Running Russian

Bella_Bex · 12-22-2019, 09:45 AM

Hi all,

Bella is a Russian hamster and I got her yesterday. She’s definitely settled in quickly and is confident. She however loved running on her wheel and will spend up to 15 minutes at a time running on it. I plan on making her a large play area in the next few days but could all this running be a sign of stress.
Bella came from the pets at home adoption area and so she was in a loud and busy environment for some time but even then the shop assistants said that she liked her wheel.
Could it just be that she likes running or could there be another reason?

Beckah 🐙

LunaTheHamster1 · 12-22-2019, 01:16 PM

Probably just running to use up her pent up energy. It's what hamsters do and why they need a wheel.
Enjoy getting to know your new little hamster.

Vierville · 12-22-2019, 01:18 PM

Hamsters have very individual characters...some absolutely love running, others barely ever use their wheel! They are like humans in that respect. Two of my hamsters can run for hours on end while two other ones only hop on, run for a minute or two and hop off and the fifth one barely ever gets on her wheel and when she does it is basically just to stand on it and look around.

I think your little one is most likely just one of the more active characters. I would not worry.

Enjoy her!

Ria P · 12-22-2019, 02:36 PM

[QUOTE=Vierville;930992] and the fifth one barely ever gets on her wheel and when she does it is basically just to stand on it and look around.
/QUOTE]

Who is your fifth hamster? I counted four so who did i miss?

Ria P · 12-22-2019, 02:38 PM

People run and exercise to combat stress, apparently, maybe hamsters do too but i think that they simply enjoy running on their wheels.

Vierville · 12-22-2019, 05:07 PM

[QUOTE=Ria P;930993]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vierville

and the fifth one barely ever gets on her wheel and when she does it is basically just to stand on it and look around.
/QUOTE]

Who is your fifth hamster? I counted four so who did i miss?

I've owned five hamsters in total...though only ever four at one time. Admiral Nelson (who passed away) and Nanuk are the ones who love(d) to run, Norman and Rollo like to run but not for hours on end while Monty just gets on her wheel to have a look around then jumps right off again.