If your hamster could only bring 5 toys to a desert island...

[halloumi]

Hi! I would love to hear what your hamster’s top 5 toys are. I know it’s very difficult for some hamsters to be engaging with toys, and it would be great to see what your hamster personally loves, to help others on the market for new toys!

Also, if you have a different list for toys that you repurchase again and again for some reason (maybe they’re aesthetically nice, good in your cage, etc.) then please do mention them too!

And also please mention the breed of your ham! I’m on the lookout for Syrian toys in particular, but would be interested to see dwarfs’ top picks too

[PumpkinSpice92]

Hi! I'd say my syrian girls favourite toy is her hyacinth tube
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...e-tunnel-small
She also loves her see-saw
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...i=9&orderBy=1#
her nest
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pe...ge?size=medium
her bendy log bridges and, although I know exercise balls are unpopular on here, she really loves to run around in one! It's clear plastic so she can see through as well as possible and she jumps in ever time it's offered and often doesn't want to come out again!
Hope this has helped!

[cypher]

I've never had a Syrian so can't help there! I don't find they use toys in the way we think of them but they do enjoy things that allow them to forage, hideout or hide seeds etc away, so tubes are a big hit with both my Chinesyes & Russians, even plain cardboard ones but the ones from Rodipet with flowers & stuff on them are real favourites like this corner one & the ceramic tubes.
Cork tunnels or tubes are very popular with all species & you can never go wrong with a few bendy bridges.
With my Chineseys Fuzzbutt hammocks, snoozecubes & corner crushes are all used a lot.
Coconuts are great for just about all ham species I think.
Egg boxes are great for dwarf hams.
Chew toys tend to be ignored but a big favourite with most hams are the Whimzee dog chews.
The kabob or skewer type things like this can be fun for them, I put monkey nuts on mine so they really have to work at them to get the treat out! You can also use them for bits of veg or other treats.
I guess the wheel goes without saying?! A nice big wheel has to be the most important thing for most hams.

[mikatelyn]

Assuming house and wheel are a given and not toys, then the following would be Smokey's (Syrian) must haves:
1. Sand pit. He digs and digs! He also preferentially uses sand pits as his potty, so it keeps his cage pretty clean

2. Cardboard tube from an empty quick oats container. He runs through it at every opportunity.

3. Imaginext dragon castle.
I found this for under $3 at a local Goodwill, so I couldn't resist.
Imaginext castle back.jpg
I put this in the bathtub and he uses it to climb up or down from the bathtub ledge (we have sliding doors so he can't get out). He also uses me as an elevator.

4. Empty glass bread pan. He rolls and swims around in there like it's a swimming pool! I think it might be his favorite toy.

5. Blanket. Multi use because it keeps me warm while sitting in the play pen or tub, and I make different tent like structures by draping it over my arms and legs. Smokey loves to go running through the different caverns that I've created.

[Cotton]

I don't have a hamster at the moment, but based on my previous hamsters:

1. Plastic utensil tray used as a maze
2. Wheel
3. Blanket
4. Paper towel rolls
5. Whimzees (One of my hamsters liked to run around with it in her mouth.)

[Pebbles82]

I second the hyacinth tunnels The small size is plenty big enough, even for a large syrian, but not as huge as a rat tunnel. They are soft, chewable and they like the holes in the sides. I've even had one cable tied to the bars as a shallow ramp to a shelf (although then you have to check the placement of the side holes).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...yacinth+tunnel

So my list would be

1) Hyacinth tunnel (for in and out of the cage - I have two).
2) Rodipet large cork tunnel (light, fills a lot of floor space, nice texture to climb on - can make a ramp up to a shelf if partly under the shelf).
https://www.rodipet.co.uk/accessorie...-diameter.html
3) Rat sputnik with some bedding inside - works well hung next to a shelf and gives some "overhead cover" - ie something to sit under. Rat rations have more colours and you can choose your top and bottom colour combination.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobby-Sputn...ds=rat+sputnik

Sputnik - XL - £4.99 : ratRations.com
4) Not sure if this counts as a toy - but loved by Hamster - Rodipet labyrinth house. The top terraccotta dish is used for food and if lifted off means you can lift the litter tray out without removing the whole roof (assuming they use the middle compartment for the toilet which our last hammy did and current hammy did until recently and has now moved it to the right hand compartment!).
https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...erracotta.html
You can also get legs for it So it's supported and safe, they can dig underneath, and it stands tall enough to make an additional shelf/level.
https://www.rodipet.co.uk/houses/rod...of-houses.html
5) Trio of balls. I only use the hyacinth one - you can stick pumpkin seeds under the folds and they have great fun getting the seeds out. The wicker one is too sharp to use in my opinion. The sisal one I unravel and use as sisal string for tying other toys/tunnels etc to the bars.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Bo...=trio+of+balls