Hamster wheels...

[alipali1]

So my 2 boys Castiel and Nanakai have been doing so much better since the separation. I was so gutted at the time but they really are both so much happier I'm glad we didn't wait for something bad to happen to do it. Cas was the smaller one and was always hiding, now he's out and about more than Nani.

So we've been trying out different wheels. The ones that came with the cage were so noisy, and not just a little (I've had hamsters before so am used to the noise) they were insane, but they were on them all night, going crazy so just moved them to the spare room next door, but seeing as I work til late evening I felt bad them being stuck out there and no getting as much company so bought new wheels, they seemed good but they won't use them for more than a second before jumping off, I don't know if they were too fast or?
These https://postimg.org/image/8c0no5jf5/

So I then bought some silent ones from eBay,
https://postimg.org/image/ey8chwss3/
hey won't use them either I'm thinking of just giving them their old wheels back and having them alone in the other room
Any advice?
They had a flying saucer wheel at the shop but I've heard these aren't good for them?

I've been trying to give them short ball runs more frequent to make up for it

[AmityvilleHams]

The first type of wheel is completely unsafe due to the design The second type are extremely small,and the smallest size of it is pretty much useless for any animal.The larger size could just barely work for a robo or Chinese,but that is pretty much all.

The best wheel is going to be upright,solid,have no unsafe qualities(like the first wheel,as the design can easily allow an animal to get seriously injured if not killed),and an appropriate size.

Ideally,there's the Silent Runner.The smallest size is a 9 inch wheel but it is perfectly fine for any dwarf hamster as it is so light(but durable!)and easy to move,so it could work even for a tiny robo or Chinese.

Dwarf hamsters(or any hamster for that matter)should not be given excersize balls They're not beneficial and are even considered cruel in some countries.They do not provide enrichment,unlike a playpen or play bin or bathtub with lots of enriching toys added in which allows a hamster to freely move and explore without impairing their senses(which balls do).Excersize balls also can trap tiny hamster claws and toes,which will end up ripping out a claw.

[Drago]

The top wheel pictured is definitely not very safe for hams, the cross bar that is meant as a guard, will sometimes catch the hams in it and cause serious injuries and thus should be avoided. Silent spinners make a good wheel for dwarfs from what I've heard, and even if they don't use it, I'd still leave it in so they have something to run on when in need of excercuse. Flying saucers aren't the best for hams nor are they a permanent wheel solution, but if you ham enjoys running on them, I'd highly encourage its use especially in diabetes prone species where excercise is vital to their health and well being. Avoid mesh and wire wheel/any wheels with crossbars. I hope your little ones come around soon and use their wheels again, and if you wish to add their first wheels (assuming they're ham safe) then I'd say it would be fine. As long as you get plenty of nightly interaction with your hams, they really won't mind where their cages are kept!

[alipali1]

I'm confused?
The only silent runner I can find is for sugar gliders online and is £25+?

[alipali1]

Ah well I'm glad those wheels didn't last long, it's crazy that these things are allowed to be sold when they are completely unsafe, he even got me a smaller size one when I told him I had dwarf hammies. It's so sad!
The silent ones don't seem to been working well, so I'm going to try and get them refunded and try a different brand.
Can anyone send me some photos/links to so safe and appropriate wheels please?

[alipali1]

This is the one that came with their cages
https://postimg.org/image/ey8chwss3/

[alipali1]

Originally Posted by Drago

The top wheel pictured is definitely not very safe for hams, the cross bar that is meant as a guard, will sometimes catch the hams in it and cause serious injuries and thus should be avoided. Silent spinners make a good wheel for dwarfs from what I've heard, and even if they don't use it, I'd still leave it in so they have something to run on when in need of excercuse. Flying saucers aren't the best for hams nor are they a permanent wheel solution, but if you ham enjoys running on them, I'd highly encourage its use especially in diabetes prone species where excercise is vital to their health and well being. Avoid mesh and wire wheel/any wheels with crossbars. I hope your little ones come around soon and use their wheels again, and if you wish to add their first wheels (assuming they're ham safe) then I'd say it would be fine. As long as you get plenty of nightly interaction with your hams, they really won't mind where their cages are kept!

See that's what worries me, I have some lazy hammies, they only really awake around 2/3am until around 6:30 so aren't up long and it's quite late so don't want them to be neglected, but also don't want to wake them

[oreopopcorn21]

if you still want to use a wheel (or even a wheel you already have) even if its not a silent spinner then I recommend using something like a wrodent wheel, or a wheel that is mild in sound, and every week or so rubbing coconut or olive oil on the hinges I do this with one of my hamsters wheels because its his favourite wheel he just gets depressed if I swap it but it is a bit loud and he lives in my room.

[alipali1]

Thank you, the ones mine loved used to squeak and olive oil worked amazing, it's the banging against the cage that's the worst part, I will look that wheel up, thank you

[AmityvilleHams]

Silent Spinners are very different to Silent Runners,and overall Silent Spinners are pretty much the bane of existence to many hamster owners who would most likely rather send them to the bog of eternal stench than actually use one!

Silent Runners are excellent wheels though,and actually work permanently rather than the overpriced Silent Spinner which either doesn't work automatically or stops working after a few months if you're lucky.

The Silent Runner is marketed towards hedgehogs and sugar gliders but is fine for appropriately sized pets.You will invest in them initially,but it is completely worth it as they do last and are very quiet in comparison to other wheels on the market.They're also much safer too,since they're enclosed(good to prevent tiny robos from flying out,for example,and making hamsters feel more secure as well)and the stand is enclosed as well.Open stands like those on Silent Spinners can be very unsafe during cage cleaning,where a hamster might be clinging onto the stand and then end up falling if you don't notice them right away

Silent Runner 9 Inch

It's much better to invest in a good wheel right away rather than buy a cheaper wheel that won't be a permanent solution and end up spending just as much on cheap wheels that don't completely fix the issue!