Hamster not using wheel

[TracyMM]

Advice please!!

My syrian hamster doesn't appear to be using his wheel at all. It's a 12 inch Karlie Wonderland. His breeder advised me not to put the wheel in until he was 12 weeks old, which I did. When he worked out how to use it he really liked it for a while - in fact for hours on end. But this interest has been very short lived and now he doesn't go near it. It is silent so it is possible he is using it when I am asleep and I just don't hear it. But there are no bits of bedding or anything in it, so I am virtually certain he isn't using it. As far as I am aware he hasn't hurt himself whilst using it.

He does come out of his cage and play almost every night (sometimes he just isn't interested, and I don't force him.) Is this enough exercise? He is still very young - 17 weeks.

Should I replace this wheel with a flat one? Or does it not matter that he doesn't use it?

Thanks

[HorseyMandz]

Try placing a bit of bedding on it. If it has fallen off or there is more in the morning, then you know your hammy is using it

[Cupcake]

I think he is using the wheel you just can't hear it...I never found bedding in my hams wheel but I know for a fact she uses it because I see her running in it, but I like Mandz's idea so you can try that and see if the ham uses the wheel or not

[lou1990lou]

that bedding idea would never have worked for me, anytime there was ANY bedding (even a little scrap) out of place, my hammie would always rectify it by putting it their pouches and carrying back to their beds try the sawdust/whatever you put on the ground.

[gellerbing]

you could try putting a piece of food in the wheel to encourage him to have to go in the wheel to get it

[kyrilliondaemon]

Sprinkle a few bits of food/bedding/porridge on top of the wheel. If they go you know the ham uses it - its how we check Scamp is still using hers

[TracyMM]

Hi, thanks for the advice. He is back in his cage now so I have put a few bits of bedding on top of the wheel, which seems like a good idea - but not fool-proof. Sometimes he has a little sit in there, and that would move the wheel as he steps in, and the bedding/food would fall off. UNLESS when I think he's having a sit he's actually having a rest from running!

But what if he isn't using the wheel? What do i do then?

Thanks.

[kyrilliondaemon]

Check it works and leave him to it. Oh and check his store - our Scamp won't run in her wheel if her store is too large.
If he just doesn't want to use it much thats his choice, I'd make sure his cage is as big as possible and leave him to it once you've checked all possible causes people can think of.

[TracyMM]

Hi, what do you mean 'store?' Do you mean (as i think you may) the 'larder' (or stash, as we call it!) And if so, why won't your hamster go in the wheel if the store is too large? I am totally intrigued!

[Angelhamster]

Our syrian goes through phases of wheel use - some nights hours and hours and others nothing at all. Her wheel is her main point reference in the cage, she washes in it, just sits in it, walks in it and runs in it. But she will just decide she is board of it and leave alone for days at a time.
We do and try to get her out in the evenings especially when she is going through what we think is an inactive period.
She went through a phase recently of not coming out until we are in bed and turn the light out - I am not exaggerating, within a minute of the light going out her wheel will start up.....We have learned she is unpredictable.