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08-29-2022, 04:37 AM
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#11
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
. It’s ok Ria . I’m still a bit on the fence about it but mostly agree with you and tend to go with “in moderation”. It might be better if they hadn’t been invented. I think some hamsters are ok with it and even enjoy it as a fun toy but there are dangers involved. The biggest danger being leaving them in too long and causing stress. I know most members used to say the hamster would come to your feet in the ball to tell you they’d had enough. Some members used to say they know their hamsters enjoyed the ball. Playpens are way better though and I think balls are less and less popular and the dangers known more. They were also escape hazards as the lids can pop off when they knock something.
Germany paved the way with that one. So many hamster items are commercially motivated. Look at Rotostak (I had one at first!). Very clever designs in some ways but totally unsuitable as far too small and not enough ventilation.
Last edited by Pebbles82; 08-29-2022 at 04:43 AM.
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08-29-2022, 04:48 AM
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#12
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
Actually the RSPCA now don’t recommend them - so looks like I am incorrect in saying they’re ok for occasional short periods.
https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1...&download=true
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08-29-2022, 04:48 AM
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#13
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
Posts: 28,192
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
The Wiki is very very old and has been left on as it is of historical value.
It's not undated so anything on here should be read with that in mind.
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08-29-2022, 03:36 PM
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#14
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Notting Hill, London
Posts: 165
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
Interesting comments. I had a bad experience with play pen. I bought two kits from online shop. Put them together and used them s an out of cage experience. Until one day, when my albino Campbell, named Derek, climbed to the top and jumped on the floor. No effort at all. Have not used the pen since. Fortunately, I was very near the pen, so was able to pick him up.
I now have two RWW sisters, just over one year old. Soon after I brought them home, the larger one became "anti-social" towards her sister. So I put together couple of cages, almost identical. For out of cage time, I take, one at a time, to my bathroom. It has been recently refurbished. With my help, it is "hamster proof", meaning that there are nooks or crannies, where she could end up, or get stuck in. Whilst Hetty or Mitzi run around, I update myself on the "social media" stuff.
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08-29-2022, 04:16 PM
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#15
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
They do vary. And need to be high enough and toys that can be climbed on away from the edge. I have a wood one - the sides slot together and sides are 30cm tall. Used it for a number of Syrians and they can’t escape. Except our current Syrian who found a way! He’d climb on top of a hide and hurl himself at the side, grab hold of the top with his paws and pull himself over the edge. Hide has been removed now so he can’t do it any more but they need constant supervision even in a playpen.
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08-30-2022, 01:27 AM
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#16
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Whimzee dealer
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: World
Posts: 1,912
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
With a playpen you still need to supervise. Like Serendipity said, some are better then others.
I think hamsters are always happier to live alone.
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08-31-2022, 12:35 PM
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#17
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Adult Hamster
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Essex
Posts: 354
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
I would definitely not use a hamster ball with Hams, I just know he would not like being in the enclosed space at all. However, my friends Syrian seems to climb in his freely of his own accord and then just potters around in it, maybe as she’s used it from such a young age.
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08-31-2022, 12:50 PM
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#18
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
It’s like any habit - they do associate the ball with out of cage time if they’re used to it. And it’s the only out of cage time they‘ve ever had.
I used to transport our first hamster to the bathtub in his balk and leave it in there and he always hopped in it when he’d had enough of being out in the bath and wanted to go back to his cage. He’d sit in it and give me a look. So that habit was he associated it with being taken back to the cage.
The main issue is we don’t know when they’ve had enough of being in a ball. Now the RSPCA don’t support balls I think that’s fairly clear. What that does is make sure that it’s not seen as an accepted standard thing for new owners. But I think some more experienced owners would take it case by case. As mentioned befite I only use the Savic ray ball very occasionally for variety. I think Raffy was a bit nervous if it the first time but not any more. I was using it as a stage between playpen and free roaming - so he gets to know the room a bit (which he does now and has favourite places to go),
There were some awful stories about balls though when they were commonly used. Hamsters left in for too long or injured when it rolled downstairs.
I hoped they’ve stopped selling those awful dangerous little hamster cars they used to sell!
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09-02-2022, 03:57 AM
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#19
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Fluffy Hamsters
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 4,231
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
Glad the RSPCA dont endorse hamster balls.
They may be ok if the hamster has a very short time and is regularly checked to see is he or she is ready to come out but how many people would do that? Most people cant even give their pets a decent sized cage.
Better safe than sorry.
__________________
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09-05-2022, 11:52 AM
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#20
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Hamster Antics
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
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Re: Hamster balls are unsafe
Agree. Products need to be safe and not rely on the majority of owners to use knowledge or common sense. Now if they'd only start being more vocal about which cages aren't suitable!
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