When I got Fatty at a nearly fully grown 5 months the cage he lived in had a 5.5", plastic, flimsy, rung wheel and the owner couldn't understand why he would not ever use it. I gave him an 8" wheel temporarily but could see straight away that it would be no good for him long term, he was almost too big and soon out grew it.
I ordered him an 11" rodent wheel at the beginning of this week and it arrived today! I encouraged him onto it this evening and he will not get off! He just walked on it at first but now he is having a 'brisk stroll' as it looks to me. It might be classed as running to others, Im not sure but as a robo dwarf owner I can't even see it as working up a sweat
Anyway for the sake of some people outside of HC saying that I am "spoiling" him by getting an "oversized" wheel and that it's a waist of money etc. I took some photos of him on the 11" wheel and some on a standard 5.5" wheel. I also thought that these photos could be very educational to those in a debate about whether to upgrade their hamster's wheel.
I must make it very clear Fatty was not forced on to the 5.5" wheel nor was he allowed to run on it for more than a few seconds. I do not condone the use of tiny wheels for Syrians.
The photos are for educational purposes only.
Here are the comparison shots -
First the two wheels next to each other
Fat Face (Medium sized adult male Syrian) on a 5.5" (14cm) wheel - the standard size that comes with most cages. Note the severely arched spine.
And Fat Face on the 11" (28cm) wheel, his spine is now aligned correctly.
He also wanted to show off just how much stretching space he has
^ That's him Hi-5-ing the use of correct wheels