Chinchilla drinker – purchased and do-it-yourself

Proper organization of nutrition and water supply is the basis for the competent maintenance of any pet. Rodents should definitely have a drinking device, and for a number of owners, a do-it-yourself chinchilla drinker is often a great solution.

What should be a drinker for chinchillas

A purchased or homemade device for a pet must meet a number of criteria:

• reliable fastening to the bars of the cage;
• contain the required amount of liquid;
• closeness.

Drinkers for chinchillas: types and benefits

Pet stores and online platforms that sell pet products offer several drinkers to choose from.

Drip

The main parameters of this product: the volume is 150 ml, the nipple is made from a material resistant to rust, the possibility of attaching it to the cage with a wire. To minimize injury, it is necessary to cover the wire thread with galvanized steel.

Automatic first type

Visually, it is an inverted bottle with a cap screwed on. The metal drinking tube is equipped with a ball that prevents water from pouring out uncontrollably.

Nipple drinker

This is a valve that must be pressed to obtain water. Water enters the container through a special tube.

Homemade drinkers: instructions

Drinking equipment can also be made at home. For the first option you will need:

• saline bottle;
• a piece of wire;
• metal tube.

Procedure:

1. Remove rubber cover.
2. The floor at a small angle to make a slot with a diameter slightly smaller than the tube.
3. Insert the tube, making sure it is tight.
4. Wrap the bottle with wire and fix it on the outside of the cage at an acute angle.
5. Make sure that water does not drip to the bottom naturally.

An alternative version of a homemade drinker is a vacuum one. It is easy to make: you will need a bottle and any container with rounded edges, and to increase strength, you can use tin and metal containers, the edges of which must be carefully processed:

1. First you need to cut out the bottom.
2. The cork can either be unscrewed, or 2-3 holes can be made with an awl.
3. The bottle is attached to the cage rods with clamps or wire.
4. It is necessary to maintain a distance from the floor of at least 8 cm.

The location of the bottle and plate should be such that the neck does not fit tightly, blocking the flow of liquid.

Despite the fact that this option is extremely simple to implement, it has 2 significant disadvantages: the containers quickly become covered with dirt, and the rodent’s tongue is not designed to lap up water.

How to potty train a chinchilla

The animal must receive the required amount of water per day, however, often the owners are faced with chinchilla refusal to drink. This can happen for 3 reasons:

• earlier the rodent would have been accustomed to another drinker;
• the animal is accustomed to the bowl;
• the water in the tank is stale and stale.

Most of the problems are solved by replacement of the structure or updating of the fluid, however, some animals have to be shown how to use the device. There are 2 ways to do this:

• bring the pet to the tube and press so that the liquid drops on the tongue. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the manipulation several times;
• lubricate the tube with your favorite treat: in the process of eating your favorite dish, the chinchilla will learn to drink.

According to the opinion of veterinarians, there must be a device for drinking in the cage of the animal. Lack of water provokes dehydration and health problems, so care should be taken to ensure that the pet receives daily fluid intake.

Video: what should be a drinker for a chinchilla