Hedgehogs love to explore but are also really talented at getting into dangerous places like under furniture. So naturally, a hamster ball is a really tempting solution to keep your hedgie safe while they free roam. But is it really safe for a hedgehog to use a hamster ball?
Hamster balls can be dangerous when used by a hedgehog. They have small air slits that a hedgehog’s nail or toe can get caught in which can cause painful injuries. Hedgehogs also tend to defecate and urinate while running. This can create a very unpleasant situation for your hedgie while it’s trapped rolling around in a contained space with a mess.
If you don’t want to baby-proof (a.k.a hedgie proof) your home using an oversized hamster ball to keep your pet safe during playtime can be very tempting. Owners with other pets like cats or dogs have also been drawn to the idea of hamster balls as a somewhat protected way for their hedgehog to explore the house. If you’ve set your heart on your hedgehog using a hamster ball keep reading to learn everything you need to know about preventing injury and other issues that may pop up during your hedgies playtime!
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Are Hamster Balls Safe for Hedgehogs?
The biggest issue with hamster balls and hedgehogs is it’s hard to know if your hedgie is running because it’s enjoying exploring or if it’s running because it’s desperately trying to find a way out of the ball. Some hedgehogs enjoy the experience while others become panicked by being placed in such a weird space.
Hedgehogs have extremely poor eyesight so they mainly rely on their ears and nose to navigate. When you place your hedgehog in a noisy plastic ball they tend to get overwhelmed by the clicking rolling sounds and the plastic makes it even harder for them to see. We tried out the Kaytee Run-About Ball Mega Clear 13″ inch size with two of our hedgehogs and have had zero luck with either hedgie.
Our hedgehogs were not panicked by being in a hamster ball and just sat still until I let them out of the ball. Since they can barely see where the ball is going it’s inevitable that they will constantly whack into walls or furniture which is no fun. Sophie our second hedgehog would also quickly make a mess so I almost always had to stop playtime to hose down the ball and floor. It’s also very difficult to extract a squirmy hedgehog from a dirty hamster ball without getting droppings all over you and the hedgehog.
But some hedgehogs really enjoy playing in hamster balls as you can see in the video below:
Can Hedgehog Play in Hamster Balls?
Hamster balls are obviously made for hamsters (no duh) which are much smaller than the average hedgehog so you will likely need to buy a very large or possibly the largest size available depending on how big your hedgie is. Most hedgehog owners use a 12-13″ inch diameter ball like the Kaytee Run-About Ball Mega. This kind of hamster ball is sold in many pet stores but you may have a hard time finding such a large size in stock.
One of the biggest risk factors with hedgehogs and hamster balls is the possibility of getting a toe or nail caught in the air slits of the plastic ball. As you can see below these balls are covered in long slits which are included to allow sufficient airflow.
It’s extremely important that you are regularly trimming your hedgehog’s nails to avoid injuries caused by overlength nails getting stuck in the crevices of a hamster ball. This is also the reason hedgehog owners are so picky about wheels, any crevice or seam in the construction of a toy or wheel poses a potential risk to your pet! You can read our detailed guide on the safest hedgehog wheels here.
Hedgie Hamster Balls: Things To Watch Out For
When you’re getting ready to let your hedgehog out to explore whether it’s just free-roaming or playing with a hamster ball, it’s important to give them enough time to fully wake up and relieve themselves while they’re still in their cage.
This gives them a chance to relax, avoids unnecessary stress by plopping them in a strange ball right after waking up, and saves time cleaning up a mess on your floor, the ball, or even the hedgehog getting messy itself!
It should go without saying but make sure you keep your hedgehog away from any staircases or other potential places they could roll down or drop suddenly. Your hedgehog can also still potentially get stuck under furniture or find cords to chew on through the slits of the hamster ball so extreme supervision is needed at all times!
If your hedgehog does relieve themselves in the ball you should immediately halt playtime so they don’t continue to roll around in their own mess. Hedgies naturally relieve themselves while running so this will happen more often than you might expect.
Safer Alternatives to Using Hamster Balls For Hedgehogs
I personally do not use hamster balls because the risks do not outweigh the benefits for me. A much easier (and safer) way to keep your hedgehog contained is to set up a gated off play area that has been cleared of anything they could get stuck in or under and free of inappropriate things that they may try to eat.
I use this wire playpen during hedgehog playtime. It can either be set up in a circle like below or you can straighten it out to block a doorway off and seal a room for your hedgehog to explore. It’s just long enough to block a doorway or even section off a half of a room so it’s been a go-to piece of my hedgehog setup for many years.
Plastic bottomed playpens like this setup are also a very popular setup for keeping hedgehogs contained during playtime. If your hedgie enjoys chewing on the carpet (mine sure do) this is a great way to keep the chewing to a minimum. They’re also very easy to clean and wipe down. If you feed live insects you can also safely feed your hedgehog some live treats without the fear of letting bugs escape into your house. No one wants an escapee cricket chirping all night long 😂
And keep in mind, you don’t have to buy a hamster ball or playpen before letting your prickly pal explore! As long as you keep a watchful eye on your hedgehog during playtime it’s perfectly fine to let them free roam. If I let our hedgies roam in the living room I will sometimes strategically place a stool in front of our couch to keep her from roaming under there but besides that, I rarely use a pen or setup and never use a hamster ball.
Go with whatever option feels most comfortable for you and your home setup. Better safe than sorry should always be the route taken when it comes to these amazing pets!
