Wheel too high for cage

[emojimom]

I adopted a Syrian hamster, Beatrix, yesterday, and as she's still young, the 8.5 inch wheel I have now works for her, though just. I already had it, which is why I'm using it for her right now, because I wanted to get her home and in her homemade bin cage before I got a bigger wheel. I went and got her a 12" Silent Spinner today, but it is too tall for the bin with the lid on. I am having trouble finding a bin that's both long enough and tall enough. Most of the bins in the shops near me that are long enough are too short for a bigger wheel.

Perhaps I could modify the lid to allow room just for the wheel, but I'm worried about her escaping.

Any advice?

[Pebbles82]

I don't like the Silent Spinners anyway They had a manufacturing change a year or so ago and don't always spin that well, plus they are quite big and bulky. There are better options.

11" Wodent Wheel (about 31.5cm tall on its stand)
10" Carolina Storm bucket wheel (these are very popular). Height adjustable - lowest height is 11.5"

A very good wheel is the 12" Silent Runner (as opposed to Silent Spinner) from exotic nutrition, but that probably won't fit either. The Silent Spinner is about 33cm tall and the Silent Runner is 35cm tall on its stand.

Unless you have a particularly large Syrian I would get the Carolina Storm wheel - it's silent, has a sturdy stand and is height adjustable to allow for bedding under the wheel. Only problem is she might grow bigger and need bigger than a 10" wheel. Do you think she is at full size now?

The 11" wodent wheel is good for a Syrian as well. I'm not keen on their stands, unless they are hung upside down, which is a bit tricky in a bin cage.

If she is quite large and needs a 12" wheel then it might be a case of needing a taller bin. Adapting the lid could lead to escapes as you say.

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

Wodent Wheel 11" For Small Mammals - Exotic Nutrition

[emojimom]

Thank you! I'll look into both of these wheels. I have no idea if she is full grown or not. The pet store said she was probably 5-6 months. She seems huge to me, compared to my dwarf hammy, but I'm just a hamster beginner.

I'll also keep looking for a taller bin cage. My dream is to get a Detolf someday, but I'm nowhere near an Ikea, and shipping is exorbitant.

[Pebbles82]

It's difficult fitting a 12" wheel in a detolf as well The Wobust wheel fits (just). How much does she weigh? To get an idea of her size.

[emojimom]

I haven't weighed her yet, because I wanted to let her settle in for a few days (at least), but weighing her is one of the first things on the agenda after that.

[FelicityAnn]

Originally Posted by emojimom

I adopted a Syrian hamster, Beatrix, yesterday, and as she's still young, the 8.5 inch wheel I have now works for her, though just. I already had it, which is why I'm using it for her right now, because I wanted to get her home and in her homemade bin cage before I got a bigger wheel. I went and got her a 12" Silent Spinner today, but it is too tall for the bin with the lid on. I am having trouble finding a bin that's both long enough and tall enough. Most of the bins in the shops near me that are long enough are too short for a bigger wheel.

Perhaps I could modify the lid to allow room just for the wheel, but I'm worried about her escaping.

Any advice?

Had the same problem. This is what my OH did..
.[IMG][/IMG]

[emojimom]

FelicityAnn, that's brilliant! I still have plenty of mesh, too. I bet I could make that work!

Thank you!

[AmityvilleHams]

I'd suggest finding an extra bin and directly connecting(no modular connections,these don't add extra floor space and can be very problematic at the very least,but instead cutting a large section of the side of each bin and zip tying them together)instead of modifying the lid.This means you get more floor space which is always a good thing for Syrians,plus it's a lot easier to do!

[emojimom]

I'm confused by what you mean, Amityville. I guess I'm just having a hard time picturing it. I don't really need more horizontal space (though bigger is always better, I know), but rather vertical space. I thought about doing a double decker bin, but I'm not sure that's a great idea. What do you mean by modular connection?

[FelicityAnn]

Originally Posted by emojimom

FelicityAnn, that's brilliant! I still have plenty of mesh, too. I bet I could make that work!

Thank you!

No problem - I'll pass your remarks on to my Other Half. It was his idea. And it stands on only a little bit of substrate, to keep it stable. The rest of the substrate is held back by a fence made from a bendy bridge. Esmeralda loves jumping down into the 'moat' and running round the wheel, before jumping onto it

(The green wheel on the left has gone now)

[IMG][/IMG]