Wonderland or Wodent?

**DwarfNome** · 06-05-2011, 05:13 AM

I just let Jack have a run on Arrow's wonderland (since I was planning to get him one, but the 11" instead of 8")

And he made the loudest racket I've ever heard from a wheel!
Well, it's not the wheel thats the problem, it's Jack xD When Arrow runs on the wonderland it's just a small pitter patter really. But Jack runs rather violently and drags his feet.

So I'm kind of in a twist xD I'm leaning to the wodent wheel instead.

BUT however, I have a few concerns about it.

1. The stand for it, is it really stable? It looks awfully frail. Would a violent runner be able to run on it without it rocking around?

2. People say that it's quiet, but some say it can begin to rattle. If it does rattle, what can you do to prevent it?

3. I'm assuming that the track is rubber or plastic, then it wouldn't make any sound of dragging paws?

4. I need to find someplace that ships to europe, scandanavia or sweden, but still doesn't charge a fortune for the wheel or shipping.

Thanks for answers

racinghamster · 06-05-2011, 05:39 AM

Hi dwarfNome. I recently bought my male syrian a senior wodent wheel (11" inch diameter) after much debate and I can honestly tell you that the stand (which stays attached to the wheel at all times) is sturdy and the wheel stays very tightly fitted to it via the small metal clip on the front.

The running surface is a long length of plastic (which rolls out when cleaning and has a plastic sheath which clips both ends together again) once the wheel is taken apart for washing. The wheel just comes apart in seperate pieces and goes back together again with no issues at all. I imagine the 8" inch wodent is probably even sturdier than the senior, but all I can hear is ` patter, patter, patter, patter...!` when Boris runs in his!

I have my wheel standing on:

Folded over newspaper on the bottom
A piece of pine on top of this (just a flat bit of old shelving)
A few sheets of kitchen towel on top of that

And the wheel stands on these to muffle out any rattling that may occur if it was actually standing on the cage floor. I then just cover the stand with aubiose/shavings. Some paper towels or newspaper beneath the stand would probably be fine without the wood. I just use it becuse it`s available really.

But yes, wodent wheels are wonderful things.

I don`t like the wooden ones personally. They hold pee and can be chewed and cause splinters.

mangoandmimi · 06-05-2011, 06:30 AM

i have both, but i'd definitely go for the wodent wheel for a syrian. the winter whites are still pretty small and they drag their whole bodies along, so although the wheels are very silent it doesnt really matter because the sound of them running on there would be even louder! they'd probably be quieter on a wodent wheel but as i shut the door to their room anyway i can hear them so wont bother ^_^
i really like wodent wheels, but i got a similar one for mimi (11 inches) its by trixie. its silent too XD the running thing is plastic so all you can hear is her feet quite faintly although she is quite a violent runner too ^_^ i'm not sure where it ships to though, i got it from equinecaninefeline ;D
if not i'm sure the wodent wheel will be fine, my 8'' is very sturdy and pumpkin runs very fast on it although he's a little dwarf (ok a big chubby dwarf but still)

racinghamster · 06-05-2011, 07:05 AM

The Trixie wheels are nowehere near as well made as the wodent wheels. They rattle around. The wodent wheels don`t.

The Trixie wheel only has a small plastic clip on at the back. The wodent wheel fits onto the actual rod that goes right through the centre of the wheel, so gives the wheel extra support I feel.

mangoandmimi · 06-05-2011, 08:09 AM

trixie wheels are by far my favourite syrian hamster wheel , they are much easier to clean, a lot cheaper, and i think they look nicer

they're pretty similar but i do prefer this a lot more.
i've never tried a senior wodent wheel though, but the 8 inch pumpkiin has is annoying to clean with the track and everything,. i also find the rubbery track wears out a lot and very quickly when you have a fast runner and if the wheel is used alot , as the grip marks are so small and get worn quickly :P
i guess its personal preference though x

racinghamster · 06-05-2011, 08:16 AM

I`ve only taken mine apart once so far and found the wodent wheel quite easy to deal with (once you use a fork to unpin the tight clip on the front that is!)

But having had both the Trixie 11" inch and now the wodent 11" inch, the wodent wins hands down for me.

Pomegranate · 06-05-2011, 08:46 AM

I have a Karlie wheel for Pudding as well as her SWW, which lives in her cage. I've been trying her on it during playtime (she's quite a violent runner too, and shakes her SWW - though it doesn't rattle and it's never fallen over, despite the stand just sitting on top of the substrate). I have to admit, I'm in no hurry to make the swap full-time. Even plasti-kote-d, the Karlie wheel is difficult to clean wee out of, I'm actually a bit disappointed with it generally. *shrug*

mangoandmimi · 06-05-2011, 08:49 AM

i'm the same pomegranate, i dont want to plastikote the entire karlie wheel as i know i'll muck it up and it will become all stiff

i'm thinking of selling them on and getting some new wheels... i think the only other option is wodent wheels :P

Pomegranate · 06-05-2011, 09:02 AM

I was thinking of selling mine too, before it gets a pee stain I can't get out.

I think maybe we just have very high expectations round here when it comes to wheels.

racinghamster · 06-05-2011, 09:14 AM

Sorry guys, I think I was mixing up my 11" inch plastic Trixie wheel with the wooden Trixie you guys are talking about.

Just ignore me!

I`ve never owned the wooden Trixie (Boggie?) wheel so can`t comment on it`s usefulness really, but I don`t fancy it personally. The plastic one is`nt much better!

It`s wodent wheels and silent spinners for me. Wodent wheels for a syrian and Regular silent spinners for dwarfs and mice.