habitat & water for Chinese dwarf hamster

Question
We have had a Chinese dwarf hamster for 3 days now who has been really really active, but hasn't left her hiding house since the morning play session.  We are assuming she's just worn out from the play (can see that she's still alive), but are worried that we may be overstimulating her.  In particular, we have built lots of different lego & Klikkos (another construction set with square & triangular panels) hideouts and mazes, which she has really enjoyed exploring and climbing around and hiding in.  With our new-pet/Christmas-vacation enthusiasm, though, they're changed really frequently, and we're now worried that this is keeping her from getting accustomed to her habitat.  What do you think?  Also, we've never seen her drink from her water bottle, and are worried that she may not be getting enough water.  No noticable change in the water level (we're changing it daily).  It's kind of a cheap little one that fits on the ceiling of her Critter Outlook cage--a little drip hole instead of the customary metal tube at the end.  Is this a bad water bottle?  Does a tiny hamster drink enough for us to notice?  We just love our little baby & want to do the best for her.  My eight-year old is really worried. Thank you.

Answer
Dear Valerie,
thank you for your question.
Some hamsters just drink very little, they can get a big part of the water they need from fresh food (which they should have at least every other day, no fruits, though, since dwarf hamsters are suspectible to disease like diabetes that are caused by too much sugar in their diet).
Offer her a water bowl along with the bottle, but most hamsters learn to drink from a bottle quickly.

As a rule of thumb, exchange one toy per week. That will keep her interested in her cage, but will not stress her too much. Make sure she doesn't chew the legos, the plastic can be deadly when swallowed. On that subject: if your cage looks anything like this one:
http://www.happypets.nl/b_5630.jpg
try to find an old fish tank (a 15 or 20g preferrably, as long as it is wider than high for ventilation) and get it for her. Most hamster cages sold in pet shops are way too small and have way too much plastic (chewable and poorly ventilated). You just need a lid (wooden frame with mesh wire for example) because hamsters are escape artists and can jump surprisingly well.
I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer