Hello. We got our first Syrian this year too and I can relate to a lot of the issues - I have had loads of help and great information from here. I also had an awful lot of problems with water bottles - especially as my cage has narrower bars than the hamster heaven and our syrian was very nervy of the noise the bottles made when put in and out. I tried 3 or 4 different types of bottle and this solution worked best for me
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage
It's not cheap at over £10 plus the postage is high because I think it comes from Germany, but those little mouse bottles it comes with are great for a Syrian - I refill ours about every 3 days and I only half fill it and don't screw it up too tight - this makes sure they can actually get water out (I had one bottle that failed and that was scary as they can die if they can't get water). It leaks a tiny wee bit when not screwed tight but it works a treat, no problems fastening things to cages. Not sure where you would put it in a hamster heaven though, if you have both the shelves in. Maybe you could leave one shelf out - ours liked the shelf with the slide, house and dish in it. I put a potty tray in the corner of that shelf with potty litter in and he would pop out of the pod house, use the litter tray and then go back in the pod house.
The other freestanding bottle and stand is from Germany (Cypher has this one and I ordered it as a spare). It's from the German site Rodipet so everything is in German, but it works out slightly cheaper (the price is in euros) and I've found their postage very reasonable and delivery quite quick - it's only coming from Europe. You can use google translate to help work out what's what on the website, but if it's too much hassle it might be better to get the first one. The first one I found the wood a bit smelly to begin with so left it a few days for the smell to wear off before putting it in the cage. The rodipet one didn't smell. I'd get the taller rodipet one for a syrian or she'll get a crick in her neck!
Häuser Rodipet® Tränke - Rodipet® Heimtierzubehör Shop
I would also get some spares of those little mouse bottles as my first one didn't work. They are quite cheap. I got them from here for just under £4 including delivery.
Classic Deluxe Mouse Water Bottle 75ml: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies
These mouse bottles also might fasten to the cage easier as they aren't so big and heavy, if you don't want to fork out for a stand. Maybe I'm just cack-handed (probably) but I just couldn't get on with trying to fasten the bottle each time! I also tried the ferplast sippy but Hamster just ignored it - didn't like it at all!
I think the first two weeks she will be a bit scared and feel like escaping, which is probably why she is bar chewing, but that might settle down.
When you say bedding - do you mean the substrate (shavings or whatever on the bottom) or do you mean the paper bedding they make a nest with? Either way, you can't really have too much. With substrate - as much as possible, as others say - it gives them a soft landing if they fall and they can dig tunnels in it too. With paper bedding (I get the bags of white paper strips but some people use torn up white toilet paper), just put two or three handfuls in so she can make herself a nest with it. The nest is really important - it's their safe place where they can feel cocooned and hide from the world, so it's also important to try and not disturb this when you clean the cage, unless it is wee soaked or something.
Anything you put through the bars she might see as an invasion of her territory, hence the squeak. Please don't be nervous about biting. Our Syrian has never bitten once. When he was nervous at first he might jump or twist his head to see you off, but he has never once bitten. I found a hamster ball and or a cardboard kitchen roll tube were great for getting him in and out of the cage at first, and we used to tame him in the dry bath with the plug in until he got used to being handled. Just a little stroke now and then at first until he got used to it, and then cupping him underneath and letting him go till he got used to being held. But yours might be used to being handled straight up.
I would just say - calm. Ours was in the living room from day one and we have the tv on, cooking and all sorts, but he was fine with that. What helped was a routine - coming out in his ball once a day, so he got used to coming out on a regular basis. The only thing I ever held through the bars was a treat - anything that comes towards them that isn't food, they see as a threat (especially anything coming from above). For some reason tubes are ok - I guess because they see it as something safe to crawl into.
I'm glad you are enjoying your lovely little Penny. Be calm around her, talk in a low calm loving voice and she will pick up the vibes. Give her some 'space' to settle in and explore her home and try not to change anything for the first couple of weeks (except the water bottle!) - don't clean it out or anything, although you could replace the odd handful of substrate if it gets stinky. Let her out in a hamster ball for 15 minutes max if she starts chewing the bars - she will get used to knowing she can get out sometimes. Have fun! They are all different personalities and you will get to know hers. It takes a couple of weeks for them to adjust to a new environment. Once ours was settled in he was quite happy in his cage and didn't even want to come out! It's normal to be nervous about being bitten, but she will pick up the nerves and get jumpy herself so try and hide it and stay calm and relaxed - just make sure she is over something soft and low (a cushion or something) in case she tries to jump out of your hand. Or do the bath thing like we did until she is used to being held.
Hope this helps! I picked it all up on here!
Ps - the best thing I found was this potty litter tray. I put it in straight away and he started using it straight away. It's great - the cage never gets smelly and you just tip it out and refill it once a week.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage
Put it in the corner where she wees and put a bit of the wee'd substrate in so she can smell it's a toilet! I use the potty litter granules - some people use Chinchilla sand. The granules attracted him to it so it made it easier to become a habit, but they can be dangerous if eaten. Charlie only tried nibbling them once the first time and didn't like it so he doesn't do that, but if she is a ham that tries to eat it more than once, I would use something else.
Re: Just got my first hamster home!
Ceecee chewed on her bars quite a bit when she was settling in, it could be just a stress thing and she might grow out of it once she settles. Since she's only just moved in its probably not from boredom but that's something you will have to watch out for in the future.
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