Carolina Storm Wheel - Page 2

cloudy · 04-23-2022, 04:12 AM

12" Metal Wheel CLEARANCE -SUN YELLOW | TicTacWheels1

This one is in the sale. This is the exact one I bought.

Ria P · 04-23-2022, 03:18 PM

I had a look at the tic tac wheels. I had never heard of them so very interested. Being metal, is the running surface completely smooth? Just wondering if a hamster would slide on it.

sushi_78 · 04-23-2022, 03:25 PM

The running surface is smooth. Someone on the gerbil forum has a Tic Tac wheel and their gerbils did have trouble getting a grip on it so they glued cork to the running surface which seems to work well.

I've wondered about getting one but they're so expensive and my current wheels are fine so I can't really justify it.

cloudy · 04-24-2022, 02:35 AM

Could anybody tell me if I need to glue cork to this wheel before I get a hamster?

Ria P · 04-24-2022, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloudy

Could anybody tell me if I need to glue cork to this wheel before I get a hamster?

I'd wait and observe how the hamster runs on it first. You'd also want to know whether the hamster pees on the wheel or not. You can always get a cheap 28cm Trixie wheel as a backup, should you need to get and glue on cork. You could use the Trixie wheel in an out of cage time play area/pen.

cloudy · 04-24-2022, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ria P

I'd wait and observe how the hamster runs on it first. You'd also want to know whether the hamster pees on the wheel or not. You can always get a cheap 28cm Trixie wheel as a backup, should you need to get and glue on cork. You could use the Trixie wheel in an out of cage time play area/pen.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I also have silent runners. I read hamsters need a spare wheel so now they will have two options. I plan on using the tic tac wheel in the cage and the silent runner in the playpen.

Pebbles82 · 04-24-2022, 04:24 AM

How did I miss the 12" wheels?! From the link you attached they come in 10", 12", 14" and 16" - for some reason when I googled I only came across the 16" one I think.

I mentioned these wheels to the person from the rescue yesterday (when discussing my silent runner I wasn't happy with). She said they found them very heavy. Now whether that is for attaching to the cage bars or generally, I'm not sure. I like a wheel that attaches to the bars, which is why I liked the Silent runner. It allows me to put the wheel where I want, not worry about supporting it underneath, and free up some space in a cage. The Tic Tac wheels do have bar attachments and come with them. I notice the stands are sold separately and out of stock!

How heavy is the wheel Cloudy? I guess "heavy" is an individual thing - it's bound to be heavier than plastic!

I've also sent for a cheap plastic Trixie wheel as a spare

They vary - some are ok some are a bit rattly but you can always send them back if it's not a good one and get another one. I like to have a spare for the playpen or in case there's a problem with the one in the cage.

I do like the sound of the tic tac wheels though, if they can be bar mounted and look easier to clean.

Incidentally - Getzoo now do a plastic wheel with a cork running surface and the cork running surface is removable and replaceable.

I don't think I'd add Cork to the tic tac wheel until the hamster has tried it - it might be fine.

Pebbles82 · 04-24-2022, 04:28 AM

What I would like though is one of the rodipet cork wood wheels, attached to the bars. The smaller 9" one attaches to the bars easily just with the wing nut but the larger ones would need more support between the wheel and bars - I'm hoping the silent runner bar attachment plates will work with any wheel that has a bolt and nut at the back.

It works with the Carolina Storm wheel but means the wheel bangs against the cage! Ie not far enough away from the bars (the silent runner has a "spacer" on the bolt - so the bolt needs to be long enough for that with another wheel.

The silent runner is the best for bar attachment in my view. I am just miffed that, having had three of them before, I now have one with a tiny gap at the joining strip and am not happy with that. I hope I can get that resolved, if not, they are not my favourite wheel any more!

cloudy · 04-24-2022, 04:53 AM

I think they are heavy and if attached to a cage would rattle. I have ordered a stand to support mine. I had to pre order it. It says they are back in stock on Monday. Thank you for the tip about waiting to see if the hamster likes it before adding cork.

Have you contacted Exotic Nutrition to tell them about the wheel? I am wondering if you have a faulty one.

Pebbles82 · 04-24-2022, 08:16 AM

I've contacted the place I bought it from to ask if I have the correct joining strip but not had a reply. But it sounds to me like others have had this with the 12" one recently. I am the first one to say - there shouldn't be a gap if the front and back are pushed well together - but there is on mine. They can't push any further together - there is no gap on the outside, only the inside and although it's tiny it shouldn't be there and I would hate to think of a hamster getting a toe caught. But then I am a worry pot. But had a hamster get a leg trapped in a wodent wheel stand before now. He was quite capable of getting himself free but panicked so much he kept trying to run and his leg was caught. That was the Wobust wheel. A bigger gap between the wheel and stand.

Don't think Wodent wheels are made any more.

Interestingly I came across a post on another forum (sugar gliders maybe) and it said the issue with the Silent Runner was the joining strip gap toes could get caught in. I'm wondering if manufacturing has changed or I just had a faulty one.