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Old 12-30-2016, 02:50 AM   #11
Amy S
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

To be honest I have been looking at getting one of the large flying saucers as opposed to a standard wheel. The biggest one is around 12".
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Old 12-30-2016, 03:00 AM   #12
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

Flying saucers would not be a replacement for the standard upright wheel.They just aren't the same,and don't allow for the natural running position.They also cause side arching,regardless of size,due to shape.They happen to take up way more space than any upright wheel would,which is a serious problem especially if you don't have that big of a cage to begin with
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Old 12-30-2016, 04:43 AM   #13
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

In my experience the wheel size depends on the size of the hamster. I do prefer the wheels to saucers and most syrians we have raised have had no problems in an 8 1/2 inch wheel. We use the Junior wodent wheel and also the Jumbo rolly rat wheel normally. All our hamsters can run with flat backs in these. You need to gauge the size of your hammy and how it runs on the wheel to determine the size needed. You can always upgrade as they grow. We don't give young hamsters wheels until they reach a reasonable size as they often overrun. You can give them limited time if you like if they are very small. We like to give other forms of enrichment like boxes and digging sand as well as tubes and chews.
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Old 12-30-2016, 07:10 AM   #14
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

Sooty will be around about 16 weeks old and is quite a little chunk already. The wheel he has currently got, you could hear him on this on a night in about the first month we had him but now he doesn't seem to bother with it and I am presuming it is because it is too small for him. Current one is 6" so may try an 8.5"
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Old 01-05-2017, 02:20 PM   #15
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

we have now got the Alaska cage for Sooty. Tonight is the first time he has been in. Should we keep him overnight? Also caught him chewing the bars which I have never seen him do before despite having plenty of toys to play with. Could this just be a temporary thing being in his new cage etc? He definitely has come out of his shell lately
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Old 01-05-2017, 02:46 PM   #16
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

If he is chewing the bars having just gone in the cage, he's probably panicking a bit. I would pop him back in his old cage, and then let him have another play in the Alaska tomorrow or the day after. With plenty of substrate and a tube or something and maybe a familiar toy from his old cage. What cage is he in at the moment? Is it barred or a tank style? (Assuming it's barred).

As for a wheel - 6" is definitely too small and yes may well be the reason he's not using it. As Souffle says you could get an 8" or 8.5" but a popular one is the 11" Trixie wheel and it would fit well in the Alaska and isn't too expensive. If he's quite chunky a bigger wheel might be better and I think they run better in the bigger size.

It's currently on at £8.99 on Amazon (often between £9 and £11 - the prices fluctuate).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Exer...s=Trixie+wheel

When he's had a play in the cage a couple of times it'll be more familiar. Then when you move her over you can keep all her old substrate from the old cage and spread it out on top of the new substrate in the Alaska (you'll need more substrate in the Alaska first, with it being bigger) and move all her other toys/house etc across and try and keep them in similar locations. Also don't be tempted to clean things before moving them over They need to still smell familiar. He'll need a couple of weeks to settle in again but you could offer treats through the bars and take it slowly.

The 12" flying saucer is also good, as an extra, but I wouldn't use it instead of a standard wheel as they run better (straighter) in a standard wheel, but if you've got room for both I'm sure he'd love it!
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Old 01-05-2017, 03:10 PM   #17
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

Hi

Thank you for your message

I've moved everything across from his old cage including his bedding and substrate. Fingers crossed he will settle in soon. I guess I am just as worried as probably poor Sooty is. I know I have done the right thing by getting him the bigger cage so i guess it is just a waiting game. They do like to worry us don't they!

I ended up going for the zooplus small pet wheel- 28cm. It looks very similar to the Trixie wheel so I thought I would give it a go as Zooplus seems very reasonable and highly rated. He has been on it quite a few times tonight and seems to be enjoying it. I had never seen him on the last one hardly.
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Old 01-06-2017, 01:59 AM   #18
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

Good choice - I am fairly sure those wheels are identical just not branded as Trixie I like the photo of him in the wheel - he looks like he likes it! Looking at the other photo you could maybe do with another couple of inches of substrate in there - that might make him feel cosier and more at home as well. Otherwise as long as he has plenty of nesting material (torn up white strips of toilet paper) he should settle in now. Best to leave him alone completely for 2 or 3 days now though as they need that time to scent mark things in the cage and settle in/work out what's what. Just put food out quietly and when he can't see.

Sometimes when they bar chew it's because something isn't right - eg wheel too small or not enough substrate or nowhere dark enough (ie too much open space above them and no shelf) or something that isn't accessible (eg food on a shelf where they can't get up to). So if anything like that is sorted, then hopefully he'll just settle in Did you leave the shelf in the Trixie? If so he has somewhere to retreat to/sit under. A little house or cardboard box house under the shelf could be a good idea as the house on the shelf has holes that are a bit too small for Syrians and they can get stuck in the holes. Plus they are better nesting on top of substrate so they can bury their hoards and be able to snack in bed

Last edited by Pebbles82; 01-06-2017 at 02:04 AM.
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Old 01-06-2017, 02:04 AM   #19
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

Hi

Yes wheel seems to have gone down well with him at the moment. Fingers crossed he will settle in soon.

I will pop some more substrate in there for him tonight as well as bedding. We have hidden a lot of food as he likes to dig

Thank you!

Amy
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Old 01-06-2017, 02:05 AM   #20
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Default Re: Attempting to train a frightened Hamster

He'll enjoy foraging for the food - that should distract him. Has he built a nest?
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