In the 20+ years that I had pet rats I never had problems with algae in the ratties’ drinking bottle.
Then I heard from one of my #RattieSitting friends that she has to buy a new one, because hers has turned all green.
Weirdly enough, not too long after, also my pet water bottles showed signs of algae infestation.
Maybe something has changed to the Cape Town’s drinking water with the drought crisis?
Fortunately buying a new water dispenser is not necessary:
How to get rid of algae in your pet’s water dispenser
Simply soak the dish or bottle in 100% white vinegar.
Around the internet you’ll find a vinegar-water solution recommended at a ratio of 1 to 1. White vinegar also works well when diluted. Caution is advised when handling even food-grade vinegar as it is an acid.
But I find rinsing my rattie’s water bottle with pure white vinegar and let it soak for a while, does the trick: The algae simply disappears.
Wash the drinking bottle extensively to make sure all traces of algae and white vinegar are gone.
White vinegar is not bad for pet rats, apple cider vinegar is even good for them, but of course: only in a very diluted form. So don’t worry if the water bottle still smells of vinegar, a tiny bit of it won’t do any harm.
Of course, taking the time to clean your pet’s drinking bottle thoroughly means you need at least two. A good practice tip is anyway to provide two water bottles – just in case one fails – to make sure your pets always have access to water, especially in hot weather. This also gives you the chance to alternate between the two bottles when a proper clean is needed.
Yours *TrulyJuly* 