1.Should the bedding in a hamster cage cover the bars on the down side or not? How "high" should it be???
2.I think my new hamster can't actually use the drinking bottle since when i squeezed it with her around she tried to drink both from the bottle and from the already spilled water! What should I do??
2007-09-26 07:21:09 · 8 answers · asked by gabriel k 2 in Pets ➔ Rodents
First off, hamsters should not be in a cage that has barring as a floor, if that's what you mean. Their feet are too small and delicate. If this is the type of cage you have, please find something to place on the bottom until you can get a more appropriate habitat.
Secondly, the best bedding to use for hamsters or mice is called Carefresh. You can get it at Petco. It is made of recycled paper and is non-toxic. It is also fairly soft and very absorbent. A depth of 2 to 3 inches all 'round will make any hamster comfy, cozy.
NEVER NEVER EVER USE NEWSPAPER FOR ANY TYPE OF RODENT!!! IT IS VERY TOXIC! It can also lead to an impaction if they eat it.
A hard plastic water bottle that has a metal pea in it for dripping purposes is best for drinking water. Place in a position where the hamster can sit comfortably and drink.
Sometimes being a good hamster parent means using your imagination. I had to rig water bottles with bent paper clips to get the right positions in some of my hamster houses. I used glass aquariums with metal animal keeper lids for housing for my hammies.
Please let me know if this helps.
P.S. Hamster age... every human year is equal to 37 hamster years. That is why hamsters only live 2 to 3 years. In hamster years they are actually quite old.
2007-09-26 10:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Nicki G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. I don't know what you mean by "bars on the down side" but what I can tell you is you should have about a 1 1/2 inch layer of bedding in the hamster cage. They like to burrow in the bedding and sleep and thats what most hamster guides say to do. You can put more if you like but realize that just means you will have to buy bedding more often, I don't know what your buget is so just keep that in mind.
2. Something you should always do when you buy a drinking bottle is once you have the water in it see if the water comes out easily by rolling the tip of your finger lightly across it. If its doesn't you need to get another water bottle. I had a friend who didn't know that her water bottle didn't work and her hamster died cause it couldn't get the water out of the bottle. As for your hamster not knowing how to use the bottle, when you bought the hamster did it have a water bottle or a water dish in the cage at the store? If it had a water dish its going to take it a day or two to figure out how to work the water bottle. What helps is if your water bottle lets little drops come out of it, so they hang out on tip where the rolling ball is then the hamster is able to put two and two together. If your hamster still hasn't gotten the hang of the water bottle you may need to try a water dish, just make sure its small enough and not to put too much water, so it doesn't drown in it if she goes for a dip. And beware they like to put the bedding in the water dish so you will have to check it everyday, remove the wet bedding and add more water...
Goodluck!! I hope your hamster gets it the hang of it soon!
2007-09-26 08:47:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
#1 Bedding should be about half an inch. Do not use newspaper for the ink is poisonous.
#2 She probably can reach the bottle. My hamsters stand to drink the water. She's probably just being lazy like my other male hamsters. Don't worry. If you are just try to relocate the water bottle. And to be sure she gets her dosage of water, hand feed her =)
2007-09-26 16:09:57 · answer #3 · answered by kitkat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She'll figure out the bottle, don't worry. And why shouldn't she drink the spilled water if she wants to?
The bedding should cover the floor of the cage. Then give her some tissues to construct a nest with. The nest can get pretty big if you give her enough nest material.
2007-09-26 17:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definitely have the bedding cover the wire bottom. there should be enough that the hamster should be able to dig and bury itself. as for the water bottle she will get used to it. if you would like you could also put a small dish of water in the cage as well but keep the water bottle there also. dishes of water tend to be a mess so watch for wet spots.
2007-09-26 07:25:56 · answer #5 · answered by LovesPets 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
okay the bedding shouldn't be as high as u r describing it.
about 2 inches of bedding all around that is all they need. and if she has a hard time drinkning the water, then raise the bottle of a few inches so she can have access to it. as long as u can look at the bottle of water and see there is nothing blocking it and if she stands on her back legs and can use it then your fine. :D
2007-09-26 07:32:03 · answer #6 · answered by BEAUTiFUL CAiTLYN 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just use newspaper to line bottom. Or wax paper.
2007-09-26 07:25:02 · answer #7 · answered by deltadawn 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't know
sorry
2007-09-26 07:24:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋