How soon to put him in exercise ball?

[atrixa]

Hi, I am still in the process of taming Richard (putting my hand in the cage, talking to him etc, but not really handling him) and I was wondering when it would really be suitable to put him in his ball for a runaround for the first time? Would it be best to wait til he's used to me or would it be fine straightaway as long I didn't overhandle him?

[racinghamster]

I would personally let him get used to you first. I never use these balls and prefer to let the hamster explore naturally. All these balls do is enclose a hamster and it`s not natural. It could stress him and set you back with his taming, so I would concentrate on that to be honest.

[Chrissie]

I've always used exercise balls early on, I got Daisy Thursday she was happily in the ball by Saturday even though not totally up to being handled, she happily went in the ball and back in the cage afterwards, however, since finding this site, many don't suggest using them, instead put him in the bath, with a towel down and lots of toys and seed and cardboard pieces to explore. Apparently they love it, I've yet to try mine in the bath but I'm going to tonight.

[SnickersTheFirst]

I don't see a problem with putting him in a ball as long as it's big enough for him. My Syrian used to love her ball, she would get floor time too though. I let them walk into the ball themselves though to make sure they want to use it. The ball I have is too small for my current Syrian otherwise he would be using one too. That's my view of it anyway.

Some people are against balls because they are unnatural but tbh we could list 100s of things that aren't natural for hamsters but we do it anyway. It's not harming them at all.