Play pen for a Robo

[Sara H]

I have a 4 month old Robo called Winter and as you can guess she has lots and lots of energy. She is in a Ferplast Multy and has two wheels, lots of bedding and tunnels.

She was a rescue hamster and was in a very strange small cage with two balls on the top which she also used as wheels. Although I don't like balls I do let her go in one for around 5 minutes a day as that's what she has been used too. I always offer the ball to her and she jumps right in. I let my russian dwarfs free roam but unfortunately as she is so tiny and does not like sitting in my hand for too long I wondered if other people use a play pen for their robo's.

[Pebbles82]

I use the one from Zooplus. It's a wooden one that slots together. I just looked and can't find it so maybe they don't sell it any more. I think a playpen is a good idea - you can put toys and a wheel in it or even sit in it with your robo.

[Sara H]

I thought something like that would be a good idea thank you, just need to find one now. I wish she could just free roam but I don’t feel like she would be safe.

[Ria P]

Some people use these foldable kids ball pit play pens. I don't know how to create a link but they sell them on Amazon.

I was thinking of getting one for our Robo but he refuses to leave his tank! He won't hop into a mug. Oh well, as long as he's happy.....

[Petite]

Originally Posted by Ria P

Some people use these foldable kids ball pit play pens. I don't know how to create a link but they sell them on Amazon.

I have a foldable play pen from Amazon for our winter white dwarf. She seems to like it, although her major concern does seem to be how to get out of it. I do have to watch her when she's in it though, as - despite the height of the vertical bars - she is quite capable of scaling them and climbing over the top. It came with a wipe clean mat that the pen sits in, and she's managed to chew several holes in it the very first time we put her in it.

[Ithuviel]

Weren't hamster balls unsafe?

[Druishkrys]

Originally Posted by Ithuviel

Weren't hamster balls unsafe?

Only if used incorrectly. Must have proper size and color, not near some place they can fall from like stairs, and not kept in them for hours. About 20 minutes

[AmityvilleHams]

Hamster balls are unsafe and unsuitable, period. They inhibit hamster senses, drastically reduce ventilation to an unsafe level, and don't even offer any real enrichment for hamsters. In the case of dwarf hamsters, they're even more unsafe since the ventilation holes(which hardly do their job)allow for tiny toes and claws to get trapped and crushed which can lead to very serious and painful injury.

It is just not worth it when balls offer no enrichment value and present so many risks. There are too many perfectly good alternatives which do not present health and safety risks, do not inhibit senses, and actually allow enrichment. These choices also allow hamsters to move as they please and really experience a different environment unlike any hamster ball no matter how large or the color(even clear ones inhibit senses and have the same safety risks).

[LunaTheHamster1]

Cheapest thing to use as a run is a big cardboard box - will probably end up being chewed at some point, but easily replaceable and possibly free if you recycle.

Another good option is a big plastic box. I know some people convert these into cages but they are also good as a run.

I have used both of these for my syrians but don't see why they can't work for robos too. Just always make sure they are supervised in case of trying to escape.

[Engel]

Could you free roam her in the bath? Sounds silly I know but she'll be unable to get out, it's also wipeable and you could sit in there with her so you can bond that way too. Just an option