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Old 02-09-2019, 05:53 AM   #1
Maximus
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Default Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

My handsome dwarfie Merlin lives in a natural set-up in a detolf. He loves it. He has logs, rocks, houses, rush nests, ceramic flowerpots, tunnels under deep substrate, wood bark and pine cones (pet safe and sterilised) wooden bridges and ramps, coconuts and you get the idea. His favourite thing of all is his sand bath. He just loves it. So in the end I got him a large reptile water bowl (imitation rock - for lizards and stuff I think) and filled in with sand and he ADORES IT.

Get to the point-
He is about 2 years old now and he has NEVER run on his wheel. He has had four different types including a flying saucer (I usually give all my hams both a flying saucer style and a classic upright wheel of some sort) but he just isn’t a runner. I’ve tried teaching him to run and he’ll take a few steps and then hop off. I leave treats in the wheel to encourage him to run but no.

I’ve tested by marking the wheel position to see if he runs alone and in secret. He doesn’t.

After two years of totally ignoring the wheels existence - do I just keep the wheel in there or do I do the unthinkable and take it out and replace it with some other toy/house/something that he might actually use?

It just seems ridiculous to not have a wheel! But I’ve never had a hamster that doesn’t run!

FYI- he is extremely active and a healthy weight. He digs and digs and digs. He has multiple substrates - super deep care fresh mainly and pets at home pellet things (makes a nice sturdy tunnel structure according to Merlin), wood bark and a rockery.
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Old 02-09-2019, 06:52 AM   #2
mangoandmimi
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Default Re: Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

Almost unheard of for a hamster to absolutely never run on the wheel. What wheels have you tried and what size have they been?
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Old 02-09-2019, 08:46 AM   #3
cypher
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Default Re: Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

It is very rare to have a hamster not use the wheel but if he's two & has never really used it then you could remove it if he has lots of enrichment & keeps himself busy in other ways, I can't say it's an issue I've had so I am tempted to say better to leave it in but you know your ham!
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Old 02-09-2019, 09:36 AM   #4
Maximus
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Default Re: Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

He’s had a ten inch flying saucer, an 8.5 inch silent spinner and the new 10 inch silent spinner and (not sure of the brand) a 12 inch one (similar to silent spinner but less “rounded” inside.

These have all been fine for my other hand past and present, no back arching and used all the time. He’s just a bit odd I think?!

I’ve not dared removing it completely. But he just doesn’t run!!
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Old 02-09-2019, 12:56 PM   #5
Sebario
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Default Re: Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

He may possibly find the size of the detolf more than enough for exercise
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Old 02-10-2019, 04:25 AM   #6
Maximus
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Default Re: Removing wheel completely??? Nuts??

Well he’s a very busy ham. He has lots of tunnel building to do. And he’s scatter-fed as well so he has to find his grub.

I just catch myself thinking maybe I should replace the wheel with something he WILL use and then I think I’m nuts so I wondered what you all thought!!
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