Bottle Habit

[robyn_pickles]

Does anyone have any advice on how to stop hamsters chewing and pushing their bottles out of the cage? Its almost obsessive she goes at it whole heartedly. Its a bit concerning because she forces the bottle out of the little hole so it falls off, and if i'm away for the weekend, she's without water! Its like her new favourite game or something!

[souffle]

Some hamsters do this and it can drive you nutty. You can try and only put the very tip through the bars so she can get a grip of the spout.
Attach it very tightly using paper clips and elastic bands?
Try a different type of bottle or hang the bottle swinging from the roof so she has to stand up to drink from it. When you are there try a bowl of water so she forgets about the bottle then re-introduce it.

[Zeppelin]

I've had similar bottle stress recently, Metallica somehow managed to chew a tiny hole at the top of her bottle which meant all the water flowed into her cage - minx! And then her son Zeppelin3 has got it in for his bottle and keeps knocking it out, so I have put his cage on the floor so that the bottle is wedged against the wall, it seems to be working. But no doubt another bundle will find something equally amusing to do with them - they do keep us on our toes :)

[nightminder]

Gizmo is another who chews on his bottle.... want to try him with a water bowl instead... Is there any particular size i should go for (safety etc)? I have a spare food bowl from his first cage, quite heavy china so difficult to tip over. Would this be ok for him?? Many thanks! ;)

[souffle]

The heavy pottery ones are idea as water bowls. You need to change them frequently as they do kick bedding in them :roll: