Green algae in water bottle

[lolo123]

There is this green mold on the inside of the guineas water bottle, and I try washing it and just keeps growing over again, like when you shave
Is there any way to prevent this from happening?

 

[Glynis]

Hi i put rice in my bottle and give it a good shake, then wash as per normal...... you might be able to buy one of those bottle brushes too?
and i'd throw that bottle out and get a new one........just to be safe

 

[HyperHeavenly]

Change the water everyday and give the bottle a soak with hot water. I find this keeps them clean as I'm a bit paranoid about water bottles because the spout looks like a nice place for germs!

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Please just buy a new bottle for the sake of a pound or 2, i work in the water treatment industry and wouldn't recommend using a bottle that has contained algae, the only thing that would kill algae and the bacteria is carries is concentated chlorine, which obviously wouldn't be safe for use afterwards, water alone may make the bottle look clean but the bacteria will still be present and could pass on many form of diseases to your piggies.

As suggested change the water everyday and you could use one of the bottle snugs to keep the sunlight off the bottle.

 

[Wiebke]

Use rice to scrape it well and a cotton bud for the spout. I also use Milton's sterilising fluid once monthly.
Don't add anything to the water - that helps promoting the growth of algae.

 

[hayls<3]

Is your bottle in direct sunlight? That sometimes contribues to the breeding of the germs.

I'd get a new bottle, start over and ensure that you change water everyday giving it a good rinse when changing

 

[Joey&Gizmo]

I wash my bottles daily using a baby brush and like Hayls said if the bottle is in direct sunlight this will also make the algae grow quicker.

Maybe try a glass water bottle, i found these much cleaner than plastic ones xx

 

[fluff]

use a desert spoonfull or so of grit with a inch or so of water then with finger down the hole give it a dam good shake for a minute, works wonders or use a solution of water and baby bottle steralizing tablets this takes longer , maybe leave for 2-3 hrs and rinse well, no need to throw bottles a way thats wastefull when just a good clean will make them better.

 

[hazeyg]

Use rice to scrape it well and a cotton bud for the spout. I also use Milton's sterilising fluid once monthly.
Don't add anything to the water - that helps promoting the growth of algae.

I sterilse mine once a mont to and wash it out every night. I have never had green algae issues.

 

[LordBernieBouffant]

You can also use the little balls (sorry don't know the proper name of them :red ) from Lakeland - they are brilliant at cleaning bottles, but they will scratch plastic ones. Use an old tea strainer to catch them after and allow to dry on paper.

I would also just buy a new one and get a cover for it. Any light encourages algae over a period of time. It's worse when the piggies blow back their food into the water. I change their water twice a day.

Jo

 

[Katie Krafter]

It's probably happened because the drinking bit (with the two ball bearings in) has become contaminated. Piggies blow back food and stuff into it and it sits there and causes algae to grow. You can get a sippy thing which is a lot more expensive, but does allow complete dismantling of the active bit for cleaning. Otherwise, I agree - buy more - the glass ones are better I think.

 

[lolo123]

Is your bottle in direct sunlight? That sometimes contribues to the breeding of the germs.

I'd get a new bottle, start over and ensure that you change water everyday giving it a good rinse when changing

Come to think of it, it is in sunlight, right below a window. I think I'll get a bottle cover, and a glass bottle.
Thanks everyone|)

 

[DizzyDinosaur]

I use about half a tea spoon of chlorine bleach and tap water and let it soak for 5 mins then thoroughly rinse the bottles and bits and let air dry, I cycle through 2 bottles so one is in action and the other is air drying and put into the bucket for next weeks cleaning.

I have done this for a long time and never had any problems