is it normal....

[aaramire]

For rats to drink a lot? I find myself having to refill my ratties water bottle every 3-4 days, and I seem to always hear them drinking! I just wanted to make sure they are not sick. They are acting like normal, eating a lot! And playing like they normally do. They are just seeming to consume a lot of water?

[littleindiangirl]

How much water? What is the size of the bottle, and what age of rats are in the cage and how many?

Rat's do drink a lot of water for their body size I think.

[cassandra]

Are they too hot? My rodents drink a ton more when it's hot...

[aaramire]

I have two young rats, they are probably no older than 6 months, and the water bottle is one of those eight ounce hanging bottles.

Thanks Connie, I know to always look to you for help with the ratties!! LOL I should call you Miss Rattie! just kidding
but thanks for the help, as always!

[aaramire]

I dont think they are too hot, on a couple of occassions when I have noticed they are hot, they stretch out on the floor of the cage, but that has not been recently.

[littleindiangirl]

Oh yea.. they will drink that 8 oz down in a few days no problem.

This is the water bottles I use.
Docters Foster and Smith


I have the ferret size ones, and the one size smaller. The 32 oz and the 16 oz I think. I swear my rats drink all night too... Or they go for long periods of *in rapid succession* "chunk chunk chunk chunk chunk chunk , chatter chatter chatter chunk chunk chunk chunk etc etc etc..." Sometime I swear it's for 30 minutes straight LOL.

Anyways, I think boys drink more than girls... could be wrong, but mine sure do make me think that.

[aaramire]

Yeah, I wasnt sure, the bottle was originally for mice so its all I had, should I go out and buy a new one? I dont mind refilling it all the time, but if it would be better for them to have a bigger bottle I will definately do that!! Thanks Miss Rattie! lol

I hear that same noise all night, they do drink for a long time! lol

[littleindiangirl]

Meh, but fresh water is so tasty! I don't think it's necessary if it's working out for ya.

[aaramire]

Ok! Thanks again girl!!

[Ginevive]

You could try putting more than one bottle in the cage/tank. I do this for my "harem" breeding tank; I have 2 large rabbit-sized bottles in there. This keeps it good for a week or more.. though I sometimes change-out the water anyway, as sometimes it develops a greenish hue (algae I guess..) after just a few days..