In case you’re new to preserving hamsters, you is perhaps questioning in case your new pet even wants a wheel. The reply is sure; hamsters completely want a wheel and shouldn’t be housed with out one. They should have fixed entry to a wheel of their cage.
It’s best to have all of the hamster provides prepared earlier than you undertake a hamster so your new pet gained’t be with out a wheel for any period of time. In case your hamster is already residence however doesn’t have a wheel but, it is best to present one as quickly as attainable. Within the meantime, let your hamster out of their cage for at the very least an hour a day to allow them to run round of their playpen or a protected hamster-proofed space supervised till you will get a wheel for them.
Why Do Hamsters Want a Wheel?
Hamsters spend huge quantities of time operating and foraging for meals within the wild, they usually shouldn’t be denied the choice to run at any time when they need of their cage. Operating comes naturally to them, and they might get bored and depressed with out an choice to run. To not point out the well being toll inactivity takes on them – because it does on people.
Listed below are a number of the the reason why a wheel is a necessary a part of your hamster’s residence:
Prevents Boredom
Hamsters cowl a number of miles of distance each evening within the wild. It’s pure for hamsters to run round so much, and it’s solely moral to permit our pets to do the identical in captivity. And not using a wheel, your hamster wouldn’t have a lot to do within the cage however eat and sleep, which will get tedious with time.
Train
Like all dwelling creatures, Hamsters want to maneuver and be lively to be wholesome and completely happy. Regardless of how large it is perhaps (and it ought to be as large as attainable), an enriching cage can’t substitute the extent of exercise a wheel can present. A wheel is a enjoyable solution to fulfill their pure want for operating.
Research has proven that wheels will not be solely utilized by pets in captivity – even wild animals wish to run on wheels. Which means our pets get pleasure from it, and it’s not simply one thing they do on account of an absence of higher issues to do.
Weight Administration & Bodily Well being
Operating is an ideal solution to burn energy. And not using a wheel, hamsters would primarily spend their time consuming and sleeping, and it wouldn’t take lengthy to begin gaining extra weight.
Lack of exercise could cause many well being points, corresponding to arthritis or bone and joint issues. By preserving your hamster lively, he’ll have the ability to train all his muscular tissues and joints, which retains his physique wholesome.
Psychological Well being
Having a wheel is important on your hamster’s psychological well being. Boredom and lack of train will result in stress and anxiousness in your pet. Having a wheel to occupy themselves and have one thing enjoyable to make use of up their vitality is helpful for his or her psychological well being and helps stop stress.
What Form of Wheels Do Hamsters Want?
Hamsters want a wheel, however is any wheel good? Can you purchase the primary one you see on the pet retailer? The reality is that not all wheels are protected for hamsters.
Listed below are the issues to contemplate when shopping for a wheel.
Wheel Dimension
Many hamster cages include a built-in wheel which is much too small for even the smallest dwarf species. A wheel that’s too small causes your hamster to curve their again whereas operating, which may result in accidents, again points, and different long-term well being points.
The minimal wheel measurement ought to be:
- 8″ in diameter (20cm) for dwarf species
- 9″ in diameter (23 cm) for Chinese language hamsters – Since Chinese language hamsters are a bit larger than dwarf species, it’s really helpful to make use of a barely larger wheel.
- 12’’ in diameter (30cm) for Syrian hamsters
Wheel Security
Some kinds of wheels will not be protected for hamsters and will by no means be used:
- Wheels with metallic bars could cause damage to your hamster’s ft or different physique elements in the event that they get caught.
- Mesh wheels are additionally to be prevented for a similar purpose.
- Hamster balls are harmful for a number of causes – They will pinch or break toes, they make it arduous for the hamster to breathe correctly on account of lack of air flow, and the hamster can’t correctly see the place they’re going, which disorients and makes them anxious.
When shopping for a wheel on your hamster, go for one with a strong floor. It may be made from plastic, wooden, or metallic. Stable elements present agency footing, so there’s no danger of getting their toes or ft trapped.
Flying Saucer or Upright Wheels
Alien craft can sometimes be used through the free-roam time in a playpen, however they aren’t an excellent substitute for normal upright wheels.
Alien craft trigger hamsters to run at an unnatural angle, in order that they shouldn’t be used as the first wheel they are going to use day-after-day. Operating on a saucer every day may result in accidents and ache, so get an upright wheel on your hammy as an alternative of a flying saucer.
Noise
In case your hamster lives in your bed room, contemplate getting a silent wheel, otherwise you may find yourself being woken up a number of occasions an evening. Hamsters will be fairly lively at evening and do most of their operating whilst you sleep, so the noise of the wheel is a crucial facet to contemplate.
When shopping for a wheel, search for one labeled as silent.
Which Hamster Wheel Suits the Standards?
If there’s one wheel I can suggest, it’s the Niteangel Super Silent Hamster Wheel.
It is available in 4 sizes, excellent for Syrians, Chinese language hamsters, and dwarfs:
- 8.2″ in – Dwarf species
- 10″ in – Dwarf species or Chinese language hamsters
- 11″ in – Dwarf species or Chinese language hamsters
- 12.82″ in – Syrians, dwarf, or Chinese language hamsters
What makes this an excellent hamster wheel:
- Because the identify suggests, it’s tremendous silent
- Giant sufficient on your hamster
- It has a strong floor
Do Hamsters Want a Wheel at Evening?
You is perhaps tempted to take away the wheel out of your hamster’s cage at evening in order that the noise of operating on a wheel doesn’t wake you up. Sadly, that isn’t an choice, as hamsters want entry to a wheel all day and evening. They have a tendency to make use of their wheel probably the most throughout nightfall, daybreak, and at evening.
In case your hamster is waking you up through the evening, swap to utilizing a silent wheel or transfer your hamster’s cage to a distinct room. Don’t take away the wheel out of your hamster’s cage, as your pet will probably be sad not with the ability to run when the urge strikes.
When Is It OK to Not Have a Wheel in a Cage?
The one state of affairs once you may need to take away the wheel in your hamster’s cage is that if your hamster is injured or has swollen ft, and the vet mentioned they need to relaxation and heal. In these conditions, it is best to search veterinary recommendation.
Why Do Hamsters Like Operating on Wheels?
Whereas there’s no scientific clarification on why precisely hamsters love operating on wheels, we all know that not solely animals in captivity prefer it – wild animals do too.
The probably purpose hamsters love operating on a wheel is that they merely love operating! It’s pure for them to run for miles and miles within the wild. A wheel is sort of a fitness center the place they will use their extra vitality. And in spite of everything, train will increase the “really feel good” chemical compounds within the mind.
What to Do if Your Hamster is Obsessively Operating on the Wheel?
Obsessively operating on a wheel is an indication your hamster is harassed and developed an habit to operating on a wheel. This will occur when a hamster doesn’t have sufficient enrichment or stimulation of their cage. One more reason is perhaps concern in case your hamster’s cage is surrounded by predators corresponding to a cat or canine. Hamsters are prey animals, they usually really feel threatened when there’s a predator close by.
To attenuate the stress in your hamster, do the next:
- Preserve your hamster’s cage away from different pets, corresponding to a cat or a canine.
- Present sufficient enrichment on your hamster with numerous toys and tunnels.
- Scatter feed your hamster as an alternative of offering meals in a bowl to maintain them occupied.
- Have deep sufficient bedding so your hamster can construct burrows as they’d within the wild.
- Swap to a much bigger cage.
Conclusion
To sum it up, sure, hamsters want a wheel, and the wheel ought to keep of their cage 24/7. As an alternative of shopping for any wheel, it is best to guarantee it has a strong floor and is sufficiently big on your hamster. All the time go for an everyday upright wheel, and don’t use a flying saucer as a substitute. In case you’re frightened in regards to the noise of the wheel, select among the many many silent wheels in the marketplace.
