Funny hamster sound and not wanting to leave her ball

sophiedoe · 05-25-2017, 01:25 PM

Hello!

I have 2 questions I was hoping someone might be able to help me with. Firstly, I've noticed my hamster making a sound quite frequently. It sounds almost like a stomach rumbling, kind of a little chattery sound. I'm asking as I have heard teeth chattering is a bad sound, I don't think this is it but I wanted to check.

Also, I have been using a hamster ball for short periods of time (cautiously, after reading mixed opinions on them). She gets into the ball as soon as I hold it up to the door of her cage, which makes me think she likes it. Once in, she potters around the room quite happily, running as if she is on her wheel. The trouble is, once it is time for her to go back, she doesn't seem to want to go back into her cage! If I hold it up to the door she won't leave, and I have to put the whole ball in and wait a while for her to come out. Is this anything to be worried about, or could it just be that she really enjoys the ball?!

Thanks!

Crystalroborovski · 05-25-2017, 02:26 PM

Hello!

About the chattery noise- do you hear it whenever she inhales? Is it a click or chattering? Clicky noises whenever a hamster breathes is a sign of respiratory illness. As for chattering- I'm not much of an expert on that, someone else may be able to give you advice on that

As for the ball-
Hamsters are generally curious animals, so whenever you hold the ball up to her, she just goes inside to investigate. She probably has no idea she will be locked inside. The reason she is running in her ball is most likely because she is trying to find a way out. As for her not coming out of the ball- hamsters have poor eyesight and rely mostly on smell and hearing. Whenever you let her out of the ball, she might not be able to see that she can go out, especially if you have a clear plastic ball. I wouldn't worry about it

CMB · 05-25-2017, 02:40 PM

I think exercise balls are ok. As long as the ball is big enough for them to run with a straight back.

The first few times they may get into the ball out of curiosity, but they will soon learn what happens when they get in ie the door is put on and they can't get out. If they didn't like using a ball they would run away and not get in.

The fact the hamsters don't come out of the ball would also seem to indicate they like it. If they didn't they would get out as soon as possible. They would realise the door was open and they can get out by smell, air flow etc.

It is up to each owner to decide if to use a ball or not depending on how each hamster reacts.

A playpen is a good way for a hamster to have out of cage time as well.

sophiedoe · 05-25-2017, 02:41 PM

Thanks for your reply. The sound isn't regular with her breathing. She will move around a bit, look over to me, then make the sound. Or sometimes she just does when she's doing something on her own. I'm guessing if it isn't constant/regular it isn't a worry health-wise?

With the ball, it is strange, she definitely knows it's open when it's in the cage, she leans almost all the way out and sniffs but then goes back in!

sophiedoe · 05-25-2017, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the reply CMB. I have been thinking about a playpen, I have a huge box from her Barney cage. Is the general idea to put some of her toys from her cage in and just let her run around?

cypher · 05-25-2017, 10:19 PM

I think playpens are much more stimulating for them than a ball can be, make sure there's nothing near the sides of the box so she can't climb out & be on the watch for her trying to chew her way out! A large box like that should be fine as a temporary playpen but you may need to make something a bit more substantial in the long run.
Lots of toys, maybe a few familiar things but other new things, tubes, boxes etc for her to explore & run around with are find.
There's a thread on making a playpen here you might find useful.
Stylish playpen
Those cubes may no longer be available but there are many other similar ones you can use if you decide to have a go.

AprilPearl · 05-25-2017, 10:49 PM

Teeth chattering is a sign of fear, annoyance or aggression. It is the warning a hamster will give before biting and basically means “back off”! If your hamster chatters their teeth at you, you should leave them alone for a few minutes to calm down before coming back.

As for exercise balls, many people use them without problems. They are not ideal, but so long as a hamster is not left in one for any longer than 15 minutes it should be fine. Personally, I have never used exercise balls for my hams. Free roaming in a hamster proof room, or a good playpen, aremuch more enjoyable for hamsters and give them better mental stimultion.

sophiedoe · 05-26-2017, 12:14 AM

Thanks AprilPearl, I know that teeth chattering as a sign of annoyance, my question was more whether this sound is it or not - what does it actually sound like? This sound isn't a clicking sound or anything, if I had to compare it it sounds like a tiny tummy rumbling/gurgling, but she is definitely making the sound.

AprilPearl · 05-26-2017, 01:26 AM

Teeth chattering doesn't really sound like clicking... It is more crackly, sort of like cracking a sweet wrapper. But that's also a bad analogy. I wish I could find an audio file or video for you, but there don't seem to be any on the internet. Assuming your hamster is otherwise healthy, I am sure there is nothing to be concerned about health wise.

AprilPearl · 05-26-2017, 01:29 AM

There are no videos of hamsters chattering their teeth on YouTube, but here is a guinea pig doing it. Obviously, the sound is slightly different because it is a guinea pig and notba hamster, but it is similar and should give you an idea of what it sounds like.

Direct link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzxw85_T4G0