My boys don't seem to be drinking out of their water bottle so i've been putting pedialite in their food.. would it be a bad idea to put a dish with some water in it??

They often get most of their liquids from fruits, etc. Make sure the water bottle is clear and passing water. every once in a while, hold them neat it so they realize it's there. You can also try a little apple juice mixed witht he water until they use it regularly. There's nothing wrong with water in a little dish, just change it more often because it tends to get soiled.

Yep, a dish is fine as long as you are changing it at least once daily and any time you see food or waste in it. I used one for a while, along with the water bottle, until they were using it more for a toilet! Try another water bottle so you have two in there. You should have two anyway in case something happens to one of them. Pedialyte in their food isn't necessary and honestly, I wouldn't recommend apple juice in their water either. It isn't good for their teeth. They are animals. They will drink when they are thirsty. You could also check for dehydration by doing the tent test if you're still concerned. Chances are, they are getting their liquids from fresh fruits and veggies, as mentioned.

I've heard about the apple juice, and I did that for the first week I had my girls, but I don't anymore. I'm a paranoid mommy and do the tent test almost every single day, but I'm pretty sure they're just fine. They have their fruits and veggies which provide a good amount of fluids for them... They're fine.

also they may like the water silos...i got mine at walmart they are for birds like water and food and stuff but the water goes into a small cup at the bottom instead of it dripping out my girls like it soo much better and they dont malfunction as much as the water bottles!

Peidalyte shouldnt be given to them on a daily basis. Only if they are dehydrated.

Apple juice can go sour really quickly.

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Originally posted by bobnzoey

also they may like the water silos...i got mine at walmart they are for birds like water and food and stuff but the water goes into a small cup at the bottom instead of it dripping out my girls like it soo much better and they dont malfunction as much as the water bottles!

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i like your idea. i dont know why i never thought of that when i had hedgehogs they used a bowl for water. and i use the water silos every year when i raise ducklings my boys seem to be fine with the water bottle and get most of their water from their fruit but i will keep this in mind. it would be less messy then just a bowl i can see my boys knocking it over and taking a bath in a bowl of water lol.

yeah my girls bottles kept leaking and i dont know why and i got really tired of a watery mess that smelled under the water bottle so i went to walmart to see what all they had and i really like them....also when my girl had runny poop one day i mixed a little bit of apple juice in her water but i took it out the next day and put regular water in it but there wasnt much left of the apple juice mix....i just wanted to make sure she had plenty of fluid...but i dont do that unless i need to

I wouldn't put anything in their water on a regular basis.
Watch them -- I bet they're drinking some. Also what I do is I hold the water bottle out to them after I give them their mealies in the morning, and typically they both take a little drink.

I realized that my gliders weren't drinking from their water bottle quite awhile back. I remember reading a thread on here about the type of ball that some bottles had on them. I checked and sure enough mine had it so I had to go buy a new one.

The difference is the spring loaded ball on the end or the ball that's just there and can easily be touched to get out water. The ones that have the spring in them are to hard for gliders to use. They can't push the ball to get water out.

Just to update about the different types of water bottles.

i was afraid to buy a water bottle and have it drip all the time like the other dozens of water bottles i have bought for hamsters and hedgehogs and have a big mess. but for once i picked a good water bottle that doesnt do that. i think i had always had the little plastic ones but this time i wanted to get a big glass one (it looks better too) and its great. i either got lucky or the glass ones are better
and you can also get those water silos at like a farm/livestock type store. just ask for duckling/chick water silo thing.

i think the water silo is an amazing idea!!! i'm going to get one in addition to the water bottle i have in the cage now. the water bottle doesn't leak water and it is one of the ones with the easy ball so they can get water out of it.. they might be drinking out of it when i'm asleep?? a water silo is in definite need though! thanks so much everyone : )