Different types of hamster wheels availableĪlthough hamster wheels are available in both plastic and metal, I would only advise buying a plastic one. You may be interested in: Why does my hamster chew on cage and bars at night? Oscar’s new large hamster wheel. Some studies have even gone as far as to say that hamsters with wheels will gnaw on their cages less – although I have yet to find evidence of this research! With a wheel, your hamster can happily run long distances without ever having to leave home and the benefits of all that running means it can eat without getting fat. In the wild, a hamster can run for several miles in just one night, but they obviously can’t do this when confined to a cage. Our hamster Oscar uses his wheel a lot! How do I know this…because it squeaks!!!! Squeaking aside, a hamster wheel is a must for any cage as it allows your hamster the opportunity to exercise even though they don’t have a lot of room. You may be interested in: Are hamster balls dangerous? Why do hamsters need a wheel? So, if you ever see your hamster running crookedly or right on the edge of its wheel, this is a signal that you should buy them a new wheel as soon as possible. Running with an arched back can cause problems in the future, such as curvature of the spine. It is really important therefore that you buy your hamster the correct wheel for their size so that your hamster can run with a straight spine. These wheels are way too small, even for dwarf hamsters, especially as your hamster grows.
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Most cages come with a built-in wheel of approx. What happens if you have the wrong size hamster wheel? Averaging between 6-7 inches in size, they need a large wheel of between 8-12”. Therefore, Chinese hamster wheels need to be a minimum of 8 inches in size.įemale Syrian hamsters tend to be larger than the males, but both genders are extremely solitary and territorial so will need to be kept on their own from around five weeks old. Although dwarf hamsters can share cages, it is recommended that you provide them with a wheel each – even if they prefer running together.Ĭhinese hamsters are not dwarf hamsters and although they do look of similar size, they tend to grow to around 4 inches. Winter Whites and Campbell hamsters also do not differ in size or temperament, however, they do require a slightly larger hamster wheel of between 6-8 inches, as they can grow up to 4 inches themselves. There are no noticeable differences between male and female Roborvoskis either, so the hamster wheel size for this species need not vary. Roborovskis, for example, are the smallest of the dwarf hamsters, growing to just 2 inches in size so can easily enjoy running around in a 6 inch hamster wheel. Not all hamster wheels are the same, as they are designed and built for different breeds. Oscar first started out with a silent saucer wheel which helped to keep has back flat. That way it will grow with your hamster and save you money in the long run. Personally, I would always veer on the side of caution and get the largest wheel possible. For dwarf hamsters the minimum recommended size is 6 inches, whilst for larger hamsters such as Syrians, wheels should be between 8-12 inches, with females tending to be larger than males. How big should a hamster wheel be? A hamster’s wheel varies in size between species and sex. But what are hamster wheels really for? What different types of hamster wheels are available to buy? And what size wheel is best suited to your hamster?
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Different types of hamster wheels available.What happens if you have the wrong size hamster wheel?.The correct wheel size for your hamster.What size wheel is best suited to your hamster?.