Hamster won't run on wheel?

HollyHamster · 06-19-2012, 10:55 AM

Holly won't run on her 8 inch comfort wheel. Maybe she doesn't like the sounds it makes, or the fact that it tends to tilt to one side while she runs on it. Anyways, she won't run on it anymore. She just tends to eat and chew when she is up.

I have her tank in my bedroom so I can usually hear when she is up and running, so I know she isn't using it.

StarlightSerenity · 06-19-2012, 11:00 AM

How old is she?

She might need a bigger wheel and one that doesn't hav the same problems as her current one.

HadleyHam · 06-19-2012, 11:04 AM

Hadley hasn't used hers either. I'm going to find a larger one and see if it makes a difference... has she enjoyed running in the past? I've heard that some hamsters just don't like to run on a wheel

**kyrilliondaemon** · 06-19-2012, 11:06 AM

Yeah, I'd get a new one.
Our syrians aren't very big and they both massively prefer 11"+ wheels to 8" ones. Scamp bluntly refused to run on her 7.5" one and that was before she was fully grown lol

Sandti · 06-19-2012, 11:18 AM

Zoro doesn't really like her wheel either :<

I think I just have a Diva hamster XD

Sandti · 06-19-2012, 11:19 AM

Oops double post :<

HollyHamster · 06-19-2012, 11:38 AM

She is one year old. I went and gave the tank a good cleaning, in case that was the problem. She seems to be busy getting her hoard back in order again and rebuilding her nest. She even ran on the wheel a for a short bit as I was adding the new Carefresh into her tank.

She tends to trash her tank, no matter what I do to organize it, and her toys and things always end up in her wheel.

SnickersTheFirst · 06-19-2012, 11:58 AM

Could she be using it when you're asleep? I thought Cooper never used his wheel, I caught him using it once when I woke up at about 2am so I'm asuming he used it at that time every night.

Kissa · 06-19-2012, 01:15 PM

Maybe she doesn't like having an open front? A wodent wheel-style wheel might make her feel more secure when she's running as she's enclosed on both sides. Either that or it's too small, or a mixture of both, or she's just being a diva at the momet

Lynternette · 06-20-2012, 04:00 AM

Do you have room for a flying saucer? Popcorn won't use a wheel but loves his saucer. Dusty's just bone idle and sleeps in his. It depends what day it is for Conan. It can be a larder, bed or even a wheel. I've never used a bin cage but I was wondering if a really useful box would be any good as they have the clip fastenings at the sides and also room at the top when the clips are fastened.