Exercise balls are safe for hamsters, providing them with the freedom to explore their environment. There’s certainly nothing cuter than watching your little hamster whizz across the floor in their exercise ball! Still, while your tiny companion might have the time of their life, there are a few risks. A few safety issues associated with hamster balls include the potential for injuries and inadequate ventilation.
These plastic spheres can be great for enrichment, but your pet hamster must be supervised while they are active. Here’s what to know.
Hamster Balls Offer a Safe, Enriching Activity
If you aren’t familiar with an exercise ball, it is a transparent, plastic sphere that allows hamsters to explore at their leisure. The enclosure prevents hamsters from getting into narrow spaces (such as holes in walls), injuring themselves, or moving out of sight. Hamster balls are actually fun and popular accessories for these tiny critters because they can explore their environment while getting much-needed exercise.
A hamster ball is certainly a safe and entertaining option for pet owners who want their hammies to spend time safely outside of their cages. The purpose of these balls is to provide exercise and satisfy the exploratory nature of hamsters. It builds confidence and can help you bond with your tiny pet as they move around the house.
The Safety Risks of Hamster Exercise Balls
Allowing your pet hamster to roll around in their exercise ball requires understanding potential safety risks. Not all exercise balls are of equal quality, and some may lack the necessary ventilation to keep hamsters safe. Your hamster will likely urinate and defecate in their hamster ball, and good ventilation prevents the fumes from affecting their breathing. You also don’t want your hamster to overheat in a hot, plastic ball!
If you have cats or dogs inside your house, always monitor your hamster’s activity around them. The quick movement of the ball is likely to trigger other pets into play or turn on their prey drive. Don’t allow your cat or dog to manipulate the ball, no matter how gentle they seem. The purpose of the ball is to give your hammie the chance to move independently, not to be controlled by other animals. There is also the possibility of the ball tipping and breaking, so pay attention to your hamster’s movements when you secure them inside an exercise ball.
How to Choose the Right Hamster Ball
A hamster exercise ball must be transparent and well-ventilated. The transparency helps your hamster view their environment, while the ventilation keeps them cool when running around. Secondly, the ball must be suitably sized for the breed of hamster. A Syrian hamster will require a larger ball than a dwarf or Roborovski hamster to support their body length and weight.
You want the ball to be large enough to house your hammie, but it shouldn’t be so big that smaller hamsters struggle to gain momentum. Syrian hamsters benefit from exercise balls of at least eight inches, as this helps avoid stressing their back. The exercise ball must be secure but shouldn’t be hard to open, allowing you to retrieve your hamster easily.
Do Hamsters Need Exercise Balls?
A hamster may not need an exercise ball, but it’s definitely a practical way to keep them stimulated, active, and happy. Rather than watch them like a hawk or keep them confined, the ball provides protection and makes them visible as they move about their environment. You can add an exercise wheel to a hamster cage, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the enrichment provided by the exercise ball.
To keep your pets safe during activity, monitor them for signs of exertion. If they’re panting or slowing down, they’ve had enough activity and should be placed inside their cage. Your hamster may also fall asleep in their ball after a long run. Remember that hamsters have an abundance of energy and some get so excited with their newfound freedom, they may not know when to stop. Hamsters only need around 15 minutes inside their exercise balls, after which you can remove them.
Exercise Balls vs. Hamster Wheels: Which Are Best?
An alternative to the exercise ball is the traditional wheel that has almost become a staple accessory for a hamster cage. The exercise wheel is fitted inside your pet’s enclosure where they can climb and run as they please. Wheels are beneficial in preventing obesity and helping little hamsters release pent-up energy, but they are not without limitations.
If you install a wheel that is too small, it will strain your hamster’s back because of the abnormal spinal arch. Some wheels may take up too much space in a small cage, making it unsuitable for enrichment. Ultimately, a combination of the hamster wheel and exercise ball provides the best of both worlds. Wheels allow hamsters to run inside their cages, and the ball gives them the freedom to explore their home while staying close to you.
The Best Enrichment Activities for Hamsters
The exercise ball is safe for hamsters, provided you purchase the correct size for the breed and supervise your pet rodent’s activity. The plastic ball must be well-ventilated, and it should be transparent to support confident navigation. Apart from hamster exercise balls, you can install a hamster wheel to engage these tiny pets when you’re away or asleep. Other types of enrichment for hamsters include thick bedding they can dig into, plastic or cardboard tubes for tunneling, and branches for climbing.
