Hamster chewing through water bottle? Help please

[Oobee35]

Hello. I have an adult/ old-ish dwarf campbell hamster called Mika who keeps exhibiting "interesting" behavior. Mika (only recently) has started chewing through her water bottle and on the spout . Her last one started leaking since she chewed through it, so I had an emergency visit to Petco. (I don't like Petco, I was just in a hurry). I got her a new water bottle, and yet again she's attempting to chew through it. I have given her plenty of chew toys and other little "buildings" for her to chew on as well as play in. She lives in a 30 gallon tank with lots of things to climb on, through, and over. Please let me know if there is any way I can prevent her from doing this because I'm also worried about her ingesting too much plastic. Thank you!

[Ria P]

Give her a water bowl instead a bottle. Hamsters often prefer them.

[Oobee35]

I've tried giving her a water bowl before but she constantly gets bedding in it and just gets herself really wet in the process, but I can always try that method again

[cypher]

Ingesting any amount of plastic would be dangerous but there is also the problem of ingesting too much water when they do this & that is bad for them too.
It can become a bit of a habit with some hams & a bowl is really the only answer, could you make or buy a little shelf to stand the bowl on so it's above the substrate a little? A small shallow bowl is best, nothing too large or deep.

[Oobee35]

Awesome thanks . I'll give it a go!

[Ria P]

If she's in a barred cage then you can get a metal bowl which sits inside a frame that screws onto the bars. It lifts out easily to change the water. Pets@home sell them if you are in the UK.