Do water bottle guards work for in cage?

[nbelval]

I'm in the process of making enclosures for my rats out of bins. I have the metal water bottle guards from previous pets, and didn't know if anyone had used them with there breeder/feeders with any success?
If it's pointless, then I'll just drill the hole in the side and mount it externally, but if I can mount it internally I'd rather.
Thanks in advance for any tips or horror stories of chewed water bottles.

[nbelval]

Anyone??

I have a pregnant female coming tomorrow and I have the bin set up with the bottle and guard, but if it needs to be mounted on the outside then I'll get to it tonight so it's all ready. Thanks!

[sassy-pants]

Set it up internally. Usually they won't try to chew out through the hole you drilled for water, but some are little jerks and will chew a giant hole in your bin.

[MarkS]

Rats will always try to chew on any corners first. Empty tuna cans will fit over the tops and bottoms of 32 oz bottles pretty well, you have to drill a hole in the bottom one for the sipper. It's not fool proof but it works surprisingly well.

[nbelval]

Just what I was looking for, thanks so much!

Nicole

[tomfromtheshade]

I used to breed rats in 20G and 10G aquariums, keeping my harem in the 20G and moving the pregs to a 10G as they were showing. I used water bottles with the sheet metal holders that offered a little protection down near the sipper. Anyway, the rats never once killed the bottle. My gerbils would smoke bottles all the time.

[bokuza]

Eventually they will chew it. Save the future trouble and mount it outside.