Adam Wysocki contributed these posts in this thread:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...hlight=gerbils

Hamsters are not going to be the easiest prey item to come by weekly for the next 20 - 30+ years and once hamsters get to be adults they have a ton of fur and some very long sharp teeth which aren't always agreeable with ball pythons.

-adam
Live adult hamsters are particularly nasty because their teeth tend to be much longer and sharper than adult rats or mice ... And even if pre-killed, their longer than normal teeth still could pose a problem during swallowing and digestion ... I've treated more than a couple abcesses in the back of the throats of rescues that were previously fed hamster and gerbils.

I know the hamster thing "seems" like a good idea ... But I assure you it's not.

-adam