Is a ball a good idea?

[annc]

When I've used balls with my hamsters before I've found that they get bored after a few minutes, and wonder if it is a good idea for my new ham. He isn't full-grown yet, and I think it must be hard work to propel the ball.

What do you think?

[$hAzZa]

I personally don't like the idea of hamsters in balls. I use alternatives such as playpens or bath tubs

What sort of ham do you have? x

[Hope]

As long as you have the right size ball and pad out any hard surfaces they can crash into you could give it a go. 2 of mine LOVE ball time, but Johnson is not fussed at all, he just curls up and goes to sleep in his!

[Ministottie]

all three of mine love ball time. Marley gets excited and jumps in his as soon as I let him. I think it just depends on if your hamster likes it or not.

[SnickersTheFirst]

Whether you use a ball is very much personal opinion. My hammies have all loved their balls and I see no problems as long as their happy.

[racinghamster]

I`ve just put a hammer through the one that I inherited with my hamster Boris as I don`t regard them as a natural thing for a hamster to be in. It`s much better to set up a safe play-pen for them and sit on the floor while the hamster runs around and gets to know you. Puting them in a ball just allows them to crash into things they can`t see. Imagine being in one of these claustraphobic spheres? You don`t know where you are and you don`t know whether your in it because something outside of it is waiting to attack you? maybe they run around in them through fear and not enjoyment, or because they don`t have a choice?

Either way, I`m not a fan of them and usually urge people to look at the better alternative and that`s take the time out to spend with the hamster and socialise with him/her.

My hamster was placed in a ball most of the time and my nephew did say that they hardly handled him, so I suspected this is why he needed to be put in a ball because they would`nt handle him. Not only that but he was kept in a Rotastak Space Command. Life has changed for Boris now and the ball is where it belongs. Smashed up in the plastic bin for recycling where nobody else can use it.

[CoolcatNatNat44]

Nibbles loves his ball he never wants to come out and its good for exersice but playtime in a playpen/bath is also good

[LocoRocoPanda]

I split Izu's week. XD Some nights he's in his ball (which he thinks is great) and some nights he's in the bath (which he thinks is EQUALLY great.)

[annc]

I think mainly we'll stay with the hamster free-range with me at present, intil he is a little bigger. He is a gorgeous Syrian.