Meet Cupcake

[ilguy]

So she might actually dislike the wheel after all the excitement, or she's upset her tunnel is gone. She's chattering up a storm at me from her nestbox. Here's her first real go at it. I felt so bad when she ran to me for comfort

I'm hoping once the platform is ready she will give it another chance. My guess is it's her missing tunnel, in that last video she tries to go on her usual path to the castle.

Unsure
Not what I expected
Human, what do?
Missing Tunnel

[ilguy]

Second try was much better, and she really jumped up there a few times. It's pretty clear how much better the Niteangel is now that she's learning to work it, instead of riding up the old wheel from trying to force it, this keeps her right in the middle at running speed.

It took a little petting and a treat to build up her courage again, she's adjusting to it fine. Plus with the platform, she's doing her old routines again. The Queen approves from ontop of her little castle.

It's okay Cupcake
Hard Hamster Work
Almost There
Queen Approves

[cloudy]

Wow, this was a gripping show! I am so relieved Cupcake ended up liking the wheel. It was the most sweetest thing when she went to you for comfort. I can see how much better the Niteangel wheel is. It looks so smooth.

[Ria P]

That is a fast wheel. I think Cupcake had to get used to the speed of it first and how to run on it. She probably gave herself a fright at first by going at it like with the old one and then realized that it required less effort to run faster.

I can relate to that. When i upgraded to a bigger motorbike i gave myself a fright by opening the throttle too fast. I had to get used to the power of the engine and i think that's what's happened to Cupcake.

The Niteangel is the Harley of the hamster wheels.

[ilguy]

How long do you guys think it takes a hamster to get used to a new wheel? This is the hardest part of having one for me, I love Cupcake to ribbons but less is more a lot of the time with hamsters I think. I want her to be happy, and I guess this is a huge change for her.

She got up 3 hours later than usual today, and other than grabbing food and sitting on my hand for a few minutes, she was in her nest most of the night. The platform is working well though, she's tunneling under the wheek and climbing on her castle like normal when she is out.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by ilguy

This is the hardest part of having one for me, I love Cupcake to ribbons but less is more a lot of the time with hamsters I think.

I don't understand what you are saying here. What is the hardest part for you?
By saying that less is more a lot of the time for hamsters, do you mean that Cupcake is not around at certain times when you would like her to be?

If that's what you mean then yes, that is the case and part of keeping a hamster as a pet.

For example, some days i don't interact with Gertie at all, aside from feeding her because she prefers to do her own thing. Other days she comes to her door twice to come out or sit on my hand to get petted.

As for the wheel. Hamsters usually get used to a new wheel in a matter of hours. I'd put the old wheel in her freeroaming area.

[ilguy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

I don't understand what you are saying here. What is the hardest part for you?
By saying that less is more a lot of the time for hamsters, do you mean that Cupcake is not around at certain times when you would like her to be?

If that's what you mean then yes, that is the case and part of keeping a hamster as a pet.

For example, some days i don't interact with Gertie at all, aside from feeding her because she prefers to do her own thing. Other days she comes to her door twice to come out or sit on my hand to get petted.

As for the wheel. Hamsters usually get used to a new wheel in a matter of hours. I'd put the old wheel in her freeroaming area.

I mean that I'm overeager, and probably interact with Cupcake too much.

That's not good about the wheel, she isn't using it much or coming out since it's been in her enclosure. She did move her above ground tunnel so it leads from the wheel to the food bowl though.

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by ilguy

I mean that I'm overeager, and probably interact with Cupcake too much.

That's not good about the wheel, she isn't using it much or coming out since it's been in her enclosure. She did move her above ground tunnel so it leads from the wheel to the food bowl though.

You could put the old wheel back in the way it was and place the new wheel somewhere else in her bin cage.

I think once she realizes that the new wheel works a lot better than the old one, she'll use it.

Hamsters are unpredictable though. I gave my dwarf Clarissa a new and bigger wheel but she refused to use it. In fact, she pee'ed on it in protest so i had to put her old, small one back in.

My foster Robo Finley loves his new and fast wheel. A hamster's often unexpected reaction surprises me all the time.

Cupcake is probably in a huff and let's you know by not showing up.

[ilguy]

Originally Posted by Ria P

You could put the old wheel back in the way it was and place the new wheel somewhere else in her bin cage.

I think once she realizes that the new wheel works a lot better than the old one, she'll use it.

Hamsters are unpredictable though. I gave my dwarf Clarissa a new and bigger wheel but she refused to use it. In fact, she pee'ed on it in protest so i had to put her old, small one back in.

My foster Robo Finley loves his new and fast wheel. A hamster's often unexpected reaction surprises me all the time.

Cupcake is probably in a huff and let's you know by not showing up.

I'm stumped, and concerned. This is the third night in a row she hasn't come out while I've been up, other than for food. She doesn't seem mad at me, still takes treats, let me handle and even pet her while in my hands. She will click like normal to signal alone time, but I'm hearing a fair number of sad sounding chirps when I'm away. They're more like little cries actually

Cupcake has also been spending a lot of time in the box under the new wheel. I tried putting the old wheel back, and she did immediately come onto it. Then she peed so much on it even I could see it as a big bead. The urine looked dark, but could just be picking up the dirt & such on the wheel.

I couldn't find anything wrong when she was in my hands, eyes and nose were clear, she was moving fine and no lumps. She seemed like herself while handling her, then it was immediately back to hiding for the rest of the night.

Edit: I did hear her out and about a bit after midnight. I checked on her, and she was actually comparing both wheels by switching them up for a short burst on each. I'm hoping you're right Ria, maybe it's just taking a bit and she needed both to decide. It was a bit of a relief to see her alert and zooming on the old wheel.

[Ria P]

Did you take anything out or change anything in her set up when you introduced her new wheel?

Hamsters can be very territorial and when something isn't to their liking, they'll let us know.

I'm just wondering if adding, without changing anything else, a new toy would distract her. Dwarfs really like a cork tunnel for example.

What exactly are you concerned about though?
Are you concerned that her change of behaviour could indicate a health issue?