A hard lesson...Please read if you use automatic watering

[jglass38]

For anyone that uses automatic watering, please read the following.

I had one tub of rats that were withering away. All skin and bones and looking extremely sick. It is a closed colony so the odds that any disease got introduced is remote. I checked on them a few minutes ago and one was dead. After thinking for a few minutes I checked their water. It turns out that the sipper was clogged and they weren't getting any water. I put a water bottle down through the hardware cloth and they all drank a ton. I also found out that on my other rack, the entire thing was without water since the valve in the bucket was clogged. I removed every sipper valve that I have, removed the buckets and scrubbed everything. I took apart each sipper and each bucket valve and soaked them in a hot water/bleach solution and then blew each one out to make sure it was clear before putting it back together. I then tested all levels in the racks and verified that all water was working. Please, if you have rodents and use automatic watering, check the flow often and clean your sippers on a regular schedule. I have no excuse for not checking them more frequently and its sad that any rats had to die because of my mistake.

[Laooda]

Wow Jamie, thanks for posting that..... especially considering I'm using a similar? system now. I've had water bottles do the same thing too.... Just throwing that out there. So sorry you lost a rattie.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

That is a good lesson for anyone, thanks for sharing that with us.


I was thinking about switching to watering system, however even if filling up bottles everyday is not all that fun, I like to be able to tell who is drinking and see if there is any problem.

[cueball]

Kara mentioned something about soaking the sippers in vinegar to erode deposits

[jglass38]

Kara mentioned something about soaking the sippers in vinegar to erode deposits

I now remember hearing something about that. I will try it next time. As long as they are working its all good..

[cueball]

You're a gentleman for making this post and saving others

[Adam_Wysocki]

Over here, every sipper gets checked at least once a week during cleaning ... before I put the tub back in the rack, I give the sipper a little "tweak" with my finger to make sure it has good flow.

Over time, you'll find far worse problems with floods using automatic watering systems ... new sippers are pretty much flood proof, but once those little blue diaphragms have some time on them, watch out.

Checking for floods is an every day chore for me.

-adam

[frankykeno]

Sorry this happened Jamie but it's really good of you to share the experience so others can learn from it. I'm still using water bottles but I have to watch that they don't plug up the spigots on them.

[Sevo]

Over here, every sipper gets checked at least once a week during cleaning ... before I put the tub back in the rack, I give the sipper a little "tweak" with my finger to make sure it has good flow.

-adam

I do the same. Make it a habit everytime you clean. It really will become part of your cleaning routine.

Jamie, sorry for your loss.. thanks for posting that. It will help remind people stuff can happen

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Having to clean it every week or so seems like a lot of work no?