Quietest Wheel?

PumpKinSpiceLatte · 11-22-2016, 02:55 PM

Im going to keep my hamster in my room, is a silent spinner or a flying saucer the quietest?

Pebbles82 · 11-22-2016, 03:25 PM

I wouldn't say either

Out of the two probably the flying saucer, but if you want a Silent wheel you want a Silent Runner (not Spinner). Silent spinners aren't silent often - in fact they can get quite rattly - but also they sometimes don't spin well at all these days since a manufacturing change. Is it for a dwarf or a Syrian? For a Syrian the 12" Silent Runner is excellent (I have one). It is silent, no spindle, safe sturdy stand and not too deep - it's nothing like as bulky as the 12" Silent spinner. For a dwarf hamster the 9" silent runner is excellent (a number of people have them for dwarf hamsters). Although a dwarf hamster doesn't need a 9" wheel it spins so well and easily and is quite light so it's easy for a dwarf hammy to run in. Also safe and sturdy.

I believe Carolina storm wheels are also silent. They come in 10.5" diameter. Ok for a small Syrian. Both the Carolina wheels and Silent Runners use ball bearings hence being silent.

Silent Runner 12 inch - Silent Runner Wheel 12 inch (REGULAR)

The Carolina Storm Wheel - Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Carolina Storm Hedgehogs

Neither are that cheap at around $23 to $25. But they are well made and silent and likely to last longer than a cheaper wheel. I've had no issues whatsoever with my silent runner after 10 months of use. Whereas my previous wheel broke within 6 months - this one seems like a long term wheel.

The silent runner is taller but more compact depthwise. The Carolina wheel is much deeper - and is height extendable. Takes up a bit more floor space in a cage/tank, but both are very popular.

AmityvilleHams · 11-22-2016, 03:35 PM

Neither are truly silent.Silent Spinners can get very loud,and that's not even mentioning how insanely expensive they can be.A 12 inch Silent Spinner can cost you more than $30 at Petco,while a Silent Runner for example(much better wheel than the two you are thinking about,actually)is a lot cheaper.

Flying Saucers aren't really that good anyways.They're not able to offer a natural running position as they claim,whereas a standard upright wheel does if it is an appropriate size for the species of hamster.They also take up a ton of floor space,which makes them a relatively poor choice yet again.

Fluffagrams · 11-22-2016, 03:39 PM

I've got both and have found that if the silent spinner develops a rattle as James's has, it really can be quite noisy so you probably wouldn't want it in your room if it did. I struggled to hear the TV earlier over the noise it was making but I've got two other Silent Spinners that are fairly quiet.

The Flying Saucers are reasonably quiet but there's mixed opinion on their suitability as a main wheel and some hams find them difficult to get the hang of.

AmityvilleHams · 11-22-2016, 03:42 PM

The stands on Comfort Wheels and Silent Runners are pretty much the same,and they're very wobbly especially with bigger sizes of wheels.That can definitely make them even noisier than they would be with a more stable wheel stand!

PumpKinSpiceLatte · 11-22-2016, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serendipity7000

I wouldn't say either

Out of the two probably the flying saucer, but if you want a Silent wheel you want a Silent Runner (not Spinner). Silent spinners aren't silent often - in fact they can get quite rattly - but also they sometimes don't spin well at all these days since a manufacturing change. Is it for a dwarf or a Syrian? For a Syrian the 12" Silent Runner is excellent (I have one). It is silent, no spindle, safe sturdy stand and not too deep - it's nothing like as bulky as the 12" Silent spinner. For a dwarf hamster the 9" silent runner is excellent (a number of people have them for dwarf hamsters). Although a dwarf hamster doesn't need a 9" wheel it spins so well and easily and is quite light so it's easy for a dwarf hammy to run in. Also safe and sturdy.

I believe Carolina storm wheels are also silent. They come in 10.5" diameter. Ok for a small Syrian. Both the Carolina wheels and Silent Runners use ball bearings hence being silent.

Silent Runner 12 inch - Silent Runner Wheel 12 inch (REGULAR)

The Carolina Storm Wheel - Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Â* Carolina Storm Hedgehogs

Neither are that cheap at around $23 to $25. But they are well made and silent and likely to last longer than a cheaper wheel. I've had no issues whatsoever with my silent runner after 10 months of use. Whereas my previous wheel broke within 6 months - this one seems like a long term wheel.

The silent runner is taller but more compact depthwise. The Carolina wheel is much deeper - and is height extendable. Takes up a bit more floor space in a cage/tank, but both are very popular.

thanks! I'm choosing the silent runner because there is a sandpaper-like attachment available to wear down the claws (I'm getting a dwarf btw!)

AmityvilleHams · 11-22-2016, 04:57 PM

Don't get the sandpaper attachment.The safety of sandpaper is questionable at best,and with dwarf hamsters it often ends up impossible to keep nails trimmed anyways without manually trimming them such as using actual nail clippers or having a reputable vet do so.

cypher · 11-23-2016, 12:36 AM

The sandy track for the silent runner can be safe if used under supervision for no more than about 15 minutes max a week, don't just leave it in the cage, it would probably be best if just used in a play pen for a short time then put the normal track back on.
Sandy tracks are really designed for sugar gliders or other animals which don't have such sensitive pads on their feet as hams.
The silent runner is a great wheel though, all my dwarf hams have them.

Pebbles82 · 11-23-2016, 01:41 AM

I did a video on the 12" one if you're interesed

At the end it shows how to assemble it (if it doesn't come assembled). The first time is a bit fiddly - after that it's quick and easy. The main thing is to make sure the front and back pieces are pushed firmly together so there is no gap either side of the plastic joining strip on the running track.

I wouldn't use the sandy track - although as Cypher says 15 mins max a week is probably ok - but with the hassle of swapping tracks once a week it may get forgotten. Sandy tracks are very bad for the pads under their feet and hammies can get a condition called bumblefoot which is very painful and hard to cure.

Another option people use to keep nails short is to have a stone or terracotta plant pot base under the water bottle so every time they go for a drink it helps roughen their nails. You can also have large-ish stones as a kind of small feature/rockery in a corner of the cage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFussTX5PuE

cypher · 11-23-2016, 01:56 AM

I doubt changing the track would get forgotten, most dwarf hams pee in the wheel so the wheel needs to be disassembled & cleaned about once a week anyway (they really whiff by then!) & changing the track only takes a moment so it isn't a hassle at all but as I said it should only be used for very short periods if you do have the sandy track.
As Amity says most dwarf hams do need their nails trimming regardless anyway as they grow very quickly & all the things I have, terracotta, granite etc don't make that much of a difference although I'm sure they help a bit.
I would be very wary of a little rockery or small stones in a dwarf cage, they tend to burrow under everything & may hurt themselves.