Your dwarf hamsters grow only up to 3 to 4 inches in length, so they are really quite tiny animals. That being said, when you are looking for an exercise ball for your dwarf hamster, you should ensure that it is at least 7 to 8 inches in size. You definitely don’t want your little hamster to feel stuffy or uncomfortable in their small exercise ball, and a 7 or 8 inches exercise ball is absolutely perfect for their size.
You will also find some larger size hamster exercise balls on the market, which are about 10 to 14 inches in size. Make sure that you do not get these exercise balls for your little hamsters, as they are too large and heavy for your tiny little dwarf hamsters.
When you are first introducing your dwarf hamster to its exercise ball, allow it to stay in the ball for just 10 to 15 minutes at a time, letting them get comfortable to the exercise ball. Once the hamster is comfortable and enjoys playtime in its exercise ball, you can allow it to play in the ball for 20 minutes at a time, but not more.
Why? Well, because your little hamsters will be without food and water in the ball, and you don’t want your hamsters to get too tired or feel thirsty and have no access to water. You can allow your hamsters to run free in their little exercise balls for 20 minutes and then put them back in their cage again for a while.
If your hamster is up to it, then definitely yes! You can let your hamster play in its exercise ball once or twice every day, as long as you see that your little hamster is healthy and active. However, make sure that you don’t let your hamster stay in its exercise ball for too long at a time.
Yes, and in fact, you should clean the exercise ball every time after your hamster uses it. For regular cleaning, you can simply use some water and soap if you like, and swish it around in the ball. Then, rinse off the ball thoroughly. Make sure that you completely clean off all the soap and fry the exercise ball properly before letting your hamster play in it again.