Hamsters (merged)

ally18

Hi, thanks for the replies. She is one of 3 russian that we got at the same time, all in a huge cage together. Everything was ok until after about 2 weeks and one of them started to be picked on by another and so had to move out to another cage. This one was then on her own with the second hamster and eventually they started fighting after about 2 months so all 3 are now living in their own homes!!
I've noticed another one of them that does acrobatics from the highest bars now and is also chewing them? All 3 have wheels, tubes, wooden sticks to chew, food bars as well as normal food. And they have a ball and some kind of spaceship thing they can run around in!!!!!!!!

ally18

PS they are all just over 7 months old.

Fiver29

Like the title says really. The hamster loves running round in his ball, he makes a lot of effort to annoy the cat by rolling straight into her

But I only usually let him have 10 minutes at a time, would he be okay staying in longer?

missmontana

I can't find time limits anywhere... ten mins sounds ok tho, as long as he's still running about. My cats used to run away in terror when he came towards them!

Maybe you should have a go at Zorbing? Then you'd know how the hammy feels...

picklepick

No. They're good for exercise but the hamster doesn't necessarily run because its having fun. He could be running to get away because of fear and confusion. Well, as he can't, he'll just keep running into exhaustion! It's best to limit it to short amounts of time.

Fiver29

missmontana wrote: »

I can't find time limits anywhere... ten mins sounds ok tho, as long as he's still running about. My cats used to run away in terror when he came towards them!

Maybe you should have a go at Zorbing? Then you'd know how the hammy feels...

I do fancy having a go at that actually , although it;s a tad expensive for me.

missmontana

Just found this link, they can run about 8km a night, wow!

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/hamsterwheels.htm

what about one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/PETS-INTERNATIONAL-LTD-Critter-Cruiser/dp/B0002AS8RK

or these?

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-SuperPet-Run-About-Hamtrac/dp/B0002AS8SE

Fiver29

picklepick wrote: »

No. They're good for exercise but the hamster doesn't necessarily run because its having fun. He could be running to get away because of fear and confusion. Well, as he can't, he'll just keep running into exhaustion! It's best to limit it to short amounts of time.

Good point, yes I'll keep it to just short bursts then

Fiver29

missmontana wrote: »

Just found this link, they can run about 8km a night, wow!

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/hamsters/a/hamsterwheels.htm

what about one of these...

http://www.amazon.com/PETS-INTERNATIONAL-LTD-Critter-Cruiser/dp/B0002AS8RK

or these?

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-SuperPet-Run-About-Hamtrac/dp/B0002AS8SE

Wow, 8km that's some going on such little legs.

I've seen the Hamtraks, they look like a good idea.

picklepick

Also i dont let me gerbils run in the ball near my cats because the balls have been known to come apart when they crash into the skirting...... cue one dead hammy if that happens and kitty is watching!! :eek: