Moldy Waterbottle... :/ Unsure what to do...

[schavarry]

I'm piggysitting. Yesterday I noticed that their waterbottle has mold in it - I have no idea how long it's been moldy! They've only been at my house since Friday night, which means I probably missed it on Sat and Sun when I had my daughter fill up the water but it could've been gross before then.

I threw the waterbottle in the dishwasher because my bottle brush wouldn't fit inside - but when it came out it was still moldy and gross! Is it safe to use bleach on the water bottle? Or should I just toss it and replace it?

Thankfully I have extra bottles for my pigs so they aren't stuck using a moldy bottle but I need another one so I can rotate the bottles through the wash...

[MissJean]

I'd toss it. They're cheap to replace, so soaking it in bleach seems like a waste of time.

[PigPandemonium]

I don't believe bleach should ever be used for anything, just throw it away and buy a new cheap one, I use the critter canteens they are very cheep, and work better than any others I have tried, even the really expensive ones.

[SeeSpotSit]

If you're making an effort to reduce/reuse/recycle, perhaps a salt solution or soaking it in a diluted vinegar solution will work to clean it. If not, I'd throw it out and get a new one

[pinky]

Are you sure it's mold and not algae? Algae needs sun for photosynthesis so if it's located in a sunny place, it'll form faster. I'd get rid of the bottle and empty and clean out the new one every day and you won't have a problem.

[schavarry]

@pinky - it's black not green, I've never seen black algae so I'm pretty sure it's mold... Plus it wasn't in sunlight at my friends house or my own.

Looks like I am going to go shopping for a new water bottle. Thanks for the input!

[CinnandMegsMom]

My vote is Toss It Out.

New bottle 6 US dollars or less. Sick GP priceless.

[Zuidy]

I wash my bottles and brush out the insides of the nozzle with hot water every day and a Vinegar-Water solution every cage cleaning day, so every Friday.

I haven't had a problem with any bacteria.

[spy9doc]

Issues like this are one of the reasons I buy glass water bottles. I'm a proponent of a weak bleach solution to sanitize things, but in this case I would NOT use it on a plastic water bottle. You just don't know what the bottle will absorb and retain.

I, too, clean the water bottle daily and use a q-tip to really get down into the nozzle to clean it and remove pellet and hay residue.

I agree........go buy a new one!

[jacqueline]

@spy9doc - where do you get glass water bottles? and, while i'm at it (apologies for a momentary highjack of this thread) - the round metal things that hook on the grids and hold the bottles - THEY DRIVE ME NUTS!! what else can you use to hold the bottle in place?

[spy9doc]

where do you get glass water bottles? and, while i'm at it - the round metal things that hook on the grids and hold the bottles - THEY DRIVE ME NUTS!! what else can you use to hold the bottle in place?

The brand of the water bottle is "Living World" and they come with a double-ring holder that actually works! I bought mine at a CT pet store that may not exist outside the state. Just do a search.......they're all over the Web.

Get the wide industrial-strength sticky back velcro. Put a piece of one side of the sticky type around the water bottle and thread a piece of non-sticky through the grids and around the bottle.

I use this method frequently when I need to use an improvised carrier such as plastic bin or laundry basket for transport to the vet or elsewhere. If you use a small water bottle, the sticky-back velcro works on the inside of the plastic container and well as around the bottle.

[ThePigAlchemist]

I personally use these water bottle holders:

I found mine at a pet store, but you can look online and find them too. I found one on eBay by Googling "guinea pig water bottle holders." They hang inside of the cage, which takes up a teeny bit of room, but I like them tons better than the round wire things.

[spy9doc]

I personally use these water bottle holders:

Yep......they work as well.

[schavarry]

what else can you use to hold the bottle in place?

When I bought my Edstrom water bottles, they came with little springs that have clips on the end - I love how well they work with any size/shape water bottle.

I've already purchased (online) a new water bottle to replace her old one which is now in my trash can! I'm going to see how I like the replacement bottle I ordered for her and possibly buy more for myself

[PigPandemonium]

For water bottle holders, I just use a rubber band and paper clips. xD You just take two paper clips, and unfold them to make a straight line, then curl one end of each paper clip around the rubber band, then make the ends in a hook shape, so they can attach to the bars. It's worked really well for me, and is made with just things you can find around the house.

[xXMaggieXx]

Super pet also makes a good glass water bottle. Thats what I use

[schavarry]

@Zuidy , I clean my bottles with dawn dish soap and wash them out thoroughly weekly but this water bottle isn't mine, I'm not sure how frequently she washes out her water bottle but apparently it wasn't enough...

For water bottle holders, I just use a rubber band and paper clips. xD

OMG this is BRILLIANT!! You just solved all my problems with water bottle holders!! I didn't even need to bend the paper clip - the rubber band will stretch enough for the water bottle to come out

This tip needs to go in the tips and tricks thread so everyone can do this! Awesome idea!!

[PigPandemonium]

Haha thanks so much @schavarry! xD I came up with it, because the critter canteens come with a holder inside, but it doesn't seem to work for C&C cages, but I didn't want to go out and buy a holder, so I just came up with that.

[schavarry]

@PigPandemonium - again, brilliant! My daughter always wants to help fill up the water but has such a hard time putting the stupid metal holders back on - some times she can't even get them off but this is a cheap version of the metal springy ones I have so now I can use these for ALL the water bottles and she can stop complaining when she's helping!! Plus it'll be great for travel so I don't have to worry about loosing my nice ones And if it breaks, I have PLEANTY of rubber bands to replace it

[PigPandemonium]

I'll actually make a tutorial on how to do it with pictures now, and put it in the hot tips sections, maybe it will help some other people also.