Syrians can only be kept singly... so even if you want another one later, you cannot put in the same cage.
Hay is not suppose to be absorbent, it is mainly to nest and to chew.... the corn leaves are a bit waxy, so it is not so suitable as bedding.
No, garden soil is a no also coz they all got bacteria. Unless you can take all this soil or sand, and bake it at a very very high temperature in the oven for 1 hour to kill of germs, mites, bacteria.... you do know the soil has mites and spores rite? It will just make your hamster itchy and unclean. Wood shavings is still ok for them.
No, it won't be too hot coz hamsters are partly desert animals. They can withstand some heat but cannot be too hot also.
If you do not keep the bedding clean, it will smell alot. Putting in a room, you will get the ammonia traveling in the air as well as bacteria growth and also dust from the wood shavings, all these can lead you to get sinus problems or allergies. So you have to put the cage far from your sleeping area.
okie..understood for 1,2, and 3...
hmn..how bout small rocks? if put as bedding (on the lowest level) will they dig also? ...
previously i was thinkin of just put beside my bed..hmn...so it is better to put the cage near an open air area (window) so that the smell and dust wont be stuffing in the room?