Paranoid about water bottle holder XD

gemmashaw · 08-04-2011, 08:37 AM

I have seen people use the yellow cube from pets at home for holding their waterbottle for their dwarf hamsters only, but not syrians. Is it ok to use the cube for a Syrian waterbottle. I'm just paranoid that the hamster won't be able to find where the water bottle is! If you can't use the cube what else could I use as I'm getting a zoozone 2 and need and internal cage water bottle holder as I do not feel comfortable using the hole provided as I'm paranoid about the height of it! Sorry I'm really paranoid!;L

SnickersTheFirst · 08-04-2011, 08:41 AM

Sometimes the cube is too low for larger Syrians tbh. I've not got a ZZ2 so I don't know how high the bottle hole is, but can you not put some sort of toy or steps infront of it? So the hamster can reach.

souffle · 08-04-2011, 08:41 AM

I wouldn't use the cube for a syrian gemma as they could easily knock it over. The hole is fine and you can even put a little step under it using and upturned pottery bowl. Heavy duty self adhesive velcro is fine too as is drilling out a lower hole in the side.

CoolcatNatNat44 · 08-04-2011, 08:42 AM

I wouldnt use it for a syrian either as its to low down, i tried it with Honeydo the other week but she couldnt reach. Could you not put some sort of step under the water bottle hole in the zz2, so then your syrian could reach?

gemmashaw · 08-04-2011, 08:46 AM

Thanks, would it be ok to use jenga blocks as steps if I stick them together with like peanut butter or honey:L also if I put it through the hole the wire isn't long enough for it to be attached if you get what
I'm saying so there is no way of it being able to be attached!!!
As the holes at the top are too far away
I'm really regretting buying it now!
I'm also worried that the hamster will eat the plastic as I've heard stories of them doing that and escaping

racinghamster · 08-04-2011, 08:53 AM

I would`nt use the `cube` idea for a syrian as they are too big a hamster to bend low down to reach the spout really, or the spout might be too near the shavings and start to leak.

There are a number of things you can do though.

1. Use the existing hole in the cage lid of the Zoozone 2. Get yourself some cheap, pine shelving or off-cuts of pine. Just plain, untreated flat shelving is fine. Any DIY centre sell these pine shelves. Saw them to size and sand the edges smooth. I would say a surface size of
seven inches square?

Place one or two directly UNDER the water bottle (you can stagger them to make a step or just leave them flat on the cage floor) and cover the wood with deep shavings.

2. This may or may not work with a bolshy syrian but you can try!

Take a plastic water or juice bottle, cut off the top and put pebbles or heavy stones in the base. Make a hole for your water bottle and place the bottle in the top of your plastic bottle until it sits on top of the stones inside. These should be high enough so that the bottle spout is at a comfortable height for the hamster to reach. Stand this in a corner of your cage and cover with shavings/substrate.

It`s also good to be paranoid about the water bottle so good for you to be looking into this so early on. Most people wait until their hamster moves into the cage and then find they have a dilemma!

But a syrian should cope fine with the existing hole with some wood placed directly below the bottle.

gemmashaw · 08-04-2011, 08:58 AM

what about if i put a layer of like wood stuff underneath thecube for the water bottle so its higher up?
i know you said the cubes not good because of its height but this would make it higher?
feel free to disagree!:/

Kristin · 08-04-2011, 09:04 AM

I have the ZZ2 and find that my Syrian Harley reaches the water bottle spout easy enough. I prefer using the hole provided as it allows more room inside the cage ^_^
Ive recently brought him a new water bottle too but thats a different story.
I wouldn't worry hun, the cage you have brought is brilliant and you will not regret it!!
I brought mine for Harley and currently looking for another for my Munchkin as I love them so much.
Let us know how it all goes

xx

racinghamster · 08-04-2011, 09:07 AM

Thing is, the shavings underneath are volatile to disturbance and could topple the cube over. So no, you would need something stable to hold the bottle in place really. A syrian could also knock it over quite easily given their size and weight.

Using the existing hole in the Zoozone and placing the wood shelving underneath (making sure it was high enough and covering this with thick shavings would work well.

The hamster can even chew the wood safely and all you need to do is check that the wood is always covered over with shavings, whci is easy enough to do. I don`t know how high the bottle hole is on the Zoozone 2, but maybe someone can measure it`s height for you to give you an idea?

CoolcatNatNat44 · 08-04-2011, 09:12 AM

This is what ive done:

I bought a rabbit bottle and got some wire and made it fit into the holes at the top. Alot easier

I would try jenga blocks but not with honey or peanut butter since they might eat it lol. Safe glue would work better. Nibbles can honestly reach the bottle with around 1-2 inches of bedding underneath