New hamster doesn't know what his wheel's for!

[Popcorn]

Originally Posted by Kissa

Syrians need an 8 inch wheel minimum, and a majority need an 11 or 12 inch wheel, which will not fit in rotastak cages. It is likely the wheel is too small for him and it is uncomfortable for him to use. Their backs need to be straight when running on the wheel.

What you should probably do it get a good 11 or 12 inch wheel and make a bin cage/bin addition to the rotastak home out of a good sized plastic storage bin (there's a bin cage tutorial on the top of the housing section). I'd watch him in the rotastak, though, the tubes are a bit small for Syrians and it's difficult to get a cage big enough for a Syrian without spending loads of money on addons. The RSPCA guidelines for cage size is a single level cage of 75 by 40 cm, which I'm 99% sure is impossible with rotastak.

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

Ren - Rotastak doesn't work alone for dwarf hamsters either.

Popcorn - Sadly the wheel will be a bit small. We used to use rotastak and we made a bin cage as an add on then put a bigger wheel in there. Could you maybe try that?
(Excluding the genus range which we never tried the biggest wheel you can squeeze into rotastak is the 7.5" rolly which is still a bit small, only fits in the triangle units and needs to be taped down to stop it moving to hit the triangle all night. Might be worth a try if you have a triangle bit to use at all, but a big add-on would be best one day if you can.)

Thanks for the advice, I'll be making him an extension to his cage then! He loves his tubes so I want to keep them but it sounds like he definitely needs a bigger wheel! I didn't think hamster houses would be manufactured with bits too small for the hamsters!

[Mona's Humans]

unfortunately most retailed hamster cages are too small for the hamsters

[Lynternette]

I have three Syrians all from P&H. Conan needed to be taught to use his wheel. We just put him in and gentle rotated it although now it makes a good larder. Dusty's bone idle and just puts his foot on just to make sure it works. He likes to sleep in his. Popcorn was straight in and runs like mad. The all have 11-12" wheels.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Good luck making the extension
Scamp had a rotastak based mansion for months until we decided an entire rabbit hutch was more practical lol

[Catherine Spark]

I wouldn't worry about it. Oakie never learnt how to use his wheel, even though we always provided him with one. We waited for that 'eureka' moment, but it never came, because he never showed any interest or desire to learn. He didn't seem unhappy as a result of not being able to use it though. I reckon it's a variation between hamsters.

[Sandti]

I used to think that Zoro didn't know how to use hers....but then I discovered she just doesn't like people watching her XD

[chewy1991]

Just adding on to what people have already said here with my own experience. When Buttercup was given to me, she came to me in a small cage with a wheel that was about 6" or so. Obviously too small for a Syrian. The entire time she spent in that cage, she never used her wheel. Her wheel would occasionally be her nest, that was it. As soon as I upgraded her to a tank and gave her her first new wheel (the first one was only 7.5", so still too small - but she was, also, younger so didn't strain as much to spin it) she suddenly learnt how to use a wheel. Upgraded her to an 8.5" wheel and she couldn't stay away from the wheel sometimes. Spent a lot of time on it. So, I agree that it's likely just that the wheel is too small. Though, I imagine there are some hamsters that simply never use one. As long as they get exercise elsewhere and you make sure of it, there shouldn't be a problem.

[Popcorn]

Got him a new wheel (and extended his cage) and he was straight in this new wheel! I saw him running on it a few times last night and he looked like he loved it! But by the time I'd got up this morning he'd moved all his food into it and packed it in with his kitchen roll...
At least I know he knows how to use it and will if he wants to, but I think he's not bothered

[kyrilliondaemon]

Cool, I'm glad he's happy with his wheel now

[Kissa]

Originally Posted by Popcorn

But by the time I'd got up this morning he'd moved all his food into it and packed it in with his kitchen roll...

I actually laughed out loud Silly hamster!