Do you put your gerbils in a hamster ball?

[imjessiegeee]

I've recently started putting my cage biting single gerbil into my hamster ball I've had from ages. At first, he was getting used to it but now he's a lot faster than his first try. I put him for 5 minutes until I cleaned his water. I've just put in another gerbil into and he seems fine with it, moving around frequently? I'm just wondering if it's safe for them to use for a while. They're always bored.

[pastelpml]

I watched a video saying that they are unsafe for hamsters and gerbils because they can get their feet and tails stuck in the slits but I have never had anything bad happen when I put my gerbils in. Another great place to let them run around and have exercise is your bathtub!

[Thelodar]

I have used them and don't have an issue with them as long as the gerbil is having a good time. Do it for short periods at first, it can be scary the first few times and it can take some time for them to figure out how to move the ball how they want and not bump into everything. Always supervise though, I never trust those plastic lids. plus they can get themselves stuck.

[blanknote]

I have read that gerbils can be scared in them, and aren't running because they are actually enjoying it. I'm not sure how true it is, but I personally don't want to use them with my gerbils for that reason. I'd rather let them run around a bath tub/playpen with some of their toys!

[robotmoth]

I used one once with gerbils years ago and they really hated it! Definitely prefer to let mine run in a pen or in bath.

[betty]

I personally wouldn't use the balls for gerbils as I don't think their locomotion is inline with how they need to move in a ball.

Gerbils use their tiny front legs to dig and investigate things and so every time they lean forward to see whats going on they sort of start falling forward and end up running until they can manage to stop. Some people think they are fine however and so it would be up to your whether you thought your gerbil looked comfortable in the ball itself rather than how far or fast they travelled.

They also don't get to touch or sniff anything while in a ball - and these are two very important gerbil traits.

I would also question what you thought was 'bored' as gerbils love nothing better than digging and chewing, so if they are in a bedding-filled tank with cardboard tubes and boxes thrown in, they should be content or resting.

Some gerbils however, demand to come out of their tank and it may be that your gerbil is like that - in which case I would suggest either a fun-filled bath tub or a wooden vivarium like I have that they can investigate safely for as long as they want.

[mytwogerbils]

kaytee has a playpen that the bars are small enough so they cant escape and it is pretty cheap. my gerbils love this and I take them outside in this so they can play in the leaves and get some fresh air. when its too hot or cold though they go in the playpen for short amounts of time and the bathtub for a couple hours. just switch out which toys you use each time and they should be fine in a tub or playpen.

[sandbabies]

I own a hamster ball, and I sometimes let my gerbils run around in it. I'm not too worried they will get their feet or tails stuck because the slits are really tiny. The ball that I got is tinted blue though and I don't think they like that very much. Otherwise they seem to enjoy it. I always supervise them while they are in the ball because for some reason the plastic lid is really loose. They have never escaped from it, but I still don't trust it.

I also have a big bin that I sometimes let my gerbils run around in. I like to put cardboard and other spare gerbil toys in. Sometimes I even hide seeds in there so they can find them while they are exploring. My gerbils seem to enjoy it and it's also a place where I can put them to get them out of the way while I'm cleaning their cage.

[jumpysmudge]

I used hamster balls with previous gerbils, but I don't anymore. I just let mine run about the floor. They love the massive open space.

There is nowhere they can get it of the room, unless I open a door, because they follow me. I do need to cover up a sub though, otherwise they will go and hide in there.