Hagen Living World Hamster Salt & Mineral Lickstone - 50g

The Hagen Living World Hamster Salt & Mineral Lickstone is a 50 gram mineral stone sized for a hamster cage. It sits in the habitat for the animal to gnaw at when it wants to, and it is the one case where a lick stone makes more sense than it does for a rabbit -- a hamster or gerbil on a seed mix has a harder diet to balance than a rabbit eating hay.

Key Features

• Size: 50 grams, scaled for hamsters, gerbils and similar small animals
• Loose In The Cage: Drop it in rather than clipping it on -- a hamster will move it to wherever it has decided things belong
• Minerals, Taken At Will: The animal uses it when it chooses, so there is nothing to measure
• Something Hard To Work At: Gnawing is a need for a rodent, and a cage short of things to chew is a cage with a bored animal in it
• Lasts Well: One stone usually lasts months

Does A Small Pet Need A Salt Lick?

Usually not. A rabbit or guinea pig eating good hay, fresh greens and a measured amount of a complete pellet is already getting the sodium and the minerals it needs, and most rabbit welfare guidance treats salt and mineral licks as unnecessary rather than harmful. Nor does licking a block do much for teeth -- hay and grass are what grind them down. Where a lick earns its place is as enrichment and as something to gnaw, and in a hamster or gerbil kept on a seed mix where the diet is harder to balance. If your pet goes at it constantly, or you notice it drinking far more than usual, take it out and mention it to a vet.

Who Makes It

Living World is the small animal and bird brand of Rolf C. Hagen, the Montreal company founded in 1955. The range covers cages, hay feeders, houses, dishes and supplements for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and cage birds.

Good To Know

• Do not count on a lick stone for teeth. Rodent incisors grow continuously and are worn by gnawing hard material -- untreated wood, hay and a plain seed mix do far more than a mineral block.
• Teeth that visibly stick out, a wet chin, dropped food or weight loss all need a vet. Overgrown incisors need clipping under proper conditions, not a harder lick stone.
• Keep it dry. A stone that ends up in the water or under wet bedding crumbles away.
• Store the spare somewhere a hamster cannot reach. They are good at this.