Wheel solutions ?

GreySyrian · 04-16-2016, 07:50 AM

I have two of my hamsters in bar-less cages so their Trixie wheels have to stand using the base, although I'm having the problem of it gradually sinking into the substrate causing the wheel to be difficult to turn.

I want to give my hamsters even deeper substrate but I'm worried they'll loose the use of their wheels and neither thing can be sacrificed!

Anyone had this issue/knows of a solution?

flowerfairy · 04-16-2016, 07:54 AM

Just saw on the silent spinner thread that you can fix them to bin cages.

I usually use a bendy bridge as a fence to keep substrate away from the wheel area.

Pebbles82 · 04-16-2016, 11:04 AM

That's a good option of Flower Fairy's (bendy bridge fence). Also, depending on the height of your (is it a bin cage or a glass tank?) you could put the wheel on a low platform. Which would probably mean making something. Rodipet sell some but they're not cheap. There are ways of hanging wheels over tanks or bin cages but again mean a bit of diy and I wouldn't do it with a Trixie wheel (they are ideas for wodent wheels) - the Trixie wheel stand isn't secure enough in the back of the wheel to hang upside down, I feel, whereas there is no way a wodent wheel could fall off. That would mean a bit of diy as well though, if you were ok with that. I've linked the transoniq thread with tips on hanging wodent wheels. So if it's a glass tank you could do it with a wodent wheel (would mean a new wheel though). If it's a bin cage you could probably do what Oddly Oblivious suggested on the Silent Runner thread - ie drill a hole and fix the wheel to the bin (not sure whether that was just for the Silent Runner though).

Scroll down page for photos and examples

Wodent Wheel Tidbits

These are the Rodipet platforms - one is just a platform for a wheel to stand on - the other is to fit a wodent wheel and lower. They're expensive but maybe you could make something similar?

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...mit-rampe.html

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...ent-wheel.html

oddlyoblivious · 04-16-2016, 11:39 AM

Side mounting won't work though if its a glass cage, but I am actually building a retaining wall into my bin, so that the area where the wheel is has lower substrate than the rest of the cage, Cardboard and a couple dabs of hot glue, or craft sticks work marvelously.

I'll have pictures up soon.

If it's a bin or wooden cage you can use the silent runner cage extension, depending on the thickness of the wood

Careful with roof mounting on mesh as the wire can sag over time.

Pebbles82 · 04-16-2016, 11:55 AM

I think the wodent wheel tips thing had two pieces of wood spanning the top of the tank (not sure if that was under or over the mesh) with the wodent wheel attached to the wood with u pin type things. Agree - I don't think hanging from mesh would be a good idea - it wouldn't be very stable.

oddlyoblivious · 04-16-2016, 11:26 PM

ooh, yeah that would do it!

GreySyrian · 04-17-2016, 10:26 AM

Its a plastic bin cage. I think the low platform might work Serendipity, although I think it might be a DIY case! I was going to put it on an ikea knuff platform but found out that would make the wheel not fit. That or flowerfairy's idea of using a bendy bridge!

I'm interested to see pictures of your suggestion though oddlyoblivious! The water bottle is also by the wheel so maybe sectioning this off in a low substrate area would fix the wheel issue but also means she won't flood her bedding from the bottle as she's done before!

Thank you for replies... looks like i'll have to get creative and make some sort of platform or divider!

Pebbles82 · 04-17-2016, 10:30 AM

If you scroll down the page on the link, the fencing off of the wheel idea is done on that set up

(It's where I got the idea from to do it in my last cage).

Obi's natural set up is complete!

flowerfairy · 04-17-2016, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

If you scroll down the page on the link, the fencing off of the wheel idea is done on that set up

(It's where I got the idea from to do it in my last cage).

Obi's natural set up is complete!

Oooo I love that set up.

Abi5sos1d · 04-17-2016, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

That's a good option of Flower Fairy's (bendy bridge fence). Also, depending on the height of your (is it a bin cage or a glass tank?) you could put the wheel on a low platform. Which would probably mean making something. Rodipet sell some but they're not cheap. There are ways of hanging wheels over tanks or bin cages but again mean a bit of diy and I wouldn't do it with a Trixie wheel (they are ideas for wodent wheels) - the Trixie wheel stand isn't secure enough in the back of the wheel to hang upside down, I feel, whereas there is no way a wodent wheel could fall off. That would mean a bit of diy as well though, if you were ok with that. I've linked the transoniq thread with tips on hanging wodent wheels. So if it's a glass tank you could do it with a wodent wheel (would mean a new wheel though). If it's a bin cage you could probably do what Oddly Oblivious suggested on the Silent Runner thread - ie drill a hole and fix the wheel to the bin (not sure whether that was just for the Silent Runner though).

Scroll down page for photos and examples

Wodent Wheel Tidbits

These are the Rodipet platforms - one is just a platform for a wheel to stand on - the other is to fit a wodent wheel and lower. They're expensive but maybe you could make something similar?

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...mit-rampe.html

https://www.rodipet.de/shop/zubehoer...ent-wheel.html

Would this be a good idea for the cage Peanut would be getting? As she will be in a cage that won't have any bars on the side? Would it be tall enough though? Because once she is in this new cage I can put in much deeper substrate for her.