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Old 10-18-2020, 06:04 AM   #1
Nika
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Question Questions about wheel use

Hi there,
I am posting as I have little experience with winter whites (I have had three syrians so far, this is my first dwarf)!
My question is mainly about wheel use. I do not see Pepper (3-4 months old winter white) use his wheel very much - it is the same wheel I have had for all my hamsters, and it made me wonder if it's not the most ideal wheel for such a small hamster. I don't remember the exact wheel I got, but it may be/is very much like the Trixie solid wooden wheel (28cm in diameter). He is definitely able to move it, I have seen him in it for brief amounts of time, but he is not regularly using it at all (as far as I can tell anyways). He seems to be way more interested in scratching the back of the wheel and chewing on its stand.
I'm a bit worried he won't get enough exercise or that there is some other issue he has with the wheel.
He is housed in a detolf, all by himself, so it's a nice big cage for such a little ham. He seems to be completely healthy otherwise, he loves tunnels and digging, he is getting used to being handled, and he seems to be eating and drinking well!
Any ideas about what the problem could be? Is he just not interested in running?
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Old 10-18-2020, 06:49 AM   #2
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

You could always try a different/smaller wheel, it is the only way you are going to find out for sure. . I am currently fostering a robo and she couldn't seem to figure out my 9 inch silent runner wheel, luckily her previous owner gave me one of those 6-7 inch wheels from petsathome and she seems to go on that loads.
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Old 10-18-2020, 07:18 AM   #3
Fluffagrams
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

I have come across incidences where a smaller hamster has found a wheel too difficult to use but it's not always easy to tell if you don't ever observe them on the wheel or have a different wheel to try.

My smaller Chinese and Robos have liked the Pets at Home wheels and Silent Spinners IF you can get the ones that actually spin easily. The Pets at Home wheels are relatively cheap so you wouldn't be losing out on a great deal if you were to buy one to try your hamster with.

The other thing I've found is that some hamsters seem to enjoy wheels more than others and I've had hamsters in the past who just haven't been interested in them at all and providing they're not overweight, I don't think that's anything to worry about. It's just part of who they are.
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Old 10-18-2020, 09:11 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

Both my dwarfs have an upright wheel that spins easily and a flying saucer wheel.
Dwarf Ozzy runs on the flying saucer every night for ages but very rarely uses the upright one.
I'd get him one of those as well.
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Old 10-18-2020, 12:02 PM   #5
Nika
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
Both my dwarfs have an upright wheel that spins easily and a flying saucer wheel.
Dwarf Ozzy runs on the flying saucer every night for ages but very rarely uses the upright one.
I'd get him one of those as well.
oh, thank you for the advice! I have not really considered a flying saucer, mainly because I have heard some people say it may not be safe as the hamsters can fly off?
is there a specific kind of flying saucer you'd recommend?
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Old 10-18-2020, 12:03 PM   #6
Nika
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
You could always try a different/smaller wheel, it is the only way you are going to find out for sure. . I am currently fostering a robo and she couldn't seem to figure out my 9 inch silent runner wheel, luckily her previous owner gave me one of those 6-7 inch wheels from petsathome and she seems to go on that loads.
thank you for the advice! it sounds like it may be worth getting a smaller one then
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Old 10-18-2020, 12:04 PM   #7
Nika
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Default Re: Questions about wheel use

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fluffagrams View Post
I have come across incidences where a smaller hamster has found a wheel too difficult to use but it's not always easy to tell if you don't ever observe them on the wheel or have a different wheel to try.

My smaller Chinese and Robos have liked the Pets at Home wheels and Silent Spinners IF you can get the ones that actually spin easily. The Pets at Home wheels are relatively cheap so you wouldn't be losing out on a great deal if you were to buy one to try your hamster with.

The other thing I've found is that some hamsters seem to enjoy wheels more than others and I've had hamsters in the past who just haven't been interested in them at all and providing they're not overweight, I don't think that's anything to worry about. It's just part of who they are.
thank you! I may look into the pets at home wheels!
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