Computer parts toxic to hamsters?

[TsukiCatHammy]

Hi, most likely im been paranoid.

Me and Hoji get up together in a morning and I let him loose as I do, normally im with him all the time and dont leave him for more than a few minutes. I went to make a cup of tea and came back, I have a pc in the corner of the room with the side off for reasons and Hoji had climbed inside it.

I know that computer parts have toxic components and that hamsters are only tiny, I dont know if he tried biting owt, can any one suspect if he'll be fine or if something bad could potentially happen to him.

Im never leaving him unsupervised again. Thanks

*Edit* How toxic are these things to hamster? If it was only a few minutes of exposure is it safe?

[Pebbles82]

I think it's more likely he could cause static and kill the motherboard than anything really, although obviously if it was turned on and live electricity to it, it would have been dangerous. Is there any sign he has eaten or nibbled anything inside? I have only seen inside laptops and apart from plastic and the odd bit of copper and solder (solder is metal) I don't think there is anything lethal in there or it wouldn't be safe for humans. However copper (inside wires and possibly in solder) if enough of it is eaten could cause toxicity and health issues.

Just keep an eye on him to see he is ok. It's unlikely he's eaten anything, although they do try and chew wires sometimes. You can guarantee if there is somewhere a hamster isn't supposed to go, they will go there! He probably thought it was a nice dark tunnel.

Probably the best way to tell is look inside the computer and see if anything looks chewed! You're supposed to earth yourself before touching anything inside - to prevent normal levels of static in your body from killing the motherboard If you don't have an antistatic wrist band to attach to something then leaning against a radiator while doing it should do the trick (you earth yourself on the metal) and of course make sure it is switched off and (if it's a laptop) the battery removed.

Water is a good way of flushing any toxins from the system and hamsters drink water so that will help if he has eaten anything. How does he seem today?

Just being exposed won't have caused any harm - only if he has eaten something.

[TsukiCatHammy]

Hiya, I just had a quick look and as far as I can see there is no signs of nibbling so the little bugga was probably just wondering around it. Its hard to tell how he seemed after, I put him back in not long after and he scuttled off to bed. Sometimes he stays up longer ina morning sometimes not. So its hard to tell if hes feeling a bit off or just gone to bed in general. Thank you for the reply, as I can't see any nibbles Ill keep an eye just to make sure

And he definitly likes to go the places he's not allowed, thats the one place I move him from but its all he wants... He's hard work lol.