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Old 07-26-2020, 01:29 AM   #1
Lucy the ham
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Default Wheel too big?

Hi! Hope you are all well. I have just joined but, have been looking on here for over a year as I got all the advice I ever needed so, didn't have to join. On Thursday we bought a Russian Dwarf Hamster which, we think is a Campbells one we have called Lucy.

I have had Syrian Hamsters and a Robo (super fast!) in the past so, I know how different they all are. I am having a bit of a problem that I have never had before. Lucy is not wanting to go in her wheel. I have put food in it and it isn't touched (just to see if she went in there) plus you can hear the wheel slightly when it moves and it isn't moving. I picked her up and put her in it and she seems to try to use it but, cannot seem to do a full circle in one time. Could the wheel be possibly too big for her? The wheel came with the cage - Savic Sky cage 18 cms wheel. You can get a smaller one I found out. Lucy is just over three months old. The wheel is ok as I have tested it a few times.
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Old 07-27-2020, 05:25 AM   #2
cypher
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

That size wheel certainly isn’t too big, a 20cm wheel is about the right size. for a Russian, even a very young one. It may be that the wheel doesn’t spin easily enough, the wheels that come with cages are usually pretty poor quality tbh so you would probably be better off getting a new wheel, I use the silent runner wheels for my hams (not the silent spinner as they don’t work!).
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Old 07-27-2020, 05:42 AM   #3
sushi_78
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

I think the wheel that comes with the Savic Sky is a Rolly? I have a Rolly wheel that came with a cage and I find it quite stiff. I haven't used it as it's too noisy but I wouldn't be surprised if a hamster had trouble turning it.

I have a wooden Trixie wheel which is a very smooth and quiet wheel. My Robo can even turn the 28cm one (it's my gerbils' wheel really, I just let her use it in a playpen once) so a Russian should have no problem with the 21cm version. The wood does need sealing with Plastikote to protect it against urine. The Silent Runner is also a popular wheel. I think the smallest size is 9" but that should be fine for a Russian.

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small..._wheels/609617
https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/product/silent-runner/
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Old 07-27-2020, 05:53 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

Until you find and purchase a good upright wheel you can give her a flying saucer which is readily available at a p@h shop. My dwarfs have both wheels available to them, one dwarf uses all her wheels and the other prefers the flying saucer. A flying saucer is fine as an additional wheel for variety but a dwarf hamster still needs an upright one as well.
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Old 07-27-2020, 05:58 AM   #5
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

I would get either the 9” silent runner (yellow with holes) or the 21cm wood trixie wheel. Both spin really well and are also silent. If you’re not bothered about it being silent then the 20cm plastic trixie wheel is ok too.

It’s probably a combination of the wheel and the hamster. Our current Syrian was really slow getting the hang of running in a wheel and would mainly sit and rock in it for a while.
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Old 07-28-2020, 02:48 AM   #6
Lucy the ham
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

Thank you all very much for your help and advice/links. That has helped me. It is the Rolly wheel Lucy was trying to use. Lucy is trying to use it more but, still doesn't quite do a full circle. I had a funny idea that maybe the wheels that came with cages were not too great. Thank you for the advice that if I wanted to buy a flying saucer I would still have to get an upright wheel too and thank you for the advice to Plastikote a wooden wheel if I got one. I had a cage many years ago that had a lot of wooden parts to it and it got ruined/stained mainly by water.

Last edited by Lucy the ham; 07-28-2020 at 03:10 AM.
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Old 07-28-2020, 05:10 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

If you go for the wood one you can get plastikote here. The paint on enamel is water based and virtually odourless. Really helps to keep it wipe clean. I just use a 1” house painting brush and it only takes a few minutes to paint. You really need two coats though and although the first coat is dry in a couple of hours I leave the second coat till next day so it’s fully hardened. The plastikote also comes in different colours - this is the clear one. You can paint it on the Cork running surface as well as the wood parts.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...b_b_asin_title

The silent runner is a really good wheel - a bit expensive. It has a safe sturdy stand and can also be fixed to cage bars at the height you want (useful if you want deeper substrate bit substrate the same level throughout the cage. The main stockist is the sugar glider shop and it’s showing out of stock at the moment but if you message them they can tell you when it’s due in stock. The cage mounting plates cost an extra £5 but they last forever.

https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/product/silent-runner/

https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/produc...silent-runner/
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Old 07-31-2020, 02:47 AM   #8
Lucy the ham
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

Thank you for your advice and the for the links Serendipity7000. The silent runner wheel looks really cool.

I didn't want to make another topic but, does this sounds really silly? I bought some upmarket sand from Zooplus as Lucy loves her sand baths. It arrived with a leak as they haven't heat sealed the top properly. It is over the top to consider sterilising the sand? As technically with a hole in it anything could have got in it.
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Old 07-31-2020, 03:00 PM   #9
Ria P
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

You could always bake it to be on the safe side and contact Zooplus because they'll probably send you a new bag of sand.
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Old 08-06-2020, 10:48 AM   #10
Lucy the ham
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Default Re: Wheel too big?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
You could always bake it to be on the safe side and contact Zooplus because they'll probably send you a new bag of sand.
Sorry, I have taken a little while to reply. Thank you for suggesting to contact Zooplus Ria P. I have e-mailed them about it.
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wheel, lucy, cage, put, big, slightly, hear, picked, moving, moves, months, found, smaller, confused, times, tested, cms, possibly, time, circle, sky, savic, full, bit, thursday

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