Can I put my bearded dragon in a hamster ball?
The bearded dragon is one of the most favorite pets in our house, and the owners must find ways to entertain them.
But a hamster ball is not an ideal place to put your lizard friend inside.
This article will give you more information about the reasons why we should not use a hamster ball for bearded dragons.
Besides, some other alternative methods are discussed to let your pet have a safe and stress-free roaming experience.
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Why Bearded Dragons Should Not Go in a Hamster Ball
It is a natural characteristic of beardies to roam and explore and wander new regions outside.
They are kind of adventurers with an exceptional amount of curiosity inside themselves.
Therefore, it is necessary to let your lizard friend exercise frequently, which is also good for their health.
However, when it comes to this case, you may be worried and anxious to consider that your beloved pet is too small in the surrounding environment.
This is time for the owners to find methods and tools to allow a beardie to roam freely but also stay safe at the same time.
Some may have an idea to put a bearded dragon in a hamster ball coming across their minds. This allows the reptiles the freedom to roam and explore without the fear of being lost or injured.
In theory, this is a perfect solution. But in reality, it is greatly recommended that owners should not use hamster balls for bearded dragons.
Let’s discover various reasons why hamster balls are discouraged for lizards.
1. Stress
Bearded dragons are keen on roaming and exploring, but they do not like the feeling of being stuck in small spaces.
A hamster ball is such a tight space for your beardie to experience his journey.
In addition, hamsters and lizards have different ways to move.
Therefore, even if the ball is large enough, your pet cannot move properly around the house. This can cause him the feeling of stress that leads to other serious problems such as vomiting, loss of appetite, aggression, and fear.
The most important thing is to give bearded dragons a stress-free life for them to thrive and enjoy happiness.
In the other case, when you have other pets like cats or dogs at home, by putting a lizard in a hamster ball, you are creating a moving target or a toy for those animals to play with.
They can knock the beardie around and attack him, which can cause not only stress but also injuries as well.
2. Injury
Your lizard friend would face the high risk of being injured, which comes with many possibilities when being locked in a hamster ball.
The owners should avoid using the ball for their pets at any cost to ensure their safety.
A hamster ball is designed with air holes around to allow the hamsters or other rodents a great deal of oxygen when roaming around.
When you put a bearded dragon with long and skinny toenails in a hamster ball, he is taking the risk of having his toes or toenails got in stuck inside the air holes.
This can result in severe damage to not only his toes but also his toenails.
In another situation, cats may get their claws through the air holes to cause injuries and hurt to your pet.
Furthermore, it is a high possibility that the ball would roll down the staircase and let the beardie get stuck in dangerous areas without the chance of escaping.
3. Size and Shape
A hamster ball is designed appropriately with hamsters’ shape and their ability, which is usually 5 to 7 inches.
But it is a different case from the size of bearded dragons.
In comparison, a beardie is far larger than a hamster, with his tail at the same length or even longer than his body’s length.
The hamster ball has a round shape and does not provide much space for the entire length of a beardie as people make it specifically for hamsters.
The other cause why you should not put a bearded dragon in a hamster ball is that your pet is not able to flatten out, stretch out, and move in the way that hamsters do.
Even though both creatures are small, a lizard lacks the capability to maneuver around in a ball safely and securely with less risk of being hurt.
What Are Alternatives to Hamster Balls for Bearded Dragons?
Most bearded dragons, especially the younger ones, have a high curiosity about their surroundings.
In wildlife, beardies get hunting and walk around to release their energy. But in captivity, it is impossible.
Therefore, the owners should find toys and activities for their beloved pets to maintain not only good physical but also mental health.
Otherwise, the lizards might get sad and sluggish, which causes them stress.
Moreover, you and your dragons need to have fun together to create a bond and make both of you happy.
Some different toys and activities help the owners implement some exercise into their pets’ routine, keeping them safe and happy.
1. Buy a Toy Ball Designed for Bearded Dragons
Most bearded dragons do enjoy playing with a ball, which helps them do exercise and have fun as well.
There are three main options for you to choose from the ball.
First, even though you should not put a bearded dragon in a hamster ball, you can utilize it for another purpose.
Crickets or other feeder insects can be put in this ball for your pet’s entertainment.
Because this kind of ball is transparent, your lizard can see anything you put in and chase the ball to get near to the insects.
This exercise is fun and great to watch but do not let the beardie run for more than 10 minutes, and make sure to give him the insects at the end.
Second, you can buy cat balls that are sold widely at pet shops.
As the same method mentioned above with balls for hamsters, you prepare some slow-moving insects like worms to put inside.
For your further information, you could put them in the refrigerator for about 15 to 20 minutes to make them sluggish.
The bearded dragons with alert actions would enjoy knocking the ball to take the worms out.
Third, another kind of ball you can get for your lizard is a softball or one of large size that he cannot swallow.
Golf or ping-pong balls could be taken into consideration. Marbles and other small items are not suitable.
The bearded dragons enjoy pushing the ball and rolling it around with their nose.
2. Have Fun With Your Beardie in a Playpen or Outside the House Using a Harness
Your lizard would feel great when he can play in the garden in the summertime when the weather is not too cold.
However, you have to keep the beardie safe by confining him in a small area or using a harness.
It is not wise at all to let your pet run around the garden because the bearded dragon runs too fast and you cannot keep your eyes on him all the time.
The best solution, in this case, is to use an outdoor playpen for small pets, which can give beardies both fresh air and sun.
This kind of playpen has an open roof, so we can even use it inside the house.
3. Listen to Music With Your Bearded Dragon
This might be a strange method but, surprisingly, some beardies like to listen to a certain type of music.
You can try different ranges of music and view their responses.
This is also an opportunity for you to realize whether you and your pet have the same style of music of pop, rock, or ballad.
This will help to tighten the relationship between both of you.
4. Place a Mirror in Your Bearded Dragon’s Tank
When you put a mirror in the tank of your pet, he will see his reflection in it but he is thinking of having another bearded dragon.
You can watch and learn his behaviors when he might bob his head, try to play, or wave at the reflection.
The chart below shows the body language of your pet in different situations.
Different behaviors would show distinguish signals.
Waving means that your pet accepts the appearance of the other one while bobbing means a strong interest in dominance.
However, carefully remember that you must not place the mirror for a whole day but only 20 minutes.
This can cause stress and negative reactions to your pet if he thinks there is another one in the tank.
5. Let Your Bearded Dragon Lie or Climb on You for a Relaxed Time Together
It is common for a beardie to lie on the body or sit on the shoulder of his owner.
You can have this activity easily in the evenings when watching TV or playing computer games.
Your lizard would be glad and encouraged and might enjoy watching the TV with you or listening to different kinds of sounds. It is also a good exercise for your pet to climb over you.
6. Let Your Bearded Dragon Swim
Swimming and soaking are the favorite activities of a bearded dragon.
At some times of the day, you might catch your pet lying on the water dish several times. It is better to keep the water level low, although beardies are good swimmers and can swim well.
In addition, you have to ensure the water temperature is at a good degree of around 800°F.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bearded Dragons
1. Can I Put a Bearded Dragon in a Well-ventilated Hamster Ball to Allow Him to Roam Around the House?
The thing you have to worry much about is your pet’s nails.
There might be a situation that your bearded dragon can lose his toenails in the little holes.
In addition, his body is much longer than a hamster and his tail is not that flexible.
2. Should We Use a Harness Made for Reptiles to Keep Our Beardies With Us When They Are Roaming Around?
This is a great point of view. There are harnesses of different sizes at the pet shop.
The only thing you have to do is to choose the one that suits best to your beloved pet.
3. How to Tell If a Bearded Dragon Is Happy When We Let Him Roam Around?
There are many signs to realize whether your bearded dragon is happy or not.
If your pet does all the daily tasks he should do, then he is happy. This includes sleeping, eating, basking, and pooping normally.
4. Can I Use Ball Toys for Bearded Dragons?
Yes. Instead of using a hamster ball that is not suitable for a reptile, the owner can utilize balls designed for their pets.
Some breaded dragons like to attack or push the balls with their noses. You can see this video for your reference:
5. Can Bearded Dragons Use Hamster Balls?
As mentioned before, it is not a smart choice to put your lizard in a ball designed for hamsters, as he can get hurt.
Instead, it can be utilized to entertain your pet. When you put the ball with an insect inside near the beardie, he would chase it for fun to get the insect.
Conclusion
Bearded dragons all have the characteristic to be keen on exploring surrounding areas.
After having set up your pet with a suitable tank and provided him everything necessary, it is time to start thinking about entertainment.
Can I put my bearded dragon in a hamster ball? This is not a great idea at all for owners to think about.
We hope this article provided helpful information on why beardies cannot use hamster balls and other alternative methods to give your pets a healthy and stress-free life.
Key points on whether you can put your bearded dragon in a hamster ball or not:
The idea of using a hamster ball for a bearded dragon might seem appealing, but it’s not recommended due to various reasons. Here’s a concise breakdown in bullet points for quick reference:
1. Size and Mobility:
- Inappropriate Size: Hamster balls are typically small and enclosed, not suitable for the size or body shape of a bearded dragon. It restricts their movement and can cause stress.
- Limited Mobility: Bearded dragons need space to roam and explore. Hamster balls limit their mobility, hindering natural behaviors like walking, stretching, and basking.
2. Safety Concerns:
- Ventilation: Hamster balls lack proper ventilation, which is essential for a bearded dragon’s respiratory health. Restricted airflow inside the ball can lead to breathing difficulties.
- Heat Regulation: Bearded dragons rely on external heat sources for thermoregulation. The enclosed environment of a hamster ball can cause overheating, as they can’t regulate their temperature effectively.
3. Stress and Discomfort:
- Stressful Environment: Being confined in a hamster ball can stress bearded dragons, causing anxiety and potentially leading to health issues like loss of appetite or behavioral changes.
- Physical Discomfort: The smooth, plastic surface of the ball doesn’t provide the textured surfaces needed for a bearded dragon’s claws, leading to discomfort and potential injury.
4. Potential Hazards:
- Risk of Falls: Bearded dragons can climb and may attempt to escape from the ball, leading to falls or injuries.
- Ingestion Hazard: Small pieces or access points in the ball could pose a risk of ingestion, leading to digestive issues if the dragon nibbles on the ball.
5. Alternative Options:
- Proper Enclosure: Provide a spacious, appropriately sized enclosure with various enrichment items like logs, branches, and hiding spots for the bearded dragon to explore.
- Supervised Exploration: If allowing your dragon to roam outside its enclosure, ensure a safe, supervised space with no potential hazards and proper temperature regulation.
6. Consider Individual Needs:
- Temperament Differences: Some bearded dragons may tolerate being in a hamster ball for a short time without showing immediate distress, but this doesn’t guarantee it’s a suitable or safe option.
In summary, while the idea might seem convenient, using a hamster ball for a bearded dragon isn’t recommended due to safety, comfort, and health concerns. Providing a spacious, properly equipped enclosure remains the best way to ensure your bearded dragon’s well-being and happiness.
