Water plays a greater role in the health of your guinea pigs. A dehydrated guinea pig could suffer from a fatal illness. But when it comes to providing your guinea pigs with water the medium to use plays a critical role. There is the
In this article, we will discuss the use of a bowl in providing water for your guinea pigs.
Here’s If Guinea Pigs Drink Out Of A Bowl
Guinea pigs can drink out of a bowl. The bowl must be cleaned regularly and filled with fresh water. You must watch out for guinea pig droppings, food debris, and urine contamination of the water in the bowl. A heavy bowl is preferred to prevent tipping over to make a mess in the cage.
Should Guinea Pigs Drink Out Of A bowl Or A Water Bottle?
Guinea pig owners are faced with different choices. When it comes the using a bowl or water bottle to provide water for your guinea pigs you must make a choice for your guinea pigs.
Guinea pig owners use a bowl or water bottle to provide water for their piggies. But the question on the mind of these owners is whether guinea pigs should drink from a bowl or water bottle.
There are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to bowl use in providing water for your guinea pigs.
Advantages Of Water Bowl
If you intend to use a bowl to provide water for your guinea pigs, there is no doubt it has its advantages.
1. Natural Way For Your Hamster To Drink
A water bowl provides a natural way for your guinea pigs to drink their water. Your Guinea pigs wouldn’t have to stretch their necks to drink.
This is good for older guinea pigs and the sick ones.
2. Eliminate Contamination Easily
Water bowls are easily prone to contamination. Your guinea pigs contaminate their water with food, urine, and sometimes their feces.
If there is contamination in the water, it is quicker to spot and replenish with fresh water.
3. Easy Cleaning Of The Water Bowl
Water bowls are easy to clean. Cleaning the bowl will not be tedious as compared to a water bottle. You can reach every corner of the bowl without any hindrance. This helps t get rid of any bacteria in the bowl.
4. No Noise At Night
Water bowls are not noisy when your guinea pigs are drinking at night. Water bottles are widely known to make noise, especially at night. If you want to have a peaceful night remember water bowl should be the preferred choice.
5. Good For Older Guinea Pigs And Sick Ones
Older guinea pigs will find the water bowls more comfortable to drink from. This is the natural way for them to drink. They need not stretch their head up to drink
Disadvantages Of Water Bowl
There are no doubt water bowls have some disadvantages.
Below is the list of the few disadvantages:
1. Messy Cage
One disadvantage of using a water bowl for your guinea pigs is the mess you will occasionally see in your cage. Your guinea can tip the bowl over if it isn’t a heavy one.
Another problem is your guinea pigs splashing the water in the bowl. This leads to a wet cage.
This means you have to clean the cage and a fresh bowl of water put in place.
2. Contamination of Water In The Bowl
Water bowls are easily contaminated with poop, urine, and food residues. You must constantly be monitoring your water bowl and is quite labor intensive.
Should Guinea Pigs Drink From A Large or Small Bowl
The size of the bowl does not matter. Guinea pigs can drink from large or small bowls. You must make sure the water is constantly replenished. Your water bowl should be heavy enough to prevent tipping over.
So when it comes to the size of the bowl, it should always be the decision of guinea pig owners. Whatever bowl size you choose, make sure you monitor it constantly. If you need to replenish it, do that immediately. Guinea pigs always need fresh water and should keep them hydrated.
Can Baby Guinea Pigs Drink From A Bowl?
A baby guinea pig’s age ranges from birth to about six months. Baby guinea pigs need water to help with their growth and development.
Yes, baby guinea pigs can drink from a water bowl. However, the size of the bowl must be considered. If you use a bigger bowl, your pigs may be attracted to put their feet in the water. This can easily contaminate their drinking water.
So for baby guinea pigs especially use a smaller bowl and replenish with fresh water when every day.
Is It Safe For Guinea Pigs To Drink Out Of A Bowl?
Yes, it is safe for your guinea pigs to drink from a water bowl. You must make sure the water is replenished constantly.
Make sure you clean your water bowl regularly. You don’t want bacteria to thrive in your bowl. This could make your guinea pig sick.
You should also make sure your water bowl is placed at a good location and placed firmly to prevent tipping over.
What’s The Best Way To Give Guinea Pigs Water?
Giving guinea pigs water plays a crucial role in their overall health. So choosing the best to give your guinea pigs water should be a priority.
You should try both the water bottle and bowl. Observe your guinea pigs for a few days and see which of the two they prefer.
For older guinea pigs, the bowl should be the preferred one.
How To Transition Your Guinea Pigs From Water Bottle To Water Bowl
If you are looking to switch over from a water bottle to a bowl, you must do it gradually. Leave the water bottle and water bowl in the cage. Allow your guinea some time to get used to drinking from the water bowl.
You must make sure you place the water bowl in the same place for the period you are switching. Once your guinea pig is drinking more from the water
Final Thoughts
Guinea pigs can drink from a water bowl. They are easy to clean. You must watch out for contamination, especially from poop, urine, and food debris.
You must ensure your bowl is regularly cleaned and replenished with fresh water.