If you have a hamster in your home, you know they’re curious and exploratory animals that love their toys. And hamster balls are an extremely popular hamster toy because they allow your furry friend to explore, expend their endless energy, and give them some freedom outside of their cage.
However, you may not want to put your hamster in a ball for a number of reasons that we’ll cover in this article. And if that’s the case, you’ll need alternatives that give your hamster freedom to explore their surroundings.
In this article, we’re going to cover the most common alternatives to hamster balls and answer some of the most common questions when it comes to the round toy.
Feel free to click to any specific section in this article or keep reading into the first section.
Hamster Ball Alternatives
As we mentioned earlier, hamster balls are a great toy for your furry friend to explore outside of their cage with freedom and protection. However, you may not want to put them in a ball for their safety, which is why we’re going to cover some other great options.
Here are the most common hamster ball alternatives:
Hamster Wheel
Every hamster should have a wheel because it allows them to expend their boundless energy in the protection of their cage. For their size, hamsters have seemingly endless energy and since they’re contained in their cage, they need a way to stay busy.
There’s a reason why hamster wheels have become a colloquial phrase, which is because they’ve become so ubiquitous and necessary for any hamster cage.
Hamster wheels also offer better ventilation, easier to clean, and your hamster can choose when they use the wheel or not, compared to a ball which requires a lot more hands-on interaction and monitoring.
Hamster Tunnels
Tubes and tunnels for your hamster is a great alternative to a ball because they allow your hamster to explore “outside” their cage, but still remained safe and contained.
They come in all types of fun colors, shapes, and sizes and can easily be connected to your existing cage, which makes them a great option for your cage.
If you don’t already have any tubes or tunnels attached to their cage, consider going to PetCo or Amazon today and ordering a few for your furry friend. It will give them the ability to explore and add some square footage to their home.
Hamster Playpen
The next great option is a playpen for your hamster, which is essentially a large enclosure that you can setup in a safe place in your home for your hamster to explore. While they’re still contained, it allows them to explore a new, larger area than their cage.
You can also add some toys and obstacles in the playpen to give your hamster something to do in the playpen. Most playpens have walls that are between 6 and 12 inches tall, so your hamster can’t escape.
However, if your hamster is persistent they can knock down the entire pen, so you still have to monitor your hamster in the pen.
Finally, these playpens can be folded up and easily moved around to different areas in your home, so they’re a great and flexible alternative to a ball.
Hamster Habitat
The last option is a hamster habitat, which is essentially just a much bigger and taller cage with multiple levels and a ton of built-in toys and features for your hamster to explore and use.
This type of habitat generally replaces your existing cage, but comes with a lot more options for your hamster to use. As a result, you don’t need to extra toys like balls to give your hamster room to explore.
The additional features generally include wheels, tubes and tunnels, ropes, ladders, ramps, lookouts, and more. It’s essentially a combination mansion and Six Flags for your hamster.
The only downside is that these habitats are generally harder to clean and much more expensive than a basic cage. But since it is your hamster’s full-time home, you may consider investing in something a little more extravagant for your furry friend.
Are Wheels Better Than a Hamster Ball?
The most common alternative to a hamster ball is a wheel since they’re both extremely popular and easy ways for your hamster to explore and get rid of all that energy. And whether a wheel is better than a ball ultimately comes down to your preference and what your furry friend prefers.
Hamster Wheel Benefits and Downsides
The benefits of a hamster wheel is that your hamster can use it whenever since it sits in their cage and they can run as much or as little as they want. It’s also safe, inexpensive, and comes in a bunch of different sizes.
The biggest downside to a wheel is that they can be noisy and since your hamster can use it whenever and hamsters are nocturnal, you may not want to be woken up by a track and field event at 2am.
Also, one thing to keep in mind is that every hamster should have a wheel, so while a wheel is a necessary purchase, a ball is more of a secondary purchase.
Hamster Ball Benefits and Downsides
On the other hand, hamster balls provide something that wheels can’t, which is exposure and the ability to explore outside of their cage.
The benefits of a hamster ball is that they’re small and easy to store and allow your hamster to safely explore with freedom outside their cage. This is something that a wheel can’t provide.
The biggest downsides to a ball is that they often don’t provide sufficient ventilation, your hamster doesn’t get as much exercise as a wheel, and they need to be monitored constantly while in the ball because they can get stuck or fall off a surface, such as stairs.
Ultimately, whether you choose to go with a wheel, ball, or both depends on what benefits and downsides you feel most comfortable with since each provide a unique experience for your hamster.
Are Hamster Balls Dangerous?
As mentioned in the last section, hamster balls have a lot of benefits over wheels and other types of toys, but they aren’t perfect.
Hamster balls can be dangerous because they offer little ventilation, they can easily get stuck or fall of a high surface, and may lead to anxiety and stress if your hamster feels constrained.
While hamster balls provide your furry friend the ability to explore outside of their cage in a unique and generally safe manner, they aren’t perfect.
Because the risk of getting stuck, stress, and falling is common, your hamster should be monitored and watched at all times while in their ball. Without that constant monitoring, your hamster can get injured or even die in an extreme scenario.
If you do decide to get a hamster ball, one of the most important steps is to make sure that you get the right size. A ball that is too small can lead to anxiety or even suffocation. And a ball that is too big will be too hard for your hamster to move and they may get stuck or fall.
Finally, while your hamster is in the ball you should always keep them on a flat surface away from ledges, such as stairs, animals, and don’t allow them to go outside.
Frequently Asked Questions
At this point you should have a good understanding of hamster balls and the most popular alternatives, but there are a few other commonly asked questions that we’ll cover below.
Do Hamsters Need a Ball?
No, hamsters don’t need a ball, but they do need a way to safely exercise and satisfy their curious nature. That can be a wheel and the ability to look outside of their cage via tubes, tunnels, or lookouts.
How Long Should a Hamster Play in Their Ball?
A hamster should play in their ball for no longer than 30 minutes each day. Any time over 30 minutes can lead to dehydration, suffocation, anxiety, or stress, all of which are harmful to your furry friend.
What Toys Do Hamsters Love?
The best toys for hamsters are wheels, tubes, tunnels, lookouts, rope toys, cardboard rolls, wood blocks, and even balls if you monitor them closely.
How Do I Keep My Hamster Entertained?
Hamsters need a lot of activity to keep them engaged and healthy. There are lots of ways to keep your hamster entertained, such as adding tubes and tunnels to their cage, playing with them outside of their cage, giving them cardboard rolls, hiding treats around their cage, and creating small obstacle courses.
Additional Reading
If you’re interested in reading more about hamster toys and their behavior, check out these related articles:
- 3 Ways to Play with a Hamster – Wikihow
- Games That Hamsters Love – Animals on Mom.com
- How to Play With Your Hamster – Hamsters101.com
Conclusion
Hamster balls are a great toy for your hamster because they provide the ability for your furry friend to explore outside their cage in a protective way. However, your hamster needs to be constantly monitored while in a ball so they don’t suffocate, get stuck, or fall of a ledge.
If that makes you worry, there are alternatives, including hamster wheels, playpens, and large habitats that contain a ton of built-in features to entertain your hamster.
The most important thing to remember when owning a hamster is their safety and health is the top priority. While hamster balls are a great toy, you need to consider your hamster’s well-being.