HELP Chewing wheel

Robolover21 · 03-10-2015, 09:58 AM

I have had my little robo for 2 and 1/2 weeks, she has recently taken to chewing on her wheel (comfort wheel like a silent spinner), how do I stop this??
Is there a reason she is doing this?
she has a variety of different chews and doesn't chew her plastic toys, just her wheel.

Shana · 03-10-2015, 10:11 AM

Wheel chewing is frustrating! Could you specify what type of chews she has? My girl went through a wheel chewing phase, and it seemed like she preferred to chew on the wheel rather than her actual chews because the wheel is stationary - similar to bar chewing. I got her an extra large Whimzee alligator (she's a Syrian) and surprisingly that solved the problem. She can chew on the alligator forcefully and it doesn't move away from her. It probably tastes better too!

Robolover21 · 03-10-2015, 10:20 AM

she has a willow/wicker tepee, a wooden log, a grass house, a bendy bridge that she can chew on and the rest of her cage contains her feed bowl and her sand pit.

racinghamster · 03-10-2015, 12:44 PM

I`ve always been lucky that none of the hamsters I`ve kept have chewed their wheel but I know some can. I would just try and gently distract her by saying no, or move your hand towards her when she starts to chew and distract her. She may just continue the behaviour during the night though, but only she knows why she`s chewing the wheel! It`s behaviour that sometimes stops on it`s own, sometimes they continue to chew. But I wouldn`t remove the wheel or take any drastic action. x

Robolover21 · 03-10-2015, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racinghamster

I`ve always been lucky that none of the hamsters I`ve kept have chewed their wheel but I know some can. I would just try and gently distract her by saying no, or move your hand towards her when she starts to chew and distract her. She may just continue the behaviour during the night though, but only she knows why she`s chewing the wheel! It`s behaviour that sometimes stops on it`s own, sometimes they continue to chew. But I wouldn`t remove the wheel or take any drastic action. x

I have changed the wheel which seems to have stopped it, she seems to love her new wheel

Thin Lizzy · 03-10-2015, 10:39 PM

What's the difference between the wheels?

cypher · 03-11-2015, 12:13 AM

Good to hear she's stopped, it might be worth giving her something she'd enjoy chewing on though just in case she starts again, antos dog chews seem to be a favourite with all ham species & a small bit of Bonio dog biscuit is good too, most hams don't seem to like chewing on the things like she has which they are meant to chew on!

Robolover21 · 03-11-2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

Good to hear she's stopped, it might be worth giving her something she'd enjoy chewing on though just in case she starts again, antos dog chews seem to be a favourite with all ham species & a small bit of Bonio dog biscuit is good too, most hams don't seem to like chewing on the things like she has which they are meant to chew on!

She has an antos chew as well, and the wheel is a medium flying saucer, she also has some of the pets at home willow twist chews and like to chew onthe thin twisted ones

Artisans_uk · 03-11-2015, 12:23 PM

Good to read that her new flying saucer seems to have solved the problem. How about some dog treats? All my dwarf fluffs, including my robo have had a selection including bonio style mini biscuits, and other types. My robo loved to nibble on all of them. I've put a link to the ones that I use from a UK store (Wilkinsons), the size is ideal too:-

Dog treats

Also these ones from a well known brand but these are not as popular amongst the girls as the ones in the link above.

Bakers dog treats

Robolover21 · 03-11-2015, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artisans_uk

Good to read that her new flying saucer seems to have solved the problem. How about some dog treats? All my dwarf fluffs, including my robo have had a selection including bonio style mini biscuits, and other types. My robo loved to nibble on all of them. I've put a link to the ones that I use from a UK store (Wilkinsons), the size is ideal too:-

Dog treats

Also these ones from a well known brand but these are not as popular amongst the girls as the ones in the link above.

Bakers dog treats

Thanks for the links