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Old 08-20-2020, 04:48 PM   #1
NibblesTheHam
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Default Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

Hi! My syrian hamster has randomly started using his wheel as a place to store food, but I haven't seen him running on the wheel since he started storing on it. Please help!
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Old 08-21-2020, 04:13 AM   #2
Amethyst_ice
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

Hello

We can't always control what our hammies do and if he has decided that is where he wishes to store his food then that is his wishes! Is his wheel big enough, it may be that it has become uncomfortable to run on perhaps? Do you change the cage around lots? As long as you get him out to run plenty then it shouldn't be a problem and not all hamsters like using wheels either
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Old 08-21-2020, 06:37 AM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

I’ve had a couple of hams who liked to store food in their wheels but still ran in the wheel & weren’t remotely bothered by all the food flying around with them!
If your ham has just started doing this where was he stashing his food before & have you cleaned out his stash at all? They can be very touchy about us interfering with their hoard & it’s best to leave it alone as much as possible just removing any fresh food like veg that might be in there, if you do remove any of the dried mix it’s best to replace it.
Was he running comfortably in the wheel before? How much food is in there, is it enough to stop him getting in & running?
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Old 08-21-2020, 07:30 AM   #4
NibblesTheHam
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
I’ve had a couple of hams who liked to store food in their wheels but still ran in the wheel & weren’t remotely bothered by all the food flying around with them!
If your ham has just started doing this where was he stashing his food before & have you cleaned out his stash at all? They can be very touchy about us interfering with their hoard & it’s best to leave it alone as much as possible just removing any fresh food like veg that might be in there, if you do remove any of the dried mix it’s best to replace it.
Was he running comfortably in the wheel before? How much food is in there, is it enough to stop him getting in & running?
Thanks for the advice, Nibbles was storing food all over the place! When I spot clean his cage, I see food scattered all over his cage. I don't purposely clean out his stash, but occasionally I might scoop a bit with his poo when I spot clean. Yes, he was fine in his wheel, (it's an 11 inch.) Before he started storing in it. He can get into the wheel, (he does to pick up food and eat it,) but I once saw him try to run, and all the food slid around beneath him, so he couldn't get started. I'll try not to touch his stash again, and see if that helps. Thanks again!
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Old 08-21-2020, 10:49 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

Maybe you could try taking some of the food out of the wheel & leaving it close by & see how he reacts to that, if he puts it all back again I’d just leave him for a little while & see if he figures out a better place himself.
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Old 08-23-2020, 05:11 AM   #6
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Maybe you could try taking some of the food out of the wheel & leaving it close by & see how he reacts to that, if he puts it all back again I’d just leave him for a little while & see if he figures out a better place himself.
Hi, at first I just took the food out and put it nearby, as you said. He just kept on doing it, though. But last night, he was running on top of the food, but by the morning all the food was out of the wheel! Whether while he was running all the food flew out, or he took it out, I don't know, but he did fix it himself, which is great!
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Old 08-23-2020, 05:18 AM   #7
NibblesTheHam
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Maybe you could try taking some of the food out of the wheel & leaving it close by & see how he reacts to that, if he puts it all back again I’d just leave him for a little while & see if he figures out a better place himself.
Hi, at first I just took the food out and put it nearby, as you said. He just kept on doing it, though. But last night, he was running on top of the food, but by the morning all the food was out of the wheel! Whether while he was running all the food flew out, or he took it out, I don't know, but he did fix it himself, which is great!
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Old 08-23-2020, 11:20 PM   #8
cypher
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Default Re: Hamster storing food on wheel, then not running on it?

That’s good, glad he figured it out, they aren’t daft so I thought he might, watching them run with the food in the wheel is really funny though, if not exactly practical!
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