Unsafe hamster items and toys

Maz said:
Some bendy bridges are ok - if you get a bad one with big gaps you can send it back for a replacement but that's hassle as well. I started using the plain wood coloured ones instead for that reason. I used to get them from ranch house cages on ebay and they're not only good quality but they also screw to the bars if you want (they come with fixings). Unfortunately they don't send them individually any more - only with a pack of two shelves - which makes it more expensive if you want two! Like I did - as then you get four shelves as well. Although I do like those little shelves and use them sometimes - they can make steps with a couple of them. I think you can get the coloured bendy bridges elsewhere but not sure which ones are ok.

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Thank you 😊 The eBay ones look good 👍 My son got Albert a multi colored bendy bridge off Amazon.
 
I like that you can screw them to the bars :-) That way they can make a good ramp and it stays in place without sinking into the substrate. Although one isn't usually enough for a ramp up to a shelf - unless it's a very low shelf. As an example, here is one screwed to the bars in Raffy's cage, leading to one of the little shelves - it's access to his sputnik.

I stick a piece of hemp mat on the little shelves with a bit of plastikote - they can slither a bit on them otherwise!

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Maz said:
I like that you can screw them to the bars :) That way they can make a good ramp and it stays in place without sinking into the substrate. Although one isn't usually enough for a ramp up to a shelf - unless it's a very low shelf. As an example, here is one screwed to the bars in Raffy's cage, leading to one of the little shelves - it's access to his sputnik.

I stick a piece of hemp mat on the little shelves with a bit of plastikote - they can slither a bit on them otherwise!

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That looks great 👍
 
I've just been to the new, big pet shop and saw that they sell animals which their smaller outlets don't. I immediately felt sad and felt a lot worse when i read the labels on the tanks.
They state that hamsters need exercise and recommend buying them a wheel and a play ball. The wheels in the tanks were the size of ornaments.
The dwarf hamsters were sold as Winter Whites and the picture showed a Roborovski.
How a new shop can get information so wrong and recommend hamster balls when the RSPCA advises against their use is beyond me.
I asked to speak to the manager who told me that he'll contact HO about it.
I also told the manager that stocking some Syrian sized wheels could be make them money.
I haven't set foot in the other big pet shop chain since i came out with two fighting dwarfs and it looks like this one is one to avoid as well.
 
Beryl said:
I've just been to the new, big pet shop and saw that they sell animals which their smaller outlets don't. I immediately felt sad and felt a lot worse when i read the labels on the tanks.
They state that hamsters need exercise and recommend buying them a wheel and a play ball. The wheels in the tanks were the size of ornaments.
The dwarf hamsters were sold as Winter Whites and the picture showed a Roborovski.
How a new shop can get information so wrong and recommend hamster balls when the RSPCA advises against their use is beyond me.
I asked to speak to the manager who told me that he'll contact HO about it.
I also told the manager that stocking some Syrian sized wheels could be make them money.
I haven't set foot in the other big pet shop chain since i came out with two fighting dwarfs and it looks like this one is one to avoid as well.
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Could you report this shop for breaking animal welfare standards?
How disgusting this shop treats animals so poorly and encourages others to do the same.
 
RainbowBrite said:
Could you report this shop for breaking animal welfare standards?
How disgusting this shop treats animals so poorly and encourages others to do the same.
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No, i can't do that because it is not illegal to sell hamster balls. Same as it is not illegal to sell tiny wheels and cages. The other day i had it out with the manager in another pet shop for selling something that's a potential killer.
The animal welfare act doesn't seem to apply and i often question its purpose.
 
Beryl said:
No, i can't do that because it is not illegal to sell hamster balls. Same as it is not illegal to sell tiny wheels and cages. The other day i had it out with the manager in another pet shop for selling something that's a potential killer.
The animal welfare act doesn't seem to apply and i often question its purpose.
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I see what you mean. It is really nice you tried to educate the manager.
 
Beryl said:
I've just been to the new, big pet shop and saw that they sell animals which their smaller outlets don't. I immediately felt sad and felt a lot worse when i read the labels on the tanks.
They state that hamsters need exercise and recommend buying them a wheel and a play ball. The wheels in the tanks were the size of ornaments.
The dwarf hamsters were sold as Winter Whites and the picture showed a Roborovski.
How a new shop can get information so wrong and recommend hamster balls when the RSPCA advises against their use is beyond me.
I asked to speak to the manager who told me that he'll contact HO about it.
I also told the manager that stocking some Syrian sized wheels could be make them money.
I haven't set foot in the other big pet shop chain since i came out with two fighting dwarfs and it looks like this one is one to avoid as well.
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I would write to them and attach some documentary evidence such as the RSPCA advice. It can have more impact than speaking to someone in person. I wrote to the local branch of a big chain pet shop once about how they were keeping some chinchillas. Not sure if it made any difference but I got a response and sometimes just the fact that someone has lodged a written complaint can encourage action.

It's unfortunate that the animal welfare legislation only covers the very worst cases of abuse.
 
Frida said:
The last time

It will be very interesting to see if you get a response.
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I'll get a response but will they respond by updating their recommendation is another matter.

I've emailed the other big pet shop chain before with various concerns and they once told me that they were going to look into staff training in one particular store. Things didn't improve as far as i could see.

Can't mention any names on here.
 
Beryl said:
Poor quality bendy bridges:

Many people have stopped using them but i still use the ones without gaps like the multi coloured ones and some good quality natural ones. Quality varies a lot so it is important to check them before buying and using them.

Here is an example of a poor quality bendy bridge with gaps little hamster paws and toes can get trapped and injured in.

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Another of my buys but fortunately read this before adding it to Pete cage it was in the freezer at the time 3 months later I had an idea how to utilise it I plugged all of the gaps with folded card then used it in his playpen as a ladder to reach his dig box I double checked it with my finger nail so glad I read the article or it was something I'd would not have thought off
 
I've always wondered if this particular hanging toy is safe.

Eric had one in his cage but i have taken it out because he is a hamster who climbs.

My concern is that he may try to climb it, get a foot stuck in a hole and catch a nail in the lofah.

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Beryl said:
I've always wondered if this particular hanging toy is safe.

Eric had one in his cage but i have taken it out because he is a hamster who climbs.

My concern is that he may try to climb it, get a foot stuck in a hole and catch a nail in the lofah.

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Good point Beryl so easy not to think at the time of buying these things it gives me nightmares
 
I've had those. I've never worried about them particularly as they are quite soft and not something rigid. Raffy has one in his cage.
 
I've had them as well but started to have second thoughts and decided not to use them for active and agile hamsters like Eric who explores everything.
 
It's personal choice. I think they are more likely to fall off them than get a toe caught - they're so light and flimsy.
 
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