IMPORTANT!!! Bald spot on Hammy's leg!!!!! - Page 7

Pebbles82 · 12-17-2015, 03:05 AM

This is the Trixie wheel - it's no cheaper than the Wodent Wheel really and the Wodent is the better made wheel - they last for a very long time.

It could be the wheel rubbing, as Nancy says - especially if it is running 'not true' - with a kind of scissors effect that might not be noticeable.

Amazon.com : Trixie Exercise wheel, plastic, Ã¸ 20 cm : Pet Supplies

Dornen · 12-17-2015, 09:45 AM

Is Scarlet a fussy eater? A lot of hamsters will pick-and-choose and their favourite bits out of mixed foods and either stash or ignore the rest. Sunflower seeds are a usual fav. If she isn't eating her complete diet its possible she has some sort of nutritional deficiency. I had an issue with a previous small pet with a protein deficiency and she balded in a similar pattern. If you can, check her food horde and see if its only the kibbles/boring bits of food. Erin's Animals has a good video that explains this better than I can; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RoT3s83acs

Wheel rubbing does also sound possible. You've already got some excellent advice on that but I will throw in a suggestion for a "Carolina Storm Wheel" which you can see here The Carolina Storm Wheel - * * * * * * * * Carolina Storm Hedgehogs Look for the 'CSE' model on the bottom half of the page. They are about 29'cm wide and tall if you don't use the stand. This might just fit in your cage but I would measure for sure. CSE's are extremely quiet and come in a bunch of fun colours too.

Nancy's Hamsters · 12-17-2015, 10:04 AM

Problem is Dornen her cage won't fit a CSW and she is under her parents household and they refuse to spend more money on a "Mouse", so Scargirl's hands are sorta tied for getting a larger wheel then and 8 inch wheel which must use a stand to sit on

Her parents have said the Hamster is fine and the fur will grow back and that is that for Scargirl. She's doing the best she can with a situation she can't control.

Dornen · 12-17-2015, 10:42 AM

Amazon claims her cage is 31.75cm high so the CSE might barely fit. Those are probably the outside dimensions though so I would definitely measure. I think Scargirl mentioned she was looking at silent spinners in a pet store so maybe she has made some progress with her parents or is saving up her own money.

Scargirl · 12-17-2015, 03:01 PM

Actually, I might not need a new wheel. I just checked her bald spot this morning and there are little short hairs coming out! I don't think she will need a new wheel but I will look into getting another one because the one she has now is really noisy. I will ask for a new wheel for her for Christmas. Have any of you have good reviews of silent spinners? My local pet shop has them so that means I can test it before I buy it so that is a plus. But have any of you had any trouble with them running fine at first and then getting worse and hard to move?

Dornen · 12-17-2015, 03:39 PM

Good to hear she is on the mend!

Silent Spinners are a bit tricky. They changed design and/or manufacturer awhile ago. The newer ones are generally too hard to spin and break easily. Sometimes you can get lucky and find an older style one. They are less noisy than a comfort wheel but not the best either. The 12" version is also HUGE. I don't think it would fit your cage. Unfortunately they don't make a medium option and the small is only 6.5". My personal feeling is that silent spinners aren't worth the money anymore.

Did you look at the 8" wodent wheels? I'm not sure if it would fit your cage with the stand, I don't have that model to measure, but they are fairly quiet. Depending on who you order from you can choose the colours too.

Have you tried fixing your comfort wheel at all? Sometimes they just need a little hamster-safe-oil (vegetable oil for example) on the spindle to stop the noise. Or you can wrap the spindle in teflon tape similar to this; Guide to making Wodent Wheels run smoother and quieter. Teflon tape is also called plumbers tape or pipe tape, you might have some in the house already. If not, its only a buck or two at any hardware store.

If I can find my wodent wheel I will try to take some size comparison photos for you later.

Scargirl · 12-17-2015, 03:52 PM

Thanks dornen but I don't think she would like it in a enclosed running space. And she is a long haired so I don't think it will work. Maybe having two sides will just create the same problem again because I heard rubbing is a common problem with LH Syrians. But if she was a SH I would probably think about it. And I haven't got the time yet to put some vegetable on the spindle but I heard it does work. But it is not really that problem. I was just thinking about getting a new wheel period. A Wonderland wheel or any other type of wooden wheel is okay too because I don't think she wees in her wheel. It has never looked wet. I think she just sticks to certain corners of the cage and in her sandbath. So that is also a plus.

Dornen · 12-17-2015, 04:16 PM

I believe all wodent wheels now come with a spindle adapter to prevent tangling on pets with long hair or tails. Most hamsters like the enclosed wheels but if Scarlet prefers an open wheel have a look at the CSE's I mentioned above. You would have to measure as I'm not 100% sure it would fit your cage.

The only wooden wheels I know of in North America are the 'Trixie Natural Living exercise wheel' ones. I have no personal experience with them. Even the largest one available is smaller than your current wheel though.

Scargirl · 12-17-2015, 04:19 PM

Thanks, dornen. I have already looked at the CSE wheels and I can't find them on amazon (the only online place I shop) or if I do find them on another website then they are WAY too expensive. I would really like to have one of those in her cage, but my parents perfer nothing over 12 - 15 dollars. And 15 dollars is REALLY pushing it. I don't think they will go over 13 or 13 dollars, but thanks for the suggestion

Dornen · 12-17-2015, 04:32 PM

I think you can email the official CSE site and ask for one with no stand, which is a bit cheaper, but they aren't available on Amazon either way so that's no good.

Unfortunately the only wheels I know of in that price bracket are the dangerous open mesh wheels or comfort wheels which you already have. I would really consider fixing up your current wheel. They can be made to run silent and maybe you could get some non-toxic paint to jazz it up?