What's the best wheel for roborovski dwarves?

[alipali1]

I did just post about it in the behaviour section and had a few mixed answers on what's okay and what isn't. I need to buy some new ones as the ones that came with the cage aren't good quality and are louder than a usual wheel and the other sets I've bought aren't safe/the hammies didn't like them.
I'm hearing some horror stories of broken legs etc so want to get the right ones as this will be my fourth set I've bought and don't want to waste money again.

Help please

[oreopopcorn21]

I have 2 robo dwarves males, they still live together happily and I find personally the best wheels to get I find personally with experience are either a silent spinner in 6.5inches or a flying saucer which seems to be the most used at the moment. Either would be a good one time buy for being long lasting (if you oil occasionally)

hope this was helpful x

[Pebbles82]

The most popular one used to be the 6.5" Silent spinner that oreo mentioned. But there have been issues with them in the last year or so since a manufacturing change - in that they wouldn't spin! Or hardly spin. Someone on here had that problem just recently. So if you do get one, check it out before you buy. I think some people have had one that's ok but it has been quite a problem. It's the only 6.5" wheel I think, but they will happily and easily run in an 8" wheel and there's quite a lot of choice in 8" wheels. There's an 8" wodent wheel, an 8" Trixie wheel, an 8" Karlie Wonderland wood wheel. The Karlie wheel is silent - but you'd need to plastikote it in case they get pee'd in and even then if they pee in them a lot it doesn't completely waterproof them. The 8" Trixie wheel is ok - some people find they're quiet, some people find them a bit rattly. Personally I think the entrance lip might be a bit high for a Robo. An 8" wodent wheel would be good - but they're pretty hard to get hold of these days.

If it was me I would get one of these two:

9" silent runner wheel (it sounds way big for a robo but they are light, fast and silent and also safe sturdy wheels. However two of those might fill your cage up a bit and be expensive. A number of people have used these for dwarf hammies and they run really well in them.

Silent Runner 9 Inch

This 7" Karlie wheel with the wood base but a plastic wheel. I got the 11" one to fit in our holiday cage and really like it - also silent. If you put it in your basket and go as if to check out it gives you the price including delivery in pounds. Works out about £22.

https://www.amazon.de/Karlie-Bogie-W...gie+wheel+18cm

I don't know much about flying saucers for robos - I know they're popular for Russian dwarf hamsters but I'd worry a little thing like a robo might fly off and hurt themselves. (Any Robo owners will know better than me).

Having said all that - sometimes you need the right kind of wheel for your cage type as well. Some wheels work better in some types of cages and others in other types of cages. Can you remind me what cage you have?

Providing a wheel spins really well, a very small hammy can run in any size wheel really. There's a video on youtube of a Robo running in a 12" wobust wheel! But 6" is the smallest size suitable really.

[AmityvilleHams]

Robos could definitely fly off a flying saucer.They're not very good wheels anyways,and definitely not a replacement for a proper upright wheel that allows for a natural running pattern.They just aren't worth buying,and take up way more space than an upright wheel would.At most they'd be a nice toy,but a very expensive and unnecessary toy at that which could easily be replaced with many far better toys that would be considerably more enriching.

I'd definitely agree on the 9 inch Silent Runner.Reasons why have been mentioned in the other thread,and while it is an investment item as mentioned it is entirely worth it!

[Drago]

If you want a high quality, long lasting wheel, go with the silent runner. If you want an okay wheel that will work but isn't the best, get a silent spinner. I prefer the silent runner just due to its quality, smooth, and sleek design. However, I use the silent spinner too, the smaller sizes of the silent spinner are better than the larger designs, but many have the same complaint of silent spinners jamming up. A silent spinner is an option to use in the meantime because dwarfies should get plenty of exercise to avoid becoming overweight. However, I don't recommend flying saucers as a permanent solution simply due to the fact that the hams bend sideways and run quite unnaturally. In the end, the choice is yours and whatever works best for you and your hamsters is what you should choose. This is just my two cents on the topic

[cypher]

I would say the best wheel for a robo would be either the silent runner Serendipity mentioned or the 20cm wooden karlie wheel, wooden wheels do need to be painted with Plastikote to pee proof them, they are really good, very quiet wheels & a nice size for any dwarf ham.

[Pebbles82]

The Karlie wheel is cheaper than the silent runner - about half the price. They can take a week to arrive from Zooplus. This is the plastikote paint. Most hardware stores sell it but it needs to be the waterbased one (it says on the label). You just use a small paintbrush to paint it on - takes about 10 minutes for one coat. I used to leave it overnight before doing a second coat to make sure it wasn't still sticky but I know some people do it much sooner than that (maybe I'm just not good at painting lol).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Painting-...e+enamel+paint

It comes in all different colours as well as clear, so you can paint it whatever colour you want. You need to check the running track for any splinters as well - sometimes it might need a bit of light sanding if it's rough or any splintery bits.

I also think it's worth paying more for the 9" Silent runner - but if you need two that does get a bit expensive. I got one as my third wheel after the first one broke after 6 months, the second one had issues - never had any issues with the Silent Runner - it's sturdy and well made and completely silent.

The plastic Karlie wheel I linked above is good if you don't want to be sanding and plastikoting, but not really any cheaper than the silent runner once postage is added although things do come from Germany pretty quickly.

[flowerfairy]

My two both have the karlie wheels and they love them. Lots of cuprinol garden shades to protect them!

[alipali1]

Thank you all so much! So nice to be able to ask these questions with no judgment and just pure advice! I've never had robos before so it's a learning experience so far.
I think the silent spinner seems to be the way to go, I can't afford to but them yet so will leave them with their plastic cage wheels (so noisy) for now and save up! Don't want to buy one at a time, I'd feel mean!

My silent spinners I have found they can't spin them, I was so unsure as to whether they were just so quiet I didn't hear them, but got a glimpse last night of Nani in there and it wasn't moving, so will try and get them refunded as I only got them less than a week ago!

[alipali1]

I meant silent runner in the first part!