Help! I think Rosies scared what do i do?

[AmityvilleHams]

Some hamsters are more confident in enclosed wheels supposedly,which is worth trying,but with robos being so tiny it might be difficult to find one that is the right size The smallest Silent Runner could probably work,but that is still a very large wheel for a robo even if it shouldn't be impossible for even a tiny hamster to make it spin properly.

[Mollysfriends]

Amity I was going to get a silent runner a few months ago but worked out it would take up too much room in the end which is a shame as it looked good. Once shes been cleaned out I'll get another silent flying saucer as you say cypher it is unlikely to be that but im willing to try anything. I guess as previously mentioned being prey animals shes just hiding to keep safe. Hopefully it will change. I did notice her tunnel is right next to the food hoard presumably to get in and get out. I know Flowerfairy said her hamsters are look and not touch is that the same for all robos? I know that wasnt the case with my syrians years ago and to be honest Daisy is definitely a look not touch robo which is fine as long as shes happy. I just hope Rosie is as well. Thanks

[AmityvilleHams]

It is generally considered rare for robos to be even tolerant of handling,let alone to enjoy it!

Go with an upright wheel,not a flying saucer type wheel.Those usually end up being louder than some wheels,they don't allow for a natural running position and cause side arching,and also take up a ton more space than a regular upright wheel which for a robo may be only a few inches wide but a robo sized flying saucer would take up twice or more of the space!

The 8 inch Wodent Wheel was an idea at first,but they're a bit wider than the 9 inch Silent Runner anyways Hopefully someone else has some ideas for robo sized wheels that are upright but right now all I can think of are Silent Spinners and Comfort Wheels and those are definitely last resorts!

[Mollysfriends]

Ive an 7 or 8 inch (not sure which its classed as medium) flying saucer. I chose this as it sits on top of the carefresh. Wouldnt you have to have the upright wheel flat on the floor or it wouldnt work?. I have heard of people attaching it to the cage which i cant do because its acrylic?

[AmityvilleHams]

It doesn't have to be on a flat surface.With an 8 inch Wodent Wheel you could bury it a bit,but you can't do this with a Silent Runner.That would actually take up less space than a flying saucer,since flying saucers take up way more floor space where upright wheels mostly take up vertical space and very little floor space

[cypher]

Upright wheels are generally the better option as a main wheel, some of mine have enjoyed flying saucers a lot but I've only used them as second option in the cage or just in the play pen.
Wheels don't have to go on the bottom of the cage, the wooden Karlie wonderland wheels (available from zooplus) sit on the substrate fine & are very stable, the silent spinners do to if you bury the base a bit, the silent runners are too low to bury the base at all really, I haven't had a wodent wheel so haven't tried those.
The new silent spinners don't work well but there is a new wheel that looks very similar available from P@H or Amazon.
I like the wooden wheels, they can get a better grip when running & don't tend to fly out of the wheel when they stop but they do need painting with plastikote before use.
There's also the trixie wheel that looks like a wodent wheel (again available from zooplus) but I found the two I had unbearably noisy!

[AmityvilleHams]

Wodent Wheels look like they have the same wire base as a Comfort Wheel or Silent Spinner,hence why I said it can be buried!I've had similar stands buried with no problem at all,so a wheel with that sort of wire stand would be ideal.

[Mollysfriends]

I didnt realise that. I presumed it would have to go on the floor which would mean i would lose a lot of space in the cage. If it sits on top it defiantly would be better any extra space would be good. I'll look at the wheels and get one. I cleaned Rosie out yesterday. It went much better than previous cleans she went in the box after putting a treat in and i was able to just pick it up and put it in the carrier. I cleaned half the cage and because of this i now now where her nest is. There was even a tissue in there which i didnt think she ever touched. Hopefully this will help her to get more confident.

[cypher]

That really sounds like progress, well done. Fingers crossed she's over her initial upset & her confidence will continue to grow now.

[Thin Lizzy]

Glad the clean went well and she gains more confidence.