Is this you safe for hamsters?

Rachelt3 · 02-02-2016, 06:11 AM

https://www.viovet.co.uk/Kong_Bird_F...al_Toy/c11864/

My hamster is a bar chewer and if we burry some food in his cage he enjoys digging for it and it distracts him from be chewing for a while. I saw this toy on viovet and thought it would be good for him as a challenge to keep him busy and entertained and hopefully not bar chewing but it doesn't say it's safe for hamsters, would there be a reason for this or would it be ok to give him?

Thanks

cypher · 02-02-2016, 06:32 AM

I wouldn't use that for a hamster, stick to safe things like cardboard tubes or egg boxes as places to hide food that he can chew through.
If you want something he can chew on for longer try whimzees or dog biscuits, bonio or biscrok are ok.

Rachelt3 · 02-02-2016, 08:53 AM

He had a whimzee aligator and ate it all in 3 days, how often can he have these?

Fluffagrams · 02-02-2016, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachelt3

He had a whimzee aligator and ate it all in 3 days, how often can he have these?

I'd give one to my Chineseys every two to three weeks or so but then again it used to take them that long to chew through them.

CMB · 02-02-2016, 09:16 AM

There are extra tough Kongs you can buy which may be safer. I am thinking of trying one on my next hamster. I will supervise while it is being used and then take it out.

Coldpaws · 02-02-2016, 09:38 AM

I agree with cypher, that rubber chew thing might not be safe, your hammy might swallow bits that they chew off? It also could be a bit too big for a hammy.

You could also put treats inside folded cardboard or inside empty toilet rolls, then fold the ends up to make a challenging little treat for your hammy. It will keep him busy chewing on something safe & cheap too! Erin's Hamsters on YouTube has lots of great tutorials for DIY treats, as well as others.

Have you tried the hanging treats/wooden chews? They are usually made of sisel rope, wood, the treats can be nuts in shells, dried herbs etc. You can buy them or make them yourself.

My last suggestion is, if you don't already, have lots of cardboard things in his cage that he can chew on. Even if he seems to prefer the bars, at least he has the choice of something safe & disposable to chew on.

If he continues to chew on the bars you might have to consider moving him to a bin cage/glass tank without bars. Hope this helps?

Rachelt3 · 02-02-2016, 11:24 AM

Thanks this all helps a lot, he didn't seem to chew the bars when he has the whimzee but as he's only just finished one I'll wait a couple of weeks till I give him another one. I might try some other dog treats see if they help. He has lots of wood chews and has chewed them a bit but seems to have got bored of them, he's also had carboard tubes and I've made treat parcels using carboard before but he isn't interested in chewing carboard, the bars must just taste nicer! Haha, i read that it can also be if their wheels are too small and I have ordered a 12" flying saucer to replace his 8" wheel so maybe that will help. Thanks for all your advice, I will definitely not buy this toy