Why Hamster Balls Are Very Dangerous And Should Not Be Used

Why Hamster Balls Are Very Dangerous And Should Not Be Used

Unfortunately many pet stores and hamster owners aren’t aware of the dangers that come with putting your hamsters/mice or any other animal in a hamster ball.

Here are 10 REASONS to never put a hamster (or any other animal) in a hamster ball:

1. INJURIES + DEATH

As the animals cannot really maneuver or stop the ball they often collide with walls or crash into furniture or even fall down stairs resulting in sprains, traumas, fractions and other (inner/often invisible) injuries, sometimes even death.

2. STRESS + FEAR

Hamsters are flight animals! This means they always have to be able to hide somewhere if they feel threatened otherwise they are highly stressed and fear for their lives. (That’s why you always need hideouts + houses in the cage.)While in a ball they have no possibility to hide or really run away, they are locked up for everyone to see and watch which is directly the opposite on how hamsters should be kept or handled! The feeling of being in horrible (mortal) danger leads to running around even faster and crashing into things (often resulting in more injuries) which the owner then interprets as “a cute hamster having fun and exploring the room”. That’s the opposite of what’s happening here!

3. FORCE

Hamsters would normally never willingly decide to enter a hamster ball, lock it up and use it for running around! They like exploring everything first hand. But even if they really loved it - some hamsters love chewing on electrical wires but you still wouldn’t let them because it’s dangerous. Hamsters cannot always evaluate the danger they are in - it’s your responsibility to do so.

4. SENSES/ORIENTATION 

Hamsters and other animals love to explore their enviroment directly with their senses. They need to see/hear/smell/feel everything around them (not behind a layer of plastic). As hamsters do have an excellent sense of smell and great ears but are very shortsighted they don’t really see, hear or know where they are going which makes them feel helpless and increases their stress level.

5. UNSANITARY

Hamster mark their territory by using scent glands, feces and urine. As they are stressed they often pee and defecate even more which leads to a dirty unsanitary interior. As they can’t leave the ball when they please they are forced to run in their own feces and urine which can lead to infections and them feeling very uncomfortable.

6. POOR VENTILATION

Due to being stressed, frightened and looking for somewhere to hide they often run very fast which leads to even quicker breathing. A hamsterball is never ventilated enough as the vent slots are MUCH too small and often get clogged by feces. Therefore hamsters feel like they are slowly suffocating and the panic increases which again results in faster running, trying to get out and another owner thinking that their hamster has “fun”.

7. FOOT INJURIES

The vent slots are much too small but often big enough for their toes/claws or feet to get caught, clamped or even amputated!

8. SIZE

Hamster balls are a LOT too small. Let’s compare them with recommended hamster wheel sizes. For dwarf hamsters their wheel should be about 8 to 10 inches, for Syrian and bigger hamsters the correct size is about 10 - 14 inches! Hamster balls are about 4 - 7 (!) inches!As a result, hamsters have to arch their back with consequences such as massive spine problems, back pain and injuries and a general feeling of pain and discomfort!Hamsters always need a wheel (not ball) in their cage where they are able to run with a completely straight back on a closed surface with a closed back wall. They have to be able to get out and in any time they want. Anything else results in injuries, stress or pain.

9. OTHER ANIMALS

Sometimes when putting their hamster in a hamster ball the person thinks it’s fine for them to “meet” other pets as they are “safe” in the ball (which is unfortunately a very dangerous and terribly wrong assumption). As hamsters cannot orientate themselves and do not really understand or know where they are going because using their senses is almost impossible they can run into other animals and being thrown around or attacked by them. Even if those animals do nothing at all and are very friendly hamsters are flight animals which means that they want to hide and run away from potential predators (NOT “meet” them!) which isn’t really possible for them when stuck in a hamster ball with no to little orientation. This can lead to enormous stress, panic, injuries and even heart attacks.

10. VETS AND ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETIES:

In some countries, for example Germany, hamster balls are already listed as “unsuitable animal supplies with high injury risks” and are highly criticized by vets and animal protection societies as well as popular hamster care websites.

______________________________

“But my hamster isn’t stressed at all and has fun in their hamster ball!”

I’m sorry, but you can’t really know that!

But even if your hamster had fun it it, it would still be very dangerous, unsanitary and simply unsuitable for them and their needs - so please consider an alternative!

“What should I do now?”

• Give your hamster a big suitable cage and supplies (click for more information) which means as a minimum (but I would recommend a bigger one!) 30x20x20” for dwarfs and 40x20x20” for bigger/Syrian hamsters at the absolute minimum (bigger is always better!) with sand bath, chamber house, hideouts, big solid bottom wheel with closed back wall and 10-20 or more inches of bedding.
• Build a fenced and safe run area for your hamster to explore and exercise. :-)

Please help spread this information everywhere.

How To Care For A Hamster - 10 Steps (+ wrong assumptions on hamster care)

(German) SOURCE

Thank you!

10 years ago 974 notes

1. thelifeivegot liked this
2. sugaryoats said: When I was very young the pet store sold me giant hamster balls for my GUINEA PIGS. So thankful I read about them on the drive home and had us turn around to return it immediately.
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24. absolute-squash said: thanks for this info. thankfully i’ve only put one of my mice in a ball, and that was only for about 10 minutes. i wish that this info was well-known, as it would’ve saved me a lot of money.
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