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Old 02-20-2019, 11:30 PM   #1
xosunflowerox
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Default Not using wheel?

So I posted on here about wheel suggestions for my hamster and I decided to get her a Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel. The first night she had it, I saw her trying it out. I went out to check on her a couple of times during the evening and saw her using it. I was really happy since I wasn't sure she would use it. She lived in a small tank with no wheel before I got her.

Last night, I went to bed early, so I'm not certain she used it. There was substrate on the wheel in the evening, and in the morning, it was off the wheel, so I assumed she used it if just a bit.
Tonight she woke up around 8 and each time I check on her, she is sitting in the corner grooming herself. It's 10:30 pm now. I tried to entice her to use the wheel by putting a pumpkin seed on it. She grabbed the treat off, but didn't use the wheel. I kind of thought hamsters were constantly on their wheel when they were awake.

Are there negative health consequences if a hamster doesn't use their wheel? I'm not really sure what I can do to help her...
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Old 02-20-2019, 11:48 PM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

Not all hams are constantly on the wheel, it does sound as though she can use it so it should be working ok & I would guess she's just using it during the night, sometimes hams do seem to prefer to run when no one is around & it's dark!
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Old 02-21-2019, 02:01 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

It sounds normal to me. At first they go crazy for a wheel and then they get more sensible when the novelty wears off - but they use it during the night when they're at their most active.

Evenings seem to be the time for foraging to them so they like pouching food and bedding and grooming. She must be happy if she is sitting grooming in her cage

She probably used it quite a lot during the night!
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Old 02-21-2019, 02:38 AM   #4
PumpkinSpice92
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

I have the same issue... I had a flying saucer (the giant one!) and my hammy used that loads, but to save space in the cage she now has a 12 inch silent spinner. She used it loads at first, but now I dont think she uses it much at all.. I've heard her on it a few times during the night but more often than not I don't, and I never see her on it in the evening before I go to bed. I was wondering the same about negative health consequences...I don't know whether to get a different wheel for her!
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Old 02-21-2019, 02:51 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

The 12" silent spinner (that's spinner, not "runner") can actually have some issues with spinning properly, so check that it spins freely. It can be too difficult for hamsters to push. It's a total pain - they had a manufacturing change a couple of years ago and it hasn't been a free spinning wheel since then. If yours spins easily and freely then fine. If it stops easily when you try and spin it then it will be hard work to run in. You would be better with one of these. The first two are cheap. The wood one is silent but the plastic one isn't although most people don't find it noisy - it spins well though. The wood one needs painting with plastikote water based enamel paint though to waterproof it or it gets stinky. About the best wheel you can get is the "Silent Runner" (that's runner not "spinner" ). Which is silent and spins really easily and has a safe sturdy stand. But it is quite tall at 35cm. It can also be attached to the bars instead so you can have it wherever you want in a cage, but the bar attachments cost extra and it's not a cheap wheel.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Exer...xie+28cm+wheel

28cm wood trixie wheel

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small..._wheels/609617

Silent "Runner"

https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/produc...nner-12-wheel/

Generally though, assuming a wheel is working ok, they will decide for themselves if they need exercise so don't worry if they don't use the wheel much - as they do use it at night. They need mental stimulation as well as physical and enjoy doing other things in the cage like foraging and enjoying sitting and grooming or pushing substrate around. But they do need some out of cage time every few days usually.
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Old 02-21-2019, 03:56 AM   #6
PumpkinSpice92
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

She can definitely use the wheel, but it is less easily spun than the plastic trixie wheel I had...however this broke quite quickly and didn't seem secure (wobbled slightly when used!)
I'm hesitant to get ANOTHER wheel when this will be the fifth I've bought! But I wouldn't want to deprive her of exercise if she's not getting the amount she wants, so I'm not sure what to do really! How wide is the wooden trixie wheel do you know? If i got another I'd get that one I think.
She gets out of cage time almost every day and has a fair bit of stimulation in her cage (hammock, tunnel, chews, nice big house)
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Old 02-21-2019, 04:01 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

If you can afford it I'd get the 12" Silent Runner. It is the only wheel I've had that hasn't broken and it's an amazing wheel. Very easy for hamsters to run in and totally silent. Had mine over 2 years now and still running fine. The only care you need to take is when cleaning it, don't submerge the whole back panel in water or the ball bearings can go rusty. Wiping it is better I've had wood wheels break on me as well and only last 9 months.
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Old 02-22-2019, 08:14 PM   #8
xosunflowerox
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

Thank you for your replies! I feel better knowing it's normal behavior. It seems for an hour or two after she wakes up, she puts put in that corner and grooms herself. I put substrate on the wheel last night to see if it would be gone by the morning and it was. I think she must be using the wheel later in the night.
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Old 02-23-2019, 02:10 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Not using wheel?

Yes they get into more relaxed habits when they settle in Getting up for a wash and then looking for food is the sign of a happy hamster. She will do most of her running at night.
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