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 #1995741


EvilTrailMix
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 Chewing

One of my mice has decided to chew on his water bottle’s plastic hanger. Is there anything I can put on it to keep him from chewing it? Something like cayan or jalapeno juice? I didn’t know if those would work or if he’d like it even better... He’s got one side completely chewed through, so it looks like it’s about to fall, and I don’t have any other way to hang their water bottles. Any ideas?
04/30/09  04:32pm

 #1995778


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1995741


 Chewing

Can you sleeve the water bottle and its hanger in a wire cage, with just the drinking tube sticking out, but the rest of the thing too hard to reach? If you can post a photo I can think up possibly a solution. A piece of hardware cloth wrapped around the thing might prevent them from gnawing on it. Also make sure they have other things to gnaw on, like cuttle fish bone and blocks of hardwood. Steak or other beef bones work good, too. Boil the bone first to sanitize it and remove any meat or fat that could spoil.
Some folks have tried Bitter Apple, a thing you can get at a pet store, to prevent chewing; more orientated towards dogs, though.
I don’t know what they would think of hot peppers; Mice are said to hate the smell and taste of cayenne pepper, peppermint and cloves. The problem with that is they may be discouraged from drinking water from the bottle altogether, if it smells or tastes bad.
04/30/09  05:24pm

 #1995790


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1995778


 Chewing

I’ve got them in 10 gallon tanks, so I can’t just hang the water bottle on the outside.

Here’s a not very great picture of the bottle hanging in the tank:

And here is what the plastic hanger looks like.

It’s not the same one that’s in the cage, but you can see the chewing damage on it too. The one in the cage has one of the hooks completely gnawed off of the rest of it.

I’ve got some mint breath drops that I might try putting on it, if I can find them. I don’t think it would keep them from drinking the water, because it’s the top of the thing they’re chewing.
04/30/09  05:43pm

 #1996127


Tefoe
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1995790


 Chewing

Its a simple fix...
See the problem is that the metal wire holding the water bottle to the plastic clip is placed to low on the bottle so the bottle leans forward...As you can see in your picture.So the mice can climb on to it and reach behind the bottle and chew the clip.....
All you have to do is get a piece of wire, wrap it around the top of the water bottle and the clip.That way the bottle is held right up against the clip......
05/01/09  01:03am

 #1996129


Tefoe
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1995790


 Chewing

Of course its not perfect.The problem with putting the bottles in the cage like that is they’ll always find something to chew on them....
05/01/09  01:05am

 #1996173


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Tefoe   In reference to Message Id: 1996127


 Chewing

The bottle didn’t hang forward when the clip was un-gnawed. Having it right up against it doesn’t keep them from climbing up it; they are right acrobats! I’ve got a spare clip I’m going to use once I can find my mint stuff I’m going to try to use.
05/01/09  04:20am

 #1996308


Disturbed_duo
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1996173


 Chewing

I have had the same problem, so I switched some of my bottles with ones that hang from the screen top w/ like a paperclip type deal.. Works good..

But now with my other issue of starting over, I’m going to use Tubs & gonna just feed the end through a hole in the side...

Jeremy
05/01/09  12:53pm

 #1997100


Tefoe
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   Message To: EvilTrailMix   In reference to Message Id: 1996173


 Chewing

As I said, if your going to put them in the tank like that, they will chew them.
05/02/09  06:11pm

 #1997266


Jynxer50
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   Message To: Tefoe   In reference to Message Id: 1997100


 Chewing

I would just get a metal one. They sell them very cheap online. Here’s a link. good luck! :)

Link
05/02/09  09:37pm

 #1997309


EvilTrailMix
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   Message To: Jynxer50   In reference to Message Id: 1997266


 Chewing

Thanks! I’m giving the mint idea a shot, but if it doesn’t work out I’ll look into one of those.
05/02/09  10:28pm

 #1997495


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Jynxer50   In reference to Message Id: 1997266


 Chewing

I’m off to Petco tomorrow as it is, and will pick up some of these metal clips!
Thanks, Jynxer50!
05/03/09  09:11am

 #1997538


Jynxer50
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   Message To: Greatballzofire   In reference to Message Id: 1997495


 Chewing

You’re welcome! They work great. I used them for my gerbils, who really love to chew and they couldn’t get through them. For my mice I use the 8 oz. Oasis Bell Bottle. It’s all metal and really tough plastic. They can’t get through it either. And this brand also doesn’t drip at all.

Jake
05/03/09  10:05am


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