Wheel time! - Page 2

Myhamsterbabies · 03-29-2020, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieHamHam

Hey guys! Just for fun, I was wondering when your hammies usually start running at night!
My Syrian, Charlie always runs on his wheel around 12 pm, he is a late one.

My syrian wakes up at about 8pm. Then he runs around in his playpen and has a drink etc. Then starts on the wheel about 9pm. My robo though is a late one too and starts at about 12pm too 😊

Petite · 04-04-2020, 04:23 AM

My new WW Freya (9-10 weeks) starts running as soon as we go to bed....and seems to be at it all night! There is a snag, though, in that she is in a detolf and has a freestanding wheel, and she runs so much that the wheel travels quite some distance from the glass wall, and is apt to come up against other solid objects which then stop it turning. What is the best means of weighing down a wheel to keep it in place?

Ria P · 04-04-2020, 06:15 AM

I use two bendy bridges on top of each other with each end turned up and the wheel jammed into place to stop Edwina's from moving. The wheel's solid base helps too.

Petite · 04-05-2020, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I use two bendy bridges on top of each other with each end turned up and the wheel jammed into place to stop Edwina's from moving. The wheel's solid base helps too.

Thanks, Ria P - that might work. I'll try it out this afternoon while she's in her play pen.

Actually, after a wee small hours trip to watch her play, it seems her back is just bending a little although she's still not quite fully grown yet, so I think she needs a bigger wheel. Her current wheel is only about 4-5 inches. What size is recommended for a dwarf, please?

Edit: can anyone recommend a good make? I quite like the wooden ones, but do they need plasticoating first? I ordered a Trixie wooden wheel in January, but when it arrived it didn't turn without there being some undesirable forward / backward motion (ie a kind of wibble). What do people think of the Rodipet version? I would be really grateful for some advice.

cypher · 04-05-2020, 05:37 AM

Petite
You need a 20cm wheel for a Russian.
The Rodipet ones are good, probably the best if you want a wooden one but they will need painting with a couple of coats of Plastikote.
Mine all have the Silent Runner, it's a great wheel, well made & easy to clean too.

Vierville · 04-05-2020, 03:34 PM

Nanuk starts around 23h30 and runs on and off, Norman, my most active one, starts around 01h00 and can run all night until 05h00! Baldrick runs on and off from around 00h00. I don't sleep very well so am often up all night and hear them going.

I've often wondered if it would be possible to get some sort of bike computer or something to measure how far they run each night. I spoke to a bike shop as well as some well-known cycling podcasters and it isn't possible to fit one to a hamster wheel.

sushi_78 · 04-05-2020, 06:12 PM

I've seen wheels for hedgehogs and chinchillas with odometers fitted. They're pretty big though, and maybe not practical or safe with chewing rodents.

https://www.tictacwheels.co.uk/produ...-with-odometer

Vierville · 04-05-2020, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sushi_78

I've seen wheels for hedgehogs and chinchillas with odometers fitted. They're pretty big though, and maybe not practical or safe with chewing rodents.

https://www.tictacwheels.co.uk/produ...-with-odometer

That makes sense, the bike guys said the reason it wouldn't work is due to the smallish diameter of a hamster wheel.

Ria P · 04-06-2020, 04:49 AM

I'm sure it could be estimated mathematically with the time run, size of the wheel as in one rotation=20cm for example. Estimated because hamsters run at different speeds so the amount of rotations per mintute will vary.

You could get a night vision camera to record when you are asleep which may give you a breakdown of the minutes anyway.

Vierville · 04-06-2020, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I'm sure it could be estimated mathematically with the time run, size of the wheel as in one rotation=20cm for example. Estimated because hamsters run at different speeds so the amount of rotations per mintute will vary.

You could get a night vision camera to record when you are asleep which may give you a breakdown of the minutes anyway.

That is a very very clever solution! I'm going to look into it.