Hello I'm Liz - Page 3

Lizchewy · 11-12-2020, 07:40 AM

Ah success I think! I found an old pic which has the box partly in the background. It is a flying saucer, super silent spinner. Hope your hamsters like the wheel you get!

Lizchewy · 11-12-2020, 07:44 AM

Here is Chewy in his playpen.

Pebbles82 · 11-12-2020, 08:18 AM

Aw he's gorgeous - he'll really enjoy that playpen.

AmityvilleHams · 11-12-2020, 08:25 AM

Unfortunately flying saucer wheels do not replace a proper upright wheel nor do they even replicate the natural running position - that is unfortunately a marketing tactic and nothing more.

The best wheel that does actually allow a natural running position would be a Silent Runner. Even the largest flying saucer wheels do not have the same running surface, and they cause hamsters to run in awkward positions actually(including side arching). Flying saucer type wheels also take up unnecessarily large amounts of space compared to a proper upright wheel.

Lizchewy · 11-12-2020, 08:51 AM

Oh dear. I read so much good stuff about them before I bought it. He didn't use his upright wheel. Thank you.

AmityvilleHams · 11-12-2020, 09:18 AM

I know the Silent Spinner in particular is one upright wheel that is known for its lack of reliable spinning, among other issues, although there is the potential for a variety of other models to not function properly(much less likely though). Even a Comfort Wheel would be a decent choice if possible - providing that it's the right size of course, with the 12 inch one being suitable for Syrians.

Lizchewy · 11-12-2020, 09:34 AM

Ok thank you. I haven't noticed any side arching or lack of spinning ability. He is on it for hours and looks small on it. Its 12 inches. However, I take note of your advice and will look in to the other wheels you suggested. Thanks so much for helping

Ria P · 11-12-2020, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizchewy

Ah success I think! I found an old pic which has the box partly in the background. It is a flying saucer, super silent spinner. Hope your hamsters like the wheel you get!

Chewy is adorable! He's a beautiful hamster.

I forgot that it's lockdown again and the shop closes early so couldn't get the 12in flying saucer for the Syrians today.

As for wheels: my Syrians have upright 10in wheels in their habitats and the 12in saucer i want as a plaything when they're out of their cage for a bit of variety.
My two Syrians love their upright wheels and one especially runs for ages. The wheels run very smoothly.

Three of my dwarfs have an upright wheel and a medium flying saucer permanently in their habitats. One favours the saucer and runs on it a lot but hardly ever uses the upright wheel. Another uses both equally and the third one uses both but more so the saucer.
They have different running techniques ranging from horizontal to almost vertical and somewhere inbetween.

I've apparently been lucky with silent spinner because the ones i have run smoothly and quietly. Only design fault i can see are the gaps but that's easily fixed. I put small car stickers on the gaps so no tiny paws can get trapped in them.

What kind of upright wheel does Chewbacca have?
Maybe you could put it in his playpen to see if he uses it while in there. He may get to like it.

Lizchewy · 11-12-2020, 12:34 PM

Hi Ria. That's a shame about the shop. My silent spinner doesn't have any gaps in it. There must be different types. Mine runs smoothly too. He seems to love it! However, reading that most people advise the upright wheels I'll have to look in to it. The upright one he had was the one that came with the savic plaza. I'd have to get another one with a stand for the playpen. But that is a very good idea, to put it in the playpen to see how he gets on before moving it into the house. Thank you.

AmityvilleHams · 11-12-2020, 03:10 PM

Silent Spinner wheels, as in the upright ones and any similar copycat design, all have gaps or the potential to form gaps unfortunately. That's just a design flaw caused by having a two piece design where the wheel itself is meeting in the middle on the running surface, which is a very big safety issue unfortunately.

I'd expect the upright wheel from the Savic Plaza was much too small though. An improperly sized wheel will often get ignored completely which is not a bad thing by any means, since wheels which are too small are very harmful for hamster spines. Syrians really should have a 12 inch upright wheel though.