Rat Watering System

Does anyone have any step by step, on how to do a watering system?
I've got a rack on it's way and would like to start a watering system. I know reptile basics has stuff, but not a whole kit. Is there a cheaper way to do it myself?

I don’t know if you can do it cheaper. I do know that their watering products work very well and I couldn’t be happier with my setup. It’s a real time saver.

It's pretty easy you need

5 gallons bucket can be bought at any walmart, home depot etc for about $5

Tank connector

Valves (one per tubs or cage)

Some T fitting (same amount as your valves minus 1) and one L fitting

Mounting clips (as many as the number of valves)

Clamp loops (about 5 to 10)

and tubing

Total for a 6 tub rat rack for example will run you just under $50 with some extra tubing and it is worth every penny.

Yep I tried some cheaper valves and got tired of flooded tubs....
Went with RBIs.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Yep I tried some cheaper valves and got tired of flooded tubs....
Went with RBIs.

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Pit, are these RBI drinking valves? Are they pretty reliable? Any problems with them?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rodent-...rinking-valve/

I use these and have had an exceptional time with them so far (few months) and for the price (15.00 for pack of 20) you can buy enough to make it worthwhile.. The Ts are a little soft if you have gorilla fingers but def worth it. I bought an extra pack cause Ill be building more racks soon.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...L._SL1420_.jpg

Thanks for sharing, Elliot! Will those valves work with 3/16" hose? They look like they would require larger hose...

I bought the same ones Elliot just posted and didnt have a problem for a couple months....
After that it was 3 or 4 tubs a week leaking if they didnt flood completely. Really sucked having to clean unplanned tubs while trying to get ready for work.
I used the RBI valves for 3 or 4 years after with no problems.
They are not cheap but well worth their value.

I have used RBI valves for a long time and very rarely have I had any issue others not so much.

Of course it also take maintenance and inspection (I inspect every other week just running my finger underneath the valve) and flush the line every 6 months.

Thanks you guys. I presume RBI stands for Reptile Basics Incorporated, yeah? lol So, these are the ones you guys are using?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rodent-...rinking-valve/

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Originally Posted by Aedryan Methyus

Thanks you guys. I presume RBI stands for Reptile Basics Incorporated, yeah? lol So, these are the ones you guys are using?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/rodent-...rinking-valve/

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Yes..... AND you can rebuild them :gj::gj:

Yes those are the ones :gj:

Sweet! That's what i've been planning on ordering. I would presume that they are prone to wearing out and breaking since they sell the rebuild kits for them. I think I read somewhere that someone said they would rebuild them once a year... Oh well... That's still much more convenient than having to fill multiple water bottles per day and I won't have to design my racks with so much extra space between them top leave room for water bottles!

For these RBI nipples, how do you adjust the pressure required to move the needle? I don’t want to mess them up lol

I don’t think you will need to adjust them. At least I have never adjusted any of mine. They are pretty straight forward as it comes to installing them etc. If you run into any problems. Send me a pm and I will give you my cell number. I will be happy to walk you thru with your questions. It will probably be easier with a phone conversation.

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Originally Posted by Tigerhawk

I don’t think you will need to adjust them. At least I have never adjusted any of mine. They are pretty straight forward as it comes to installing them etc. If you run into any problems. Send me a pm and I will give you my cell number. I will be happy to walk you thru with your questions. It will probably be easier with a phone conversation.

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ok I’ll see how they are, I am not home so they will be having to use them for then next 13hrs the way they are... they just seemed really stiff to me... so I couldn’t imagine how it would be for the rat

They will be able to bite them without any problems.

Well I got home a little bit ago and I went to play with the water system, I tore down an extra nipple to see how the internals were and worked... I ran my finger across some that are hooked up and noticed they are fine the way they are lmfao!! I thought the rats literally has to push in the needle 🤣🤣🤣🤣 guess not as long as they move it or hold it to one side cause the water sure starts flowing!!!! But you can loosen the brass nipple a little bit to make it easier to move from side to side (food for thought) but I even saw one of the almost weaned rats drinking from it so that’s good to know that I don’t have to really have any losened up.... sometimes I wish there were descriptions on a products page as to how they truly function, especially when they say “take your time and adjust them properly”. I was really nervous that the rats were being deprived of water