to remove. Thankfully, the one thing you won’t have to worry about when buying water bottles is the cost, since all of the bottles (at least at ) are very reasonably priced.
When children show their rabbits in 4-H, the judge will often ask them, “What is the most important thing you can give your rabbit?” Though several answers may come to mind, the one that judges are looking for is water.
We all know the importance of water to human health, and rabbits need it just as much. If a rabbit is not able to drink, it will not eat either, and quickly fade into serious condition. Since you probably can’t visit your rabbit every hour of the day, you need to be certain your equipment will guarantee him constant access to fresh water.
Water Bottles vs. Crocks Pros and Cons
Breeders who have many rabbits will often use an automatic watering system, where a network of plastic tubes carries water to each bunny’s cage. But for pet rabbits,
and bowls are much more practical.
Bowls that supply rabbits with water are commonly called . They can be made of metal, plastic, or ceramic. Crocks give you peace of mind because you know they won’t drip, and you know your rabbit will learn to drink out of them. If you keep rabbits outside in the winter, crocks are the best choice for water, because they won’t break when they freeze, and you can bring them inside to thaw. They are quick and easy to fill, quick and easy to clean, and inexpensive to replace.
On the other hand, water evaporates much more quickly in a crock than in a bottle. It can also become soiled with bedding, hay, or urine. In the summer, if left unchanged, it can also collect bugs or algae and nobody wants that. Most importantly, rabbits can (and will) tip over and play with their water dishes if they are not secured to the cage.
Overall, crocks are a very good way to supply your rabbit with fresh water…if the following points are met:
1. You clean the crock regularly
2. You change the water twice daily
3. You get a crock that clips to the cage.
Expert Tip: We recommend the , sold at Premium Rabbit Supplies, as the best rabbit water dish on the market.
If taking care of crocks sounds like a lot of work, you may prefer using
to provide your pet with water. Bottles usually only need to be refilled once per day. They keep water clear of dust, fungus, and debris. Also, bottles are better to travel with since they won’t slosh and spill in the car.
There are a few disadvantages to bottles, however. For one, they take a bit more effort to fill than crocks. They must be tied to the cage very tightly, or else a rabbit can pull it over from the inside or a passerby can knock it over from the outside. Almost all rabbits will adjust to a bottle eventually, but it can take a few days if your pet was previously used to a water dish. Finally, the biggest concern with water bottles is that some will drip. Always monitor bottles closely to make sure they are not leaking.
Expert Tip: The
at PremiumRabbits.com tend to be less likely to drip than plastic water bottles.
Both water bottles and crocks can be effective ways to provide your rabbit with water, but they both take a little managing. Most rabbit owners give both a try and end up settling on whichever one suits their bunnies and their lifestyles better.
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