Granite mortar as water bowl

[martini]

Hi,

My bunny just realized it was a lot of fun tipping over and tossing his water bowl around. I tried switching him to a heavy ceramic bowl but he still finds the strength to do it. So I am thinking something more radical – a granite mortar bowl that weights 7 pounds / 3 kilos lol. The added benefit is that the granite will keep the water cooler during summer months 🙂 My question is, since the inside of the mortar is unpolished and rough granite, is it a safe material for bunny’s water bowl?

 

I am thinking something like this https://www.amazon.com/Spotted-Mortar-Pestle-Capacity，Anti-slip-Granite/dp/B08HMLRGVN/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=mortar&qid=1620088661&s=home-garden&sr=1-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUEtRREEzQVdLM1BUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODQyNjU2M1cyR0NFN1VOQktIVSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjMyOTY2M1FBVUxINENXSjRIQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

 

Thank you 🙂

[kanin]

I imagine if it’s food-grade and safe to eat from that it would be okay to use as a water bowl, but I could be wrong.

If you keep him in an x-pen or something similar you could get a water bowl that attaches to it. You can find a bunch by searching “attachable water bowl” on Amazon. They’re cheaper too. 😁

[martini]

He is 100% free roaming so no xpen, so that is not an option 🙁

 

And yes granite is porous and that’s why I am concerned about granite dust particles  in his water. It does not really harm us humans but could not find any reference to bunnies…

 

Maybe I should try a marble mortar? It is non-porous. It is just not as heavy (2 pounds/1kg)… not still heavier than any ceramic bowls out there I suppose…

 

Oh my, I am actually considering a marble drinking bowl for my bunny…

[LBJ10]

Isn’t granite porous? I would be worried about stuff growing in it and it being difficult to clean.

[martini]

I just found this on granite: “Additionally, studies have shown that granite dust, which gets into the ingredients pounded in a granite mortar and pestle, contains 5% potassium and has associated with it 16 minerals. Potassium aids the functions of the cells and different organs in our bodies.”…

 

Is extra potassium good or bad for rabbits?

[Bam]

I dont think rabbits need extra potassium. You wouldn’t be grinding stuff in the mortar anyway.

I think it could be difficult to clean, like LBJ says. A rough surface is always difficult to clean because the roughness vastly increases the surface area.

I have 2 water containers like on the picture. They hold 1.5 liter water each which makes them heavy.

Having a big water container has some down sides. You have to clean the bowl and the lower rim of the container and refill it every other day, or every day if the weather is warm, even though there’s still water left in it. Bacteria will form biofilms on the inner surface of any water bowl, and its important that the bun always has a clean bowl.  Another downside is that these plastic containers are relatively ugly.

 

 

[martini]

Just updating this thread in case anyone is searching for something similar. I ended up getting him a heavy small stone hot pot (the kind they use for bibimbap in Korean cuisine). It is NOT porous, it is polished and smooth ceramic inside, dishwasher safe and heavier than any ceramic bowls I looked at as it needs to be able to handle the heat while cooking on the stove. And it is not ugly like the plastic container. Problem solved 🙂

 

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M3SBXX0?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

[LBJ10]

You’ll have to let us know if it works!

[martini]

Update: the bowl works like a charm 🙂 Fits about 3 cups which lasts for days but I change it everyday anyway. No more tossing around and tipping over, it is heavy even for me… so in case anyone is looking for this, I can strongly recommend!

[LBJ10]

Wonderful! Thanks for the update!

[Author]

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