Reddit reviews Ware Manufacturing Flying Saucer Exercise Wheel for Small Pets, 7 1/4-Inch - Colors May Vary

I'm assuming that when you say she gets carrots to chew on, you mean among other things. Carrots, if given in the amounts necessary for active chewers, would give your hammie diarrhea. She needs other safe chew alternatives, like safe wood, raw shelled nuts (NO ALMONDS), or edible chews from the pet store.

I'd also recommend replacing that wheel with something with a solid surface, like a Wodent Wheel, Silent Spinner, or Flying Saucer.

One of my favorite toys for cage boredom is a simple toilet paper tube, stuff a bit of non-perishable treats in the middle (like Cheerios, sunflower seeds, dried peas, etc) and the stuff the rest with shredded paper or hay. Wrap paper around it and twist the ends like a giant wrapped hard candy, and give to your hammie. They have to shred the outside to get to the treats inside, and they can use the leftover paper as nesting material.

Dwarf hamsters should have 7-9 inch wheels (Robos can go down to 6.5").

Those measurements carry over to saucer wheels. It looks like you have one of the "small" ones, which are about 5". He needs a size medium one, which is about 7 inches:

https://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufacturing-Flying-Saucer-Exercise/dp/B001AT62H0

Generally speaking, upright wheels are better for them. However, all of mine have loved their flying saucer wheels as well. So I always have multiple wheels for them --- their upright wheel is in their cage, and their flying saucer wheels are in their playpens.

Her cage looks great! It really shows that you put effort into research before buying her, so let's get her feeling a bit more comfortable in her new surroundings. If you've only had her for a few days, she could still be adjusting to scents and her new enclosure. My hamsters were really sweet the first few days and then realized that they were in my house for keeps and started to lash out, so have patience.

Can she get on/off the wheel with the green ceramic house there? She might be having trouble accessing it. I would also maybe get another wheel (as in two wheels in her enclosure) in case that is not her favorite - I am a fan of flying saucers as well. The one I linked should be the right one for her.

It doesn't look like she has any chew toys. The big log bundle she could use, but that could be too big for her to comfortably bite. When I adopted my dwarf hamster, the rescue suggested walnuts in shell as a boredom buster. You use a screwdriver to break a couple of small holes and then she'll be able to work her way through to get to the meat. You can also invest in some sweet potato sticks - our little guy LOVES his potatoes.

As for her bedding, I love that you included hay and aspen bedding but our vet recommended we use some natural paper bedding, like this one. She said there's a risk of skin or eye irritation and we didn't want to risk that.

May I ask what food you have for her? Any other treats? Just make sure there is NO molasses or sugar in what you are feeding her because dwarf hamsters are prone to diabetes. I'm also asking about treats because I really loved to spoil my little ones and encourage them into my hand/not to bite by rewarding them with little seeds or millet.

Sure!

I buy practically everything on Amazon and these would be my top recommendations:

Hidey Hut - this is large enough to fit two grown gerbils and my first survived the chewing for close to 4 years.

Small Animal Pet Playpen/Exercise Pen - this is just tall enough for the jumpers. I've still had some be able to reach the top but it is a struggle and you'd be able to catch them in time. Really sturdy as well.

Kordon/Oasis (Novalek) SOA80304 Bell Bottle and Hold Guard Small Animal Value Set, 4-Ounce - this is by far my favorite recommendation of the bunch. I cannot tell you how many water bottles were just destroyed and I would come home to an empty bottle and a very wet gerbil. This thing is impenetrable!

Kaytee Hamster Silent Spinner, 6 1/2 inch Exercise Wheel - although I've had to buy a couple of these (they will chew the yellow part holding the bottom part to the wheel) I find that this is the sturdiest of them all. It becomes less silent the more they chew on it and push it around but it's never been loud enough to be considered especially annoying.

Great for cleaning cage and is safe

As far as dust baths go, I've tried several different kinds and find them all to be equivalent.

Would not recommend:

Ware Manufacturing Flying Saucer Exercise Wheel for Small Pet - the quality is fine here but if you are using carefresh, it gets buried and doesn't allow any give for it to spin.

Kaytee Woodland Get-A-Way Medium Hamster House - quality here is also fine and it's pretty thick so it would take a while to get them to chew. Since it is wood, it absorbs liquids. My gerbils would pee on it and it got to the point that it looked moldy and unhealthy so I just threw it out.

Alfie Pet by Petoga Couture - GARI Wood Hut for Small Animals like Dwarf Hamster and Mouse - Size: Large - this is the cutest little home I've ever seen. I had to eventually throw out though because the wood was so thin that the back wall collapsed due to their chewing and would no longer stand up.

Prevue Pet Products Multi-Color Small Pet Playpen 40090 - I think the quality is here too. It's just too short. My gerbils were easily able to escape this.

GreatChoice Water Bottle - chewed through in a week and Same

This is what I get for my girls: ebay listing. It's vegetarian so it helps their cage not smell so quickly!

I'd also recommend this wheel if theirs ever becomes too noisy: amazon page

My Syrian hamster has been very happy in this cage for the entire first year of his life so far. After a few days of exploratory climbing he has not once chewed on his bars or ever acted stressed because he wants out of his home.

30.5 x 8.5 x 18.5 inches:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Habitat-Multi-Level-Exotics-18-Inch/dp/B00CETSHN2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Excersize:
I recommend purchasing a Wodent Wheel 11inch http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JD8I2Y/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B005Y41UPQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1JBB5ENE1BEBPRFYR6JR

and Flying Saucer 12 inches : http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Flying-Saucer-Exercise-4-Inch/dp/B001AT62H0/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462212985&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=flying+saucer+hamster+11+inch

Bathing and Natural Nail Trimming:
Also pick up some flat Reptile Rocks for underneath his water bottle so he will trim his nails naturally and a large ceramic bowl (needs to be deep not so much wide) filled with Repti Sand Desert White (No Calcium) http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiSand%C2%AE-Pounds-Desert/dp/B0002DIZKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213181&sr=1-1&keywords=desert+white+repti+sand

My hamster is a fan of these Apple Orchard sticks for teeth filing though his lab blocks are semi hard and also good for dental health trimming.
http://www.amazon.com/SuperPet-Apple-Orchard-Sticks-Pieces/dp/B001CCXMP0/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213890&sr=1-2&keywords=apple+wood+sticks

After you get those things pick up this item as a natural grass burrow for him to sleep in and clean his cage once every week. Plastic burrow are just awful for air circulation, and my hamster never liked them at all when i didnt know any better.

http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Nature-Willow-Grass-Small/dp/B001ATBMCU?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

For food I feed my hamster Higgins Sunburst and Kaytee Forti Diet Lab blocks everyday with fresh fruit and veggies every two days. Remember your hamster stomach is the size of your pinky finger nail so portion small. He loves 3-4 lab blocks a day with a small spoonful of nuts, seeds and fruit from the Higgins. Remember though 3 Sunflower Seeds max a day or they will get fat and unhealthy.

http://www.amazon.com/Higgins-Sunburst-Gourmet-Hamsters-Gerbils/dp/B009GHII5W/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213536&sr=1-1&keywords=higgins+sunburst

Looks like this but for Hamster not rat and mice:
http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Forti-Health-Mouse-5-Pound/dp/B001VJ56Z8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462213507&sr=1-1&keywords=kaytee+forti+hamster

For bedding you want UNSCENTED (it messes with their respiratory system if its scented) this Kaytee Clean and Cozy is what I use. Absorbs liquid good and keeps the smell down if its close to cleaning day.

http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Clean-Cozy-Small-Bedding/dp/B015MJB8PO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1462214215&sr=1-2&keywords=kaytee+bedding

and last but not least. Buy TWO water bottles in case one of them jams overnight you DO NOT want your hamster to suffer from dehydration. They do not need much water, but when they need it, they need it fast or will get sick quick. The kaytee water bottles have issues with the spout pointing straight so buyer beware. They often dont align properly into the cage bars. But they do work and dont leak for me. Stick with GLASS water bottles, it just tastes better honestly. 6 ounces if you will change the water daily. 12 ounces if you are not as attentive.

http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-SSR61982-Animal-Bottle-12-Ounce/dp/B007TUNWM2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1462214981&sr=8-4&keywords=kaytee+water+bottle

It seems like a lot of money at first and it is but this hamster will be your new furry friend and relies on only you to care for it, so give it the best and longest life possible. You will have one happy hamster if you get all that and will never need to upgrade anything when your Syrian grows bigger.

As a petsmart employee myself, I see both sides. I absolutely understand wanting the best for your pets and wanting to get the biggest cages (I've been reported and complained about several times for refusing sales to people with too small cages/tanks), but there's also the matter of practicality. And sometimes pet store people really have no idea what they're talking about, but most of us anyway, we do actually spend a lot time working with the animals and hearing about people's problems and usually caring for our own pets as well, so please don't discredit the pet store people immediately.

In your mom's and the employees' defense, a 40 gallon tank would be a huge pain in the ass to clean. They're big, they're bulky, they're heavy. I can awkwardly manhandle an empty 40 gallon a short distance, but for my smaller coworkers, a 40 gallon tank requires a team lift. Any glass tank is harder to clean than the plastic ones, but in your defense, even the biggest plastic hamster cages are a bit small. Manhandling a 40 gallon might not seem so bad now, but a year from now when the cage needs cleaned and you're tired and just want to get it over with, you'd be wishing you had something smaller. So something like a 20 long is a really good compromise.

The wheels are always a debate among people that actually do any research. To me, too small just looks unnatural and uncomfortable. Too big and it can have so much momentum that when the hamster stops running, they get flung clear across the cage and into the wall. It's kinda funny to watch, but probably isn't the best to have happen every time they go for a run. Although we haven't gotten them in store, those spinning saucers have been getting popular and might be something to look into. Something like this.

It sounds like you ended up with a pretty decent cage that'll be more manageable when you have to do any work on it. And if you're that interested and excited in your pet's care, you'll be able to provide all the best food and bedding and attention which is really what I think makes the best pet owner. I think you'll still have a very happy hamster.