Ham un-pouching on spinner

[Goldie Flower]

My ham syrian ham freddie has a really annoying habit of un-pouching and kicking his food/substrate all over his spinner. It's one of those almost horizontal/circular types (I'm sorry I can't remember the proper name for them right now ). I was considering a traditional upright wheel instead since I think the stuff he put on a proper wheel would slip off easier than on his spinner.

I wondered if anyone knew why he might be doing this? Or have any helpful hints on getting him to stop. He's driving me crazy having to keep getting up in the middle of the night to tip the stuff off because it rattles when he runs. I know he probably doesn't like me interfering with his stuff like that either. Is there anything I can do to encourage him not to do this or is a new wheel the only solution?

[cypher]

It's very common behaviour, not sure if they just like to snack on the run, think the wheel/saucer is a safe place to keep food or enjoy waking us up making a racket but you have to just let them get on with it basically!

[AprilPearl]

From your description, it sounds as though he has a flying saucer.

Lots of hamsters put food on their saucers/wheels and run with it (be thankful he doesn't use it as a toilet as my last hamster did!) and you may well find that he does the same with an upright wheel. It's nothing to worry about.

However, I really would recommend that you get him a normal upright wheel, regardless of the unpouching issue. They really are much better for Syrians.

One of the best wheels out there is the 12 inch silent runner:
Silent Runner 12" regular wheel | South West Sugar Gliders

[Goldie Flower]

Thank you for your help cypher and AprilPearl I've ordered the silent runner wheel, I want the best for all my hammies. He seems to have stopped un-pouching on his own for now, as long as he's happy and just doing it for fun or convenience I'm not bothered, I was worried he was doing it because he was unhappy. Now I know it's just a habit some of them have I'm happy to let him un-pouch wherever he pleases

[Thin Lizzy]

It's rather sweet watching them unpouch on the wheel and then go running lol! Master Harvey would take his whimzee on his and what a racket when it goes flying.

[Goldie Flower]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

It's rather sweet watching them unpouch on the wheel and then go running lol! Master Harvey would take his whimzee on his and what a racket when it goes flying.

Freddie stopped doing it right after I posted on here lol, it's like he knows somehow. I'm happy to let him do it if he wants now I know he's not doing it because he's upset. He always does it when I have to sleep for a big day coming up, he's so cheeky but I love him for it.

A whimzee on a wheel! Freddie has a whimzee so I'll be keeping an eye out for that, I can only imagine how funny it is to watch them do that! Master Harvey sounds just as cheeky as Freddie.

[Drago]

Oh yes, I too have experience with whimzees on wheels! My little Duncan's favorite activity is carrying his toothbrush like a dog bone and then dropping it on his wheel whilst he runs!

[kitty629]

Lol if my chinese took a whimzee on the wheel it may very well knock them out!

[Thin Lizzy]

Lol Kitty629!
Twinkle would take her whimzee on her flying saucer and it would fly across the cage. Then would go and fetch it and do it again!