Long Haired Hamsters and wheels?

Holly · 05-27-2007, 01:56 AM

There is a possibility (trying not to get too excited for now as there is a possibility this won't happen) that we will be getting a long haired female Syrian. I'm just wondering about wheels for a LH? I know it's the males that grow the longer coat so will it be ok to give her a wodent wheel in her cage?

Out of interest how would a male LH hamster be with a wodent wheel?

Jane · 05-27-2007, 02:00 AM

Hmm, I think they would be fine with a wodent wheel...I don't see why not? Are you saying incase their hair gets trapped or for another reason? In the wodent wheel I don't think there is really anywhere their hair could get stuck?

(btw, Charlie loves his ww

)

Holly · 05-27-2007, 02:04 AM

I'm glad Charlie likes it

What's worrying me is that the hair could get trapped in the central spindle. I feel the wodent is probably the safest wheel out there in that respect but wonder if it's really safe enough for a LH.

Jane · 05-27-2007, 03:54 AM

I guess it would depend how big the ham is and how sticky out the hair is..like when Charlie runs, theres about an inch between his back and the middle bit, but if he was bigger and had longer hair maybe it would get caught...what if you buy the next size up wodent wheel, then there will be lots of room to spare between the hams back and the middle bit...but then you have a massive wheel....hmmmmm...I'm not very helpful :P

**pophammy** · 05-27-2007, 04:06 AM

Our LH female Red had a Jumbo Rolly and was fine on it! It did not have a large spindle across the middle so there was not back-rub problems. She now has the Wodent Wheel you gave us and loves it! Her back doesn't touch the spindle and she is a large hamster (over 200g at the last weigh-in).

Basia · 05-27-2007, 06:20 AM

I think a wodent wheel would be fine Holly, the spindle doesn't actually turn - one of the advantages of them I think. Both of my long-haired females are fluffy rather than the very long hair of the boys. The other big advantage of the wodent wheels is that they are large. If you female (fingers and everything crossed you get her) is anything like Berry she will need a large wheel!

Holly · 05-27-2007, 08:57 AM

Oh good, I can use the spare one we have then

...I love wodents and wouldn't want to deprive any of our hams of one really. I know the spindle doesn't turn but it was the bits at the side where it meets the bits that do turn that worried me. I suspect they are just too high up which is brilliant

souffle · 05-28-2007, 02:20 AM

I know that many breeders do not give LH males wheels. Towy Vale accidentally put their LH white Puffling in a wheel cage and he had to be cut off the wheel as his coat got tangled. I guess it is very important to get the right type for a LH male, ensure it is large enough and preferably has no spindle. You can get stands for the jumbo Rolly which would fit those categories although it could catch in the end I guess and also as long as the fur could not get in those spindle edges of the wodent wheel it should be fine. Perhaps one of the type that is like an excercise ball on a stand would be good as it has no spindle at all? Some males are VERY long coated and for showing a breeder would not clip as this is desirable however if the hammy was a pet I would trim the coat if it seemed to be too long rather than not giving a wheel.

Bailey-Benji · 05-29-2007, 01:56 PM

My long haired male Benji (R.I.P xx) had a tufty coat. He had a roly jumbo wheel, it was fine. Occasionally I found little bits of Benjifluff in the spindle, but not a lot.

I hope you get your syrian and that she enjoys the wodent wheel.

Holly · 06-01-2007, 02:14 PM

The news, it seems, is good

...looks like we'll be getting her next weekend at the Northern Hamster Club show