Hamster Ball? Sand bath - Page 2

chesca_27 · 09-11-2016, 04:40 PM

I think if the ham wants to go in a ball they can, but they should have regular breaks every couple of minutes and offered the chance to get out. I think WW feet are too small for most balls, there is bad ventilation and there is no where for droppings or pee to go (except all over your floor and hamster). I would stick with a play pen.

blpriestley · 11-22-2016, 11:06 AM

When you're using the sand do you keep it in it's cage all the time? (I was going to use a plastic chinese takeaway tub) Or is it just occasionally?

chesca_27 · 11-22-2016, 11:32 AM

All the time but if it is a flimsy Tupperware, the hamster may chew it so something else sturdier might work better.

It helps hamsters to stay clean and some can even be litter trained.

Fluffagrams · 11-22-2016, 11:50 AM

There is mixed opinions on the use of hamster balls and some people find that their Syrians in particular enjoy them providing that the area is made safe and their time in the ball is limited to no more than 5-10 minutes. My sister's Hybrid used to love running in her dwarf sized ball in her younger days but never seemed to take to a play pen. It's worth giving your hamster a go in a playpen to see how they get on as there are more opportunities for adding interest to their play areas with different toys that they may not have in their cages.

I've found that some of my hamsters have been a bit reluctant with the sand baths to start with and take a bit of time to get used to them. One of my previous ones put her paw in the first time and ran away but after she'd got used to it, she tended to like to sit in it to cool off in the summer.

Maximus · 11-22-2016, 12:04 PM

All of mine love sand baths. I find a ceramic dish works best (mine are supposed to be cat food bowls ironically) and I fill them up and they love it. As they roll around in it to clean it does get spilled so I jut keep topping it up and clean the bowl every so often. My Honey loves his so much he also has a cleaned out jam jar full of sand (on its side). This works very well with messy hamsters as you tend not to lose the sand so quickly. If nothing else it's another interesting substrate for them and a cool toy!

InkyPen · 11-22-2016, 04:59 PM

My Syrian, for some reason, prefers to dig in her sand bowl [strike]and send tsunamis of sand flying out of her cage[/strike] and pee in it - I've never seen her roll in the sand.

On the topic of hamster balls - I agree there are potentially welfare issues with balls. However, I always give her the choice of whether or not to go in (open up ball, hold near hamster during playtime - if she goes in and stays in, she goes for a run, if not she just stays out for regular playtime). She almost always does choose to go in, but occasionally she doesn't fancy it.

She always gets the opportunity to come out after 10-15 minutes. She's usually had her fill by that point, but sometimes she'll refuse to come out and will get another 5 mins or so.

It's been quite interesting to watch her learn to use a hamster ball - at first she'd crash into everything, but now she's learned the art of steering. I'm surprised at how good she is at it, seeing as the space available to her changes daily (depending on furniture position, clutter on the floor etc.) and hamsters don't have great eyesight, but she seems to be managing it!

Maximus · 11-23-2016, 02:14 AM

To be fair none of mine are Syrians - two Robos and a Campbell's. I only had Syrians as an uneducated child owner - I was like 7 and they didn't have sand baths. But all my adult-owner hammers past and present have rolled. It's so cute. The best thing is when there's fresh sand in and its all flat and they just put a paw in and you get a clear little paw print. SO sweet!!