The Truth About Feeders and Bowls for Your Small Companion Pet Hamsters, Guinea Pigs, Rat and Mice Food Dishes It is recommended to place the food in a proper food dish in the corner of the cage. Using a proper food dish is much more sanitary and easier to monitor food consumption. Bowls should be ceramic or earthenware. Plastic bowls could be be nibbled on. Small fragments of plastic could be swallowed. This could be dangerous to your pet. Scratched dishes may harbor bacteria. You should get rid of them. All dishes should be washed with hot soapy water. A separate bowl for vegetables, or vegetable clips, is also a good idea. Water Devices Most small animals do fine with an open water dish. Nevertheless, litter tends to get kicked into open water dishes. As with food dishes, water bowls should be ceramic or earthenware, since plastic bowls tend to be nibbled on, and small fragments of plastic could be swallowed. Replace scratched water dishes that can harbor bacteria. All water dishes should be washed with hot soapy water. A second water dish is always handy to use while the other one is being cleaned. If you own a hamster, a water bottle is recommended over a water dish since hamsters will quickly turn over a water bowl. Because most small animals need to chew often, it's best to get a water bottle with a stainless steel stem, or a heavy water bowl. Ceramic one works best. :: Pet care schedule for Rabbit         A Note About Chewing Small animals love to chew things. Please keep that in mind when you purchase food and water devices. Since chewing is a natural way for your small animal to wear down her teeth, you should also have ready food and water for your small companion pet at all times.