Wheel issues

Liz47 · 02-15-2016, 02:13 PM

I've only had my first robo since yesterday morning and I've tried her with two wheels so far. The first is just a simple plastic one which I had for my hybrid and can fix onto the ledge inside her cage so saves a bit of space. It is quite squeaky but this isn't really an issue since she's in the front room but I thought a medium flying saucer might be better for her and she runs so quick when she stops she spins round the wheel for ages! But she is having the same issue with the flying saucer but she flies straight off it! She hit the side of the cage a couple of times so I've switched back to the old wheel.

Are there any wheels that might be more suitable? I'm worried it will hurt her she really spins round bless her!

**Cinnamon Bear** · 02-15-2016, 02:27 PM

My 8 mo old robo has both a medium sized saucer & a 6.5 in silent spinner. She loves them both equally. She can control her speed well on the saucer but when she does fly off she gently lands on the Carefresh bedding, she doesn't hit the sides of her tank that I know of? I feel confident that her saucer is safe for her.

If your robo is young & can't control his speed yet I'd supervise for awhile. If you can give him both types of wheels (once you feel it's safe) I would, that gives them a choice.

You can take baby oil to silent most wheels. Hope this helps?

CMB · 02-15-2016, 03:15 PM

Young hamsters can take a while to learn how to use a wheel without falling off. It is easy for them to run, but hard for them to stop.

You could pile substrate under the wheel to slow it down a bit.

Pebbles82 · 02-15-2016, 06:23 PM

Robos do well with the 8" wodent wheel - they can't fly out of that. It's actually called the 'robowheel' in Germany

It seems very hard to get hold of at the moment (none at Petplanet for ages) without ordering one from Rodipet in Germany. Postage would be £7 if you did - which isn't much more than other sellers would charge in the Uk I guess. They have it in various different colours, including pink.

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/laufraed...lauorange.html

The price conversion is about £14.62 so with postage it would be about £21.60

Or the 8" trixie wheel is similar, but the holes are smaller on the 8" wodent wheel.

cypher · 02-15-2016, 11:02 PM

All dwarf hams including robos seem to do really well with the 20cm Karlie wonderland wheel too, it does need painting with plastikote to pee proof it but it's a good stable & quiet wheel.
Young hams will often fly out of the wheel, they do seem to grow out of it fairly quickly but in the mean time just be sure of a safe landing, lots of substrate where your hammy lands & nothing hard or sharp!

velma · 02-16-2016, 12:44 AM

Plenty of good advice but just to add: my robo Hector would fly out of new wheels when he was getting used to them, from running to quickly. He did this with his silent spinner and his flying saucer (I like to swap things round from time to time and it guves me a so are for his playtib but you don't need lots) It just takes a little while to learn to control the speed. He's fine in them now.
I wouldn't rush out and get a new wheel just yet, you've only had him a day or two. Let him settle first. I'd leave one of the wheels in and leave him be for a few days or you may unsettle him with all the change. It can be hard enough to get a robo settled as it is

just make sure he has plenty of bedding in the "line of fire" to land on

I'm sure within ha few days he'll have control of his wheel.

Liz47 · 02-16-2016, 03:41 AM

Thank you for all the replies

I might get her the karlie wheel as my Syrian has that one and I like the fact everything is wood or natural in his cage whereas Valentine has a few plastic bits.

I will see how she goes on the current one for now though so I don't unsettle her. I quite like that its a bit squeaky I enjoy listening to it haha!