Is my water bottle faulty & how to get gerbils to use it?

[yeti218]

I’ve just adopted a pair of one year old gerbils that likely have never used a water bottle before. The previous owner just left a cup of water in their enclosure. I’ve got them a water bottle but I haven’t ever seen them use it, I’m not sure if they know how. 

I’ve been leaving a cup of water in their enclosure, just to make sure they’ve got access to water , but I don’t like doing this because it gets full of shavings and needs to be cleaned regularly, and I need to leave a big cup (if I use a smaller dish, when they kick bedding into it, the bedding absorbs all the water).

Also, when I check to see that the bottle is functioning properly, I usually have to press several times against the metal ball to get some water. Do I need a different bottle? The one I’m using now is called “all living things small pet glass water bottle” from petsmart. Now that I look it up, I see there’s a decent mix of reviews saying it’s great, leaky, or doesn’t let water out. 

anyway, any advice on troubleshooting this bottle, what to look for in a new one, and especially how to teach the gerbils to use it would be appreciated. 

[Pim]

I have that bottle and it works fine for me but is sometimes leaky. You could always a second bottle to try out just in case.

[Markpd]

I've got a 'Living world' small bottle (177ml), it also had quite a few bad reviews too (roughly 1 in 10+) talking about leaking or jamming balls.
As it turns out mine is just fine .

If you press in the ball with your finger once, does it not get wet?

I did read some people claim that it wouldn't work if their was no air at all in it, btw tbh I think that's BS. For one, it's nigh on impossible not to have any air in there, and 2 that wouldn't stop air coming in anyway!

As for how to get them to use it, maybe smear a tiny amount of peanut butter, jam or honey on it to get them licking it?

[Pim]

I would recommend natural sugar free peanut butter. I would worry that jam or honey is just too sugary but its in a small amount so not too big of a deal

[yeti218]

I refilled it and reattached it and it seems to be working more consistently.

I also moved its location in the tank, hopefully to prompt them to investigate, but also because the shy gerbil doesnt like to wander too far from his burrow, and the water dispenser was in the very far corner.

Ill try the peanut butter thing in a day or so if they still havent got it. Thats a good idea. I have peanut butter that i give to my dog thats just 100% crushed peanuts, so no added sugar or anything.

[Markpd]

Sounds good

Pim
Yea I was just thinking the thinnest of smears.
But yea, with natural peanut butter you could use much more (or multiple times) without worries

[yeti218]

Well, these guys dont like peanut butter or honey. When i can supervise them i take out their water bowl and see if they'll use the bottle if there's no alternative, but they haven't yet. They would smell the peanut butter or honey, but didn't take the bait.

I dont have any gerbil safe jam at the moment, so i may still try that but am open to other suggestions if anyone has them.

[Markpd]

What jam have you got?

[yeti218]

It’s a homemade jam that has berries and rhubarb in it. Couple websites list rhubarb as a not safe food for gerbils.

[Pim]

Do they like other foods? like something mushy such as banana or blueberry could be smeared on there.

[yeti218]

These guys are pretty new to me so im not very familiar with their likes. They seem to have more dislikes.

But i am going to try some carrot or apple mush. Theyve eaten dried carrots and apples, so that's worth a shot.

[betty]

Yes, I'm sure no jam is 'safe' for gerbils with the amount of sugar in it - much better to have just the pureed fruit itself (which instantly halves the sugar content for starts) - as it won't have any other ingredients in it either.

Just your own mashed up sweet fruits.

But yes, rhubarb is really a no no for most animals (and isn't even that nice (or safe) for human either. We have to only eat it at certain times of year and only the stems and if we cook it thoroughly and cover in so much sugar that I don't see the point?).

I say just eat bananas instead.

[Markpd]

I love Rhubarb! , what's so bad about it? (added sugar aside).
I love Banana's too, but totally different taste. You never had rhubarb crumble? That's delicious!

Btw, I was only talking about using jam in minute quantities, as I mentioned smearing a tiny amount on the end of the bottle nozzle to get them licking it to start them drinking from it (in case you haven't read my earlier posts ).

[betty]

Ha ha - missed this one Markd - and yes I HAVE had rhubarb crumble before - twice infact to give it the benefit of the doubt - and that is why I know I don't like it!!! Errgghhh....

And yes, I know you mentioned minute amounts but as always I err on the side of caution and practicality - so my brain says: why add a small amount of something full of added refined sugar or something of unknown-ness when you could add a small amount of something we know is 'safe' and which has natural or no sugar in it - to do the same thing?

It's just how my logic works, it isn't a right or wrong thing.

[Markpd]

Yea totally fair enough if you have something to hand that is safe , I think at the time it was a case of what was immediately available.

You don't like rhubarb crumble?? Are you sure you're human?
What's bad about it for people btw?