Hamster can't run properly on wheel

Petfriend26 · 02-02-2016, 09:50 AM

Hey guys! I'm a new hamster owner so I need your advice on this...So I've had my hasmter for almost three weeks now. Tomorrow we're going to the vet to check for mites since he's had some tufts of fur coming off but that's not what I'm asking advice for.

So this morning I noticed this strange behaviour. In general he seems to not be able to run properly on his wheel. When I first got him he jumped on the wheel almost immediately and had no problem running.I cannot describe his behaviour specifically so I'll let this video explain it for me..

https://youtu.be/YHQG-IBDlvk
He seems like he's falling off the wheel and I can't understand why...
I would be grateful if you could tell me if this is normal!

Thank you!

herbi7 · 02-02-2016, 06:23 PM

Well its not normal for any of mine. What size is your wheel? It looks a tiny bit small for him. The others will know the right size for a dwarf upright wheel. Is his weight pulling it down so it slopes a bit? I'd say the problem may just be that he has grown and no longer finds the wheel quite right to run on

cypher · 02-02-2016, 09:39 PM

The wheel may be a bit small but I think it could be the design that's a bit wrong for him & maybe the surface is a little too slippery for furry feet?!
He's not running quite straight by the look of it which isn't that unusual but isn't a problem if you use either an enclosed wheel like the wodent wheel or a wheel with a slight rim like the Karlie wonderland wheel, you need an 8"/20cm size.
I don't know if they're available where you are though, what country are you in?

Petfriend26 · 02-03-2016, 03:16 AM

Thank you for your answers!

So, here's the thing. The wheel came with the cage and it doesn't have a stand..it's attached on the cage bars. What I've noticed is that it is bending a little forward. But it was like that from the beginning!Could the little one have grown so much that he can't run on it now? I'm not sure how to measure it exactly( I'm a complete newbie to hamsters and the equipement they need,though I've done some research), to see if it's too small for him. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I can buy him a new one right now, especially one that comes on a stand, because his cage is too small. Since I'm a university student I couldn't aford at the time I bought him a larger cage,but I have now ordered a larger one, which will come with a new wheel inside. The thing is it will arrive in about a month, so I'm not sure if it's worth buying a new wheel. About the wonderland wheel, yes I have seen it in a pet store, so it is available in my country,as well as other various wooden wheels! I was thinking about the silent spinner but there are two sizes, one medium,one large and I'm not sure which one is the right for him.

cypher · 02-03-2016, 04:18 AM

A month is a long time to a hamster! You could run the risk of your little ham getting hurt while continuing to use the current wheel & there's no certainty the wheel that comes with the next cage will be a good one, very often the wheels that come with cages are quite poor quality so if you can I would invest in a new wheel now.
Just measure across the front to get the size.

ETA I forgot to say don't bother getting a silent spinner, they changed the design so they don't work any more! Progress lol!

Pebbles82 · 02-03-2016, 04:31 AM

Yes the wheel is too small - and that can cause them back pain which might be why he keeps running like that, half off, to try and avoid his back bending and hurting. It can lead to spinal problems as well.

Unfortunately most cages are sold with those small wheels which are only big enough for dwarf hamsters. A Syrian hamster could do with an 11" wheel really like the senior wodent wheel. But also, he could do with a bigger cage as well really.

A lot of people make bin cages out of, say, and Ikea Samla bin. You cut a panel or two out and mesh it, and it gives the hamster a lot more floor space and there's room to fit a larger wheel.

It has happened to many of us - you are sold a hamster cage by a pet shop and it is far too small and not good for the hamster.

Also wondering what country you are in so we can suggest stockists for wheels

Do have Ikea? This is the Samla bin. It does mean a bit of diy - otherwise, Amazon and Zooplus sell good sized hamster cages, like the Savic Hamster Heaven, Ruffy, Ferplast Mary, Maxi Duna Multy. And the Alaska, Barney and Alexander at Zooplus.

SAMLA Box - IKEA

But the bigger the better. Here are some examples of bin cages

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...I5At8Q_AUIBigB

Petfriend26 · 02-03-2016, 05:06 AM

Ok, so I measured my wheel and it is 14,5 cm wide. I'm thinking of buying the wonderland wheel today, since the vet I'm going to is actually the pet store's vet, so I can check the wheels they have there! My hamster is a dwarf so I don't think he'll need the largest one out there,right? I live in Greece. Yes, there are IKEA stores here and I have seen many DIYs concerning bin cages and specifically the bin cage from IKEA. The thing is I live in a very small appartement(one room) and it's already crowded so if I add a bin cage it's going to take a lot of space. Besides I'm waiting for the new cage to arrive! I fell in love with it the moment I saw it on the internet! Here check it out to see for yourself! OLIMPIA | Hamster cage, with tubes and playing area - Ferplast
I know I could have found larger ones, but it's the largest my house can handle right now :P and really i fell for the idea of the "playground" above the cage :P

cypher · 02-03-2016, 05:11 AM

Your current wheel is far too small so if you can get a better 20cm one today that would be great.
The new cage you've ordered is still very small, I'm not sure you would get a good wheel in there & the one on the back wall may not be very easy to access for your ham & may not work well or be big enough, tubes aren't great especially for dwarfs as they can struggle with their furry little feet!
They really do need a cage or bin with a large floor space rather than lots of extras like tubes & that vertical extension (not sure what else to call it!) if it's at all possible for you to cancel the order & maybe get the biggest samla bin & do a bit of DIY making a bin cage I would, your ham will be a lot happier & more comfortable.

Petfriend26 · 02-03-2016, 05:15 AM

Thanks a lot for the advice!

I'll try to do my best for the little guy!!

Pebbles82 · 02-03-2016, 06:38 AM

Sorry! Didn't realise he was a dwarf hamster - he looked quite big on the video! Just checked again dur. As Cypher says a 20cm wheel would be fine.

The Olympia cage looks great fun but it's very small even for a dwarf hamster and you will most likely have problems. Cage rage and bar chewing possibly. The recommended minimum size is about 70cm by 40cm minimimum for a single dwarf hamster and most people try to go a bit bigger - it's the floorspace they need and you can still set up a basic cage to look fun quite easily.

Although they are small, they are very active and energetic and need the floorspace. A 70 or 80cm cage would fit on top of a small table or on top of a chest of drawers, so you don't need much extra floor space.

I wasted money on a cage that was too small and quite quickly had problems and ended up buying another one - more money. So getting the size right now will help. Bar chewing is very common in cages that are too small. Plus hamsters need a good depth of substrate to be able to have normal behaviours (even digging their own tunnels).

I fell in love with our 3 tier rotostak space command but it was still a useless pile of plastic when it was no good for the hamster!

The majority of commercial cages aren't suitable and too small, but on that site you linked there are some that are a suitable size.

The duna fun large is 71cm by 41cm and just meets the minimum rspca requirements. It comes with a good water bottle. I'm not sure how big the wheel is - probably only 6" but if it's 6.5" it would do. If not an 8" wheel would fit. The little plastic house is ok as a play hide/toy but your hamster would also need a house/hide a bit bigger than that to build a cosy nest in, and sat on the substrate (ie open underneath) so they can hoard under their nest (plus it makes it easier and more hygienic to clean).

The Kios mouse cage is also suitable - it looks a bit plain like that but you can easily make it fun with a few tubes and toys.

KIOS | Mice cage with high bottom - Ferplast

Some people make a tank out of an ikea detolf cabinet (just for one dwarf hamster!) but that would be difficult to fit in!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...IZDlIQ_AUIBigB

Personally I think you'd do well with a 75cm x 45cm glass tank for a dwarf hamster, or a standard duna multy. Zooplus do a good tank with a lid with suitable bar spacing for a dwarf, and that would easily sit on top of a chest of drawers (most chests of drawers don't have much on top anyway except keys, ornaments and hairbrushes! And they can easily go somewhere else).

Hamster Cages: great selection at zooplus: Small Pet Terrarium Kerry

The standard duna multy isn't so easy to find - not sure about in Greece. But it's basically the same as the duna fun large linked above but without the bar section in the centre, so if you can find that one it would be ok.

The maxi duna multy would be about the best cage you can get your hamster. It's a meter wide but a safe enclosure, small bar spacing and would also fit on top of a chest of drawers and fit an 8" wheel. It's available from Uk Amazon, German Amazon and Miscota in Spain

Ferplast Maxi Duna Multy Guinea Pig and Rabbit Cage, 99 x 51.5 x 36 cm, Grey: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

If he has clumps of hair coming out it could well be stress related. Small cage = stress. Small wheel = back pain.

Hope you find something for your little one - most of us on here learned by trial and error and some are real experts in hamster care and wellbeing