Hi and a problem

randomthing42 · 08-31-2018, 02:20 AM

Just a new member here, got my first hamster, a Syrian called Holly on Monday. I also have a slight problem.

Holly is being kept in my bedroom as there isn't much space in my house for her cage to be put elsewhere and I can put up with a little noise when going to sleep. I had researched hamsters before I got her and decided to get the Silent Runner wheel 9" thinking that I could get a nice night's sleep but that turns out not to be true. The stand vibrates/rattles quite a lot when she runs very fast and she likes to poo in there too which increases the rattling noise. I have tried to move all the bedding/substrate from under the wheel and just put it on the plastic floor which only made it slightly quieter, today I am thinking about moving it away from the edge of the cage so it doesn't vibrate against it. The only other solutions I can think of is returning it (if the store I got it from does returns) and buying the savic giant rolly from pets at home as that is said to be quiet and the poo would fall out, or buying the cage attachment but would bump up the total cost of the wheel to £32 whereas the savic is only £17.

Edit: The store will accept returns so long as she doesn't chew on it, read my replies for updates on the situation.

Chicleteer · 08-31-2018, 05:46 AM

I'm a fairly new Syrian hamster owner myself (I've had Chiclet for about 3 months now) but if it's helpful, I also have a Silent Runner, which I have found to be the quietest of the ones I've tried, although I haven't tried the ones you listed in your note. My Silent Runner also made noise on the stand at times, or banged against the cage, and "traveled" when I pulled it away from the cage, but once I took it off the stand and attached it directly to the cage, all noise issues went away. If you have a wire cage, that might be one option (I don't think it's possible if you have a terrarium or bin cage, though). Attaching it was easier than I thought it would be. If you have any interest, I found this YouTube video very helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y1ZfuIelZM. Or search for "YouTube Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner Wheel Assembly" and that should pull it up, too. Good luck, and enjoy your new Holly!

souffle · 08-31-2018, 05:58 AM

The savic wheel can be very noisy and also travel around the cage. I would persevere with the runner. If you can put some kitchen roll under it that will muffle the noise and also I have heard of people weighing them down with a ceramic tile over the base which can help.
It may sound silly but wearing ear plugs really does help with the noise! I'd empty any poo or seeds out frequently so they don't rattle.

randomthing42 · 08-31-2018, 07:12 AM

I do have the savic cage attachments however as they and the wheel came with the big wire cage I bought just the internal bearings/screw things weren't there, I may try putting kitchen roll underneath my silent runner though. Earplugs would be a good idea but they end up not really fitting in my ears haha. The cage attachment would be nice for the silent runner its the the cost of it all as to get in the uk its fairly pricey.

JennySTL · 08-31-2018, 08:45 AM

Something I found to have been helpful with my silent runner is to tape the base down with some of that "foamy" double sided tape. It doesn't seem to move around as much that way. I have an aquarium cage, so it's easy to tape down. Not sure if it would work in another cage.

randomthing42 · 08-31-2018, 02:10 PM

Ok so I just stayed up a bit to watch her and it turns out half the noise is actually her little feet tapping away quite loudly, I'm thinking somehow sticking kitchen roll/toilet paper to the inside of it, no idea how I'm going to though. I understand that this is probably something that will happen with any wheel but it may help the overall noise of vibrates and stop the poo making noise when it rattles about xD

cypher · 08-31-2018, 11:27 PM

I wouldn't put anything inside the wheel, the patter of feet & bouncing poo or even better food when they decide to take that in the wheel is something you have to get used to & yes you will get that with any wheel, a cork lined wooden wheel is a bit quieter in that respect, wooden wheels do need to be painted with Plasikote water based enamel to waterproof them before use if you decide to try that.

randomthing42 · 09-01-2018, 07:53 AM

I am going to try what you suggested cypher, the reviews seem very good and I'm ordering the hemp bedding off zooplus anyway. Hopefully this will work

flowerfairy · 09-01-2018, 10:18 AM

I weigh the base of the silent runner (12 inch) down with a flat stone. It works well but the feetsies do make a noise which I have say I love!