Hamsters and Bed Bugs

Amaranth · 07-15-2019, 07:43 PM

So I had to move back in with my parents, and I have both my fiance's and my hams, and my parents are trying to exterminate their bed bug issue. I know it's important to let the hams run around in their ham balls for roughly 30 minutes, but I'm super worried about the bug problems (earlier in life I had a pet rat who passed due to a mite problem). How can I still give them their exercise without exposing them to the infestation???

mangoandmimi · 07-16-2019, 05:08 AM

On the contrary it is advised to not use hamster balls, especially not at 30m at a time. Coming out is not giving them extra exercise as they get that from running in a large enough wheel - I assume you sorted the issue of the wheel being too small already. Balls are dangerous with the slits and feet getting caught, collisions etc. They also put them under a lot of stress as their main senses are essentially cut off - they cannot see out of a ball so are running blind. They have no cover to run to, cannot get out on their own, there is no air circulation, conventional hamster balls are not even big enough for Syrians, the list goes on. It is a much better idea to either free range them in a safe environment without a ball or to put them in an escape proof play pen. Under supervision at all times. Is it just a few days? If they are in adequate sized cages a few days of not coming out is going to be fine.

Pebbles82 · 07-16-2019, 05:10 AM

That sounds tricky! I think bed bugs are not particularly small so I don't think they would harm a hamster - they might even eat them! So I would think out of cage time in a ball would be fine.

Just saw M&M's post. Yes 30 minutes is a bit too long in one go. It's generally recommended not to have them in a ball for more than 10 to 15 minutes with supervision - but you can do that length of time twice, with a break in between

Long term a playpen area or a hamster-proofed area in a room, is better for out of cage time due to issues with balls. I do use the Savic rat ball occasionally but not very often (the Savic rat ball has much smaller slits than most rat balls but still needs keeping an eye on). Most hamster balls are too small for regular use.

I can't see it listed on US Amazon.

Pebbles82 · 07-16-2019, 05:18 AM

This article has some info on bed bugs when you have pets. It sounds like they won't come to any real harm - it is possible to get a bite but not spread diseases. I think have a good look at the hamster before putting them back in the cage to make sure nothing is attached that could get into the bedding!

I can see that temporarily, a ball would give more protection than running around on the floor.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/pets-and-b...et-rid-bedbugs

Amaranth · 07-19-2019, 06:53 PM

They're both in fairly large glass tanks with good sized wheels, I mae sure to buy the right sizes this time. They've got plenty to climb on and space to scamper around, but Teddy doesn't use his wheel as much as Hamilton. I don't know if I'll be here for a long while or a short while, it's while I'm looking for a new place to live. I wish I had a long term play area for them, they'd love that. They haven't crawled anywhere on the floor/furniture, I've just carried them around on my shoulders, and I haven't found any pests in their bedding. Fingers crossed it stays that way!