Hey,
Well, I emailed my response to the question about the flip top water
bottles, but then on the fml there were two negative responses to the
bottles, so I felt i must tell the other side of the story!!
 
I own one of the flip tops, and I find it so much better than a regular
water bottle.  I looked up online the type of water bottle that the
question was about, and I actually have a different brand.  It appears
to be slightly different, but it is still a flip top.  Here is a link to
the picture of the one I have.
http://www.farnampet.com/product.php?pid=100255
&maincat=For%20Other%20Animals&key=300020&cat=Water+Bottles
 
Anyway, I find the best part about it is that it is SO easy to clean, you
just remove the top part and you can fit basically any brush in there or
rag and your hand in the bottle.  No more using bottle brushes or tooth
brushes or what ever to try to get that nasty dirt outta the corners.  I
also like the fact that you don't have to remove the hanger to get the
bottle off the cage.  You just pull.  The hanger is very sturdy as well,
so no water bottle sliding all over the bars of the cage.
 
The little lever, which appears to be the biggest thing that people don't
like, or wonder if their animal will be able to use it.  Well, my two
adjusted just fine.  I did have to show them by pushing the lever while
they watched.  Julliet decided she would use her nose instead of biting
it, but she does just fine.  Romeo, who joined the house hold later on
caught on really quick, he bites it instead of using his nose.  I
wouldn't go about showing your ferrets by pushing the lever with their
nose because they can't move out of the way of the water quick enough.  I
like the lever because it doesn't leak.  It also makes the tube easy to
clean.  If your ferret shoves someting up the tube, most likely it will
not press the lever enough to make the bottle drain and you can easily
use a tooth pick to get it out.  Air gets to basically the whole tube as
well, so you're less likely to have something growing in it.
 
It is true you can't turn the bottle upside down or on it's side, that's
about the only disadvantage.  I've accidently turned the bottle upside
for a few seconds, but it didn't dump out.  It only dripped.
 
I suppose that it is a personal preference, If you think it would be a
good choice for you then give it a shot.  You're ferrets probably will
turn their noses up at it for a little bit, but mine both caught on to it
within a day.  It's kinda like a kid with spinach or broccoli... they'll
put up a big stink about it... but then they eat it... and even like it.
 
Happy water bottle-ing!
- Jules
And the flip top duo
[Posted in FML issue 4799]