Fountain?

[Strawfrawg]

Marvin has found a new passion...running water. I hadn't tried taking him into the shower because I tend to use very hot water, but a couple of days ago I let him sit on my arm while I was washing his veggies and he skittered down and started playing under the tap. He never tired of it, and was a little cranky when I turned the water off.

This makes me want to get him a fountain like the ones used in reptile cages, for some supervised play. This way I could also use distilled water so he wouldn't be drinking the tap water, which isn't terrible but I still don't trust it. Do you think a reptile fountain would be safe enough, toxin-wise, if I could clean it well inside and out? Reptiles are pretty senstive, too, after all. I wouldn't risk it unless I get some good feedback. I'm going to ask my vet about it, too. The lorikeets at my local zoo have a fountain in their habitat....

Also...after playing in the water, his first few droppings were very...watery. The color was fine and the strands/urates still had shape, so I figured it was just because he was drinking as he played, which I saw him do several times. Should this be a concern? Am I right that it's just because of the extra water intake? The droppings firmed back up in a couple of hours.

[Pajarita]

Don't worry about the droppings. An, yes, a fountain would be great! I am planning on putting one in the birdroom but the kind I want is expensive and requires plumbing inside the wall (I want the ones that come out of the wall into a basin).

[KimberlyAnn]

What a great idea! Emmi loves running water. The bathroom sink is only so much fun...a waterfall with a pool and rocks would be awesome!

[Eric&Rebecca]

Droppings like that after baths are completely normal- its called polyuria. Although this can happen for medical reasons its fairly common after a bath and should return to normal within a few hours if not less

[Strawfrawg]

Thanks for the feedback. I've seen his droppings go runny for a bit after baths before, but he plays for so long under the tap that I just wanted to be sure the increased water in his droppings is okay. It seems like a lot to me. But as I said, it does firm back up. I'm glad he's being well-hyrdated!

I've started shopping for fountains this evening. So far I have yet to find anything I love...the basins tend to be tiny. No way am I going to do anything that requires new plumbing...that's ambitious, parajita! I'd love to at some point, though. I have my dream indoor habitat all planned out but it isn't something I can do as a renter. I hope to be buying in a year or two...then it's game on.

I'm finding two basic materials, the standard resin used for reptile accessories and "foamed urethane". I have no idea if the latter is safe. Any clue? It sounds a little iffy.

[LadySaphine]

No way am I going to do anything that requires new plumbing...that's ambitious, parajita! I'd love to at some point, though. I have my dream indoor habitat all planned out but it isn't something I can do as a renter. I hope to be buying in a year or two...then it's game on.

Trust me, sometimes I plan out whole aviaries (being 14, I can't do so... not yet, anyways.) A fountain sounds like an awesome idea! Wild birds, if you have a fountain outside, are attracted to running water like moths to a flame! We have this 89 gallon above-ground pond we bought from Lowe's, with running water. It's on our patio, near the house. Normally the birds would stay away from the patio out of fear of the humans, but I've seen them multiple times sneak over to the fountain.

I'm sure Marvin would love it. Peanut is only interested in water when she's dirty. After that, she doesn't care.