How to exercise a hamster

Do you have a hamster? You should know that one of the cares that you must provide is a routine of physical exercise to burn energy, rest better and be in an optimal health condition. It is important that you know the basic notions about the care of a hamster but, among them, is the subject of the exercise because it is vital for the animal to be perfect and live longer. In this article we give you some details about how to exercise a hamster so you can take care of your friend as he needs.

Understand the importance of exercise

Hamsters need to exercise to prevent them from becoming a ball of fat and to mimic the performance of what they would be doing if they lived in the wild. The lack of exercise for your hamster can lead to obesity and even paralysis in some hamsters.

The good thing about hamsters is that if you give them the necessary means, they will exercise.

The wheel

A good way you have to exercise a hamster is by acquiring a wheel . This is a wheel that revolves around the steps of the hamster and makes the animal run. A highly recommended accessory. When choosing a wheel, the following is recommended :

  • Make sure the wheel is solid . If the hamster chews a lot, a large solid metal wheel is the best. Never use a mesh, because it can cause serious damage to the feet; or a wheel with bars (rays), because they can entangle its tail.
  • Check the size of the wheel. Syrian / Golden hamsters need wheels that are at least 8 inches in diameter, although 10-inch or larger wheels ensure they are large enough for their entire lives. Dwarf species require wheels with a minimum of 6.5 inches in diameter. Wheels that are too small can cause serious back problems and is often the reason why a hamster does not want to use it and subsequently becomes boring.
  • Do not put a hamster wheel in a cage where a mother breastfeeds. The mother may lose interest in her young hamsters, and the young tend to try to use the wheel running on one another, creating the possibility of injury.
  • Not all hamsters will enjoy a wheel. Do not force your hamster to use it if he does not like it. They prefer different ways of exercising.

The ball

A ball for the hamster is another great way to give your pet some fun and safe exercise . The good thing about a ball is that your hamster can not get stuck with anything and get caught under something. Just make sure that the ball cap closes tightly so that the hamster does not come loose and that there are no stairs or other precipices where the hamster could fall rolling.

When a hamster ball is used outside the cage, try to be present at all times so that you can defend it from other pets or hazards, before they become a problem.

As with the wheels, make sure it is large enough to prevent damage to your back.

A trick is to throw a hula or hula on the ground to provide a limit that prevents the ball from going elsewhere. Maybe you should watch your hamster on the ball but this makes it easier to keep it in one place.

A hamster should only be in a ball for 10-15 minutes at a time, this can be done 2-3 times a day.

Climb

Hamsters love to climb and that's why a cage with horizontal bars is a great way to encourage them to climb (it also offers excellent ventilation). If you have a Roborovski hamster choose a mouse cage instead of a metal hamster cage because the youngsters can slide between the bars and escape.

Toys

The game is exercise and toys are the game tools that lead them to exercise. There are a good number of hamster toys that you can improvise or you can buy at the pet store if you prefer. These are just some ideas to start:

  • A piece of sisal rope. Hang it from the top of the cage. This is excellent for climbing practice.
  • Rolls of toilet paper and kitchen napkins. They offer movements similar to the ball, until they discover that they can chew them too.
  • A piece of wood or branches of fruit trees or willow. They give the hamster something to chew (jaw exercises), as well as material to move and build.
  • Small smooth stones or interesting shapes: These could act as mini weights because the hamster moves them, rolls them, and tries to build things with them.
  • Bottle without lid . This can be another fun place to explore and shoot.