wooden wheels? what is the best

worldturns · 03-21-2017, 09:16 AM

so I have been thinking about a new wheel for my Syrian she is a bit big so it would have to be something in the range of 28cm/11"

I was looking at the trixie wooden wheel
Trixie Wooden Exercise Wheel | Free P&P on orders Â£29+ at zooplus!

or perhaps the Karlie flamingo
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Karlie-Flam.../dp/B00L38LXNQ

of course I would need to plastikote whatever I get I was just interested in anyone's experience with these wheels.
penny is in a Marrakesch tank so it would need to stand on the floor as the wire mesh on the top might not take the weight
I am very tempted by the trixie wheel as it is on offer on zooplus at the moment but is the quality as good? there are no reviews on it at the moment so I can't really make a judgement.

thanks for your help

cypher · 03-21-2017, 09:26 AM

I've used the Karlie wheels both with & without cork, they are well made & very quiet, the only thing I found with the cork is that it isn't as easy to plastikote, it may just have been mine but there was a tiny gap between the cork & back of the wheel which made it harder to clean, not so much of a problem if your ham doesn't pee in the whee!
I do like the cork ones but wonder if running on wood isn't better for helping to keep claws trimmed a bit other than those two considerations not much difference between the Karlie wheels, I do think they tend to be better quality than the Trixie one though.

EmmaAndChester · 03-21-2017, 12:22 PM

Definitely NOT the Karlie Wonderland Wheel - I've made a post on it on another hamster forum, where I included photos when I woke up one morning to blood splattered all over it. He caught his nail on it and injured the pad on one of his paws due to elevated wooden "grips" on the running track. I have several friends in the german hamster community who also told me that there have been several other issues where the same issue was reported with hamsters literally running their feet raw due to the track - they're discouraged on most german forums as a result.

The cork wheel by trixie is a much better choice. Rodipet also make both a cork wheel, and a wooden wheel with a solid, smooth wooden running surface - both are costly though, but they seem like good quality wheels.

Either that, or you could go down the trixie rodent wheel or the wodent wheel route if your hamster pees on their wheel - I wouldn't use a wooden wheel, even with plastikote, if your hamster is going to destroy it. For me, regardless of if they were plastikoted or not, they still eventually start to look grubby and disgusting. Regardless of what wheel you choose though, avoid any with those elevated bits on the track - smooth running surfaces are the only safe option.

cypher · 03-21-2017, 12:28 PM

None of my hams ever had an issue with the Karlie wheel & it doesn't seem to be a common problem here in the UK which seems a bit strange really.
There's a new design rodipet wheel out by the end of the month I think so I don't know what that will be like but my hams didn't get on well with the old one, it has no rim at all which seemed to make them feel a bit less secure running in it & more inclined to slip out as well as getting a bit obsessed with the wooden bit in the centre which they would try to climb on then fall out of the wheel!

EmmaAndChester · 03-21-2017, 12:36 PM

I used the Karlie Wonderland wheels for years, it was only when I used the 12 inch with my syrian that I had a problem - he only had it for a few days before I checked on him one morning only to find blood splattered all over it. So even if its not a common issue, when it's a completely avoidable one, it's much better to be safe than sorry.

as for the open-ness of the rodipet ones; I've never had any issues with my hamsters feeling "exposed" or slipping out of them - the track is wide enough so that the later really shouldn't be an issue. I do find that my dwarf hamsters prefer enclosed wheels, but my syrians have never seemed to care.

Pebbles82 · 03-21-2017, 12:43 PM

As your hamster is large I wouldn't go for the cork lined one - it is just slightly smaller diameter than the standard wood one. I sent for one for our large Syrian. It was frustrating but it just wasn't quite big enough. I think it is basically the same size wheel but the depth of the cork all round makes the diameter smaller inside.

I would probably agree also about the standard Karlie wood wheels. Not so much for safety or splinters (although splinters can be an issue and sandpaper is needed then!) but because mine broke after 6 months. I know some people have had them last a lot longer, but with a big Syrian thundering away in it I don't think the wheel could hack it! I also recently sent for the plastic version of it - same stand, plastic wheel, and it arrived with the wheel disconnected from the base. I just don't think they are long term wheels.

I would recommend the 12" Silent Runner. But it is 35cm tall on its stand and might be a bit of a tight squeeze heightwise in your tank. You could drill a hole in the end wood panel and use it "cage mounted" possibly. Not sure if that would work either as the bolt might not be long enough to fit the spacer on with the depth of the wood.

So - if we rule out the 12" silent runner, then the Karlie 29cm wood wheel is probably the next best size (not the cork one). It is 29cm diameter, unlike the 28cm trixie wheel and 27cm wodent wheel.

As long as you are prepared to spend 10 minutes sanding any possible splintery bits when it arrives, and painting it with plastikote, it might last well

I didn't even plastikote my first one (didn't know about it) and just used to scrub it under the tap now and then, but then our hammy didn't pee in it (well hardly ever).

Having said that - it doesn't seem to be available! Not on Zooplus and probably at a high cost on Amazon.

It really comes down to a choice between: Silent runner, Trixie 28cm, Karlie wood, Karlie (or Trixie) cork. A wobust wheel would fit but they are very deep and it would take up a fair bit of space, plus I wasn't happy with the safety aspect when it was stood on the floor of the cage - our hammy got his leg caught between the wheel and the stand.

What is the inside height of your tank where the wheel would go?

Pebbles82 · 03-21-2017, 12:54 PM

I did try a 29cm rodipet wheel as well but sent it back. It didn't seem very sturdy on its stand although they are supposed to be good wheels.

I seem to remember the issue is she is chewing the 28cm Trixie is that right? So an open wheel might be better as she maybe is chewing at the holes/panel.

That would leave the 29cm Karlie wheel, or a rodipet wood wheel (they're quite tall as well).

The Karlie wood wheel is available on Amazon in Germany - converts to £23 ish including the postage.

The Rodipet wood wheels seem to be out of stock anyway (they sell the Silent Runners now!)

The 29cm wood Karlie wheel was plenty big enough for our big Syrian. The cork one is more like 28cm and that 1cm made a difference.

I've not heard of anyone have accidents with it like Emma and Chester (maybe that was a one off bad luck?!) I have heard of people finding blood on them from bleeding feet and splinters, but a little bit of a sand and some plastikote prevents that.

It looks like your best option for size, fitting in the tank, and for an open wheel.

https://www.amazon.de/Karlie-Flaming...aufrad+hamster

Pebbles82 · 03-21-2017, 12:57 PM

Or! There is the 12" comfort wheel

It'll probably be noisy.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Superpet-Co...rt+wheel+12%22

Pebbles82 · 03-21-2017, 01:01 PM

Or! You could use the 12" Wobust wheel attached to the tank by drilling a hole in the wood. The stand part is longer than the silent runner for cage mounting. The stand itself would need to fit against the back of the tank and you'd need some little u nails to attach it to the wood.

Have a look at this page and you'll see what I mean about attaching it to the "side"
although it's on a cage rather than a tank.

Wodent Wheel Tidbits

Pebbles82 · 03-21-2017, 01:05 PM

I think all wheels have some safety issues. I've heard of older hamsters "tripping" and getting a leg caught in a Trixie wheel. The Silent Runner is a nice safe one (if it's put together properly). The Wobust wheel is probably fine if the stand is on the outside.

Or maybe just hope she stops chewing the trixie wheel!