Question about Winter Whites

[Biscuit]

OK, I am defintely going to get a rescue WW now. So happy. They will be my first ever dwarf.
But I just need to ask a few questions:

What size wheel do they need?

Do they need a ball and if so what size?

Can they climb tubes or is it completely impossible for them?

Can they have wood shavings (mixed with something else) as their substrate?

Thanks. xxx

[cathface]

I would say the minimum is the 20cm Karlie for a wheel - my sister's WW is pretty chunky now and rapidly outgrew the 6" silent spinner he originally had (which was big enough to fit both him and his brother, when they were 6 weeks old!).

ball-wise, my sister originally had the 'small' one (I don't know the dimensions) but it was obviously too small so we've now got him the 'medium', which is apparently 17cm? some may not like using balls, some do - it's really up to the ham, as with any species, I reckon!

I can't help with the tubes q, my sister only has Luigi in a Mini Duna so he's never had tubes. but I seem to remember that I read somewhere about dwarves not having velcro-y pads like Syrians so they aren't suited to climbing vertical tubes or something? idk if I made that up or not.

yes they can use wood shavings. I believe all hamsters can use wood shavings unless they show they are irritated by it (losing fur, scabby skin, etc). it's rats who get respiratory problems more often so they should never be on wood shavings.

[mangoandmimi]

Squee more winter whites
My chubbles have 8 inch ones, Saph has a wodent wheel (unpotty trained lol) and Topaz has a Karlie as she goes to the loo in bed Any larger for them would be too big, any smaller and they wouldn't fit.
Balls are debateable, i stopped using them a while back, as i have a large playpen now, but others' hamsters love their balls. Your choice.
I thought they were awful climbers at first but Topaz proved me wrong. Her tube is pretty steep, leading up to her second cage, and at first i was worried she wouldn't manage it but she's more than capable! She also loves climbing bars. But yeah, so long as they're not vertical they're fine.
Shavings are fine, my girs have megazorb and finacard mixed together but anything will do.

[chulasweetchica]

My lil WW Baby Alice love tubes! She loved sleeping in a cupcake with pink looks like cotton ball she spred out and it was cute looked like a rabbit hole, she loved cheerios and hated the ball,loved being out n running around just not in the ball....good luck I think they are sweet lil critters! her cage had blue fluff fluff she like it best.

[Biscuit]

Thanks for all your help.
Can't wait to get them. As soon as I come back from my holiday, I'm going to the petshop. I think I'll get a girl but you never know, I might fall in love with a little boy.