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Play & Forage: Training, Demolition, Balls & Rolls and Hanging Toys for Rodents & Rabbits
Play & Forage for Rodents and Rabbits
Playing isn't just fun: it provides variety and complements natural behaviors like searching, gnawing, pushing, pulling, and exploring. With the right enrichment, you can make the environment more interesting and help reduce boredom. At DRD Rodent Shop®, we select toys that are practical and suited to your pet's abilities. Specialists since 2011.
Searching, gnawing, rolling and discovering.
Foraging, puzzles and reward training.
Materials and shapes tailored to each animal species.
Subcategories Play & Foraging
Playing & foraging in brief
- Foraging = looking for food instead of “eating it all in one go”.
- Good start = start simple, make it more difficult later.
- Daily feeding often works better than lots of snacks: use part of the normal food as a reward.
- Variety = change 2–3 items each week to keep it interesting.
Which animals is this suitable for?
Choose toys that suit their behavior and body type. Below you'll find practical guidelines for each species.
- Hamsters & gerbils: Search games and delaying feeding often work best; choose a low, stable position.
- Mice and rats: curious and agile; hanging toys are acceptable as long as they are securely attached and have no loose loops.
- Guinea pigs: often enjoy foraging and pushing/rolling; choose stable items that won't startle them.
- Rabbits: Chewing, destroying, and playing puzzles are popular; provide plenty of destruction/pulling as an outlet.
- Chinchillas and degus: strong rodents; choose sturdy toys and check them regularly for wear and tear.
How to get started: simple starter combo
- Step 1: Choose 1 forage item (easy success).
- Step 2: add 1 demolition item for gnawing and pulling behavior.
- Step 3: After a few days, switch to 1 ball/roll to slow down feeding.
Practical tip: Do you want your pet to "get" the toy? Use small portions and make it easy at first. Then you can gradually increase the challenge.
Checklist: How to choose the right toys
- Purpose: searching/foraging, demolishing/gnawing or rolling/pushing.
- Size: Suitable for your pet's build, large enough to use safely.
- Material: suitable for gnawing behaviour and easy to clean.
- Stability: low and firm or hanging (only if that suits your animal).
- Reward: better small and smartly distributed than a lot at once.
Maintenance
- Check weekly: look for splinters, loose parts or rough edges.
- Wet or sticky? Replace wood/cardboard; clean plastic/metal according to product instructions and let dry thoroughly.
- Rotation helps: alternate toys to keep them interesting and hygienic.
Safety
- Hamsters: choose a low, stable cage; avoid high hanging/climbing structures as the main play area.
- Hanging: Hang toys securely and avoid long loops or loose cords.
- Wear and tear: for strong rodents (degu/chinchilla/gerbil) check more often and replace in time.
- Rewards: Use small portions; snacks remain a treat.
FAQ Play & Foraging
My pet ignores toys. What often helps?
Start with an easy option and hide a small amount of daily food. After a few days, switch items and gradually increase the challenge.
Is foraging just for snacks?
No. A portion of the regular food actually works in a practical way: you delay the feeding time and encourage searching without giving a lot of extras.
Which combination is a good start?
1 foraging item + 1 demolition item + possibly 1 ball/roll for variety.
Need help choosing? We're happy to help you through our service page .
