Am I harming my hamster by putting her in her excercise ball?

Question

Hiya

I have a hamster who is not old, she's quite young, I've not had her long.

She's quite lively & easily gets bored in her cage when she gets up for abit in an evening, so I put her in her exercise ball for about half an hour a day really...no longer as a rule & when it is, it's only for about 5 or 10 minutes.

She seems to geuinely love it. In fact, I only have to put it near her & she jumps right in it herself! I certainly don't have to force her.

But I worry that I'm harming her, because I love her so much, she's such a gem & I'd hate for anything to happen to her.

I used to use an excercise ball with my other two hamsters too, the first one didn't like it so much, so I didn't put him in it often & he lived over 2 years, but my last one loved it aswell & only lived about 18 months.

That's why I'm worried about my current one now, did my first one live longer because he wasn't using the ball as much?

I don't wanna lose her. Thanks in advance from me & Rita (my hamster)! lol ;)

Answer 1

some like going in a ball others don't it wont hurt her at all, in fact it's good to give her the exercise and she wont over work herself because when she gets tired she will just stop running around and rest, my hamster used to run for out a few minuets then sleep in his ball, then he would wake up and keep going.

Answer 2

the only way i can think of a hamster  getting hurt in an exercise ball is if you let her roll too close to the stairs.

If your hamster enjoys it, than i dont think any harm will come from it!

Answer 3

thats a good think its not harming your hamster in anyway at all its good excise for your hamster!!

Answer 4

shes fine, dawg.

Answer 5

no sweet heart you are not harming her with putting her in her ball. As that and the wheel in the cage are the only 2 bits of exercise they get i know as i have had hamsters for the past 7yrs they are surposed to have half hr per day in there ball any ways to exercise you are not harming her ok x*x

Answer 6

no of course not if it's moving in the ball thats good. if it's not then just give it time. your not harming it at all. :]

Answer 7

I had one that lived for 2 months... it doesnt matter... hamsters a 6$ :P but since you love her so much, ill tell you this: Hamsters a quite flexible and the ball was intended for them . Unless she is rolling around in her own pee, shes good

Answer 8

Nah Rita should be fine!  Hamsters really enjoy the hamster balls and stimulating their little minds should actually help them live longer!  They are such short lived little creatures though.

Don't worry that the ball hurt your last hammie, there could have been all kinds of other issues you weren't aware of :)

Answer 9

Its not possible for your hamster to get hurt in the ball as long as you watch after her.