(Part 2) Best small animal exercise wheels according to redditors

I'm assuming that when you say she gets carrots to chew on, you mean among other things. Carrots, if given in the amounts necessary for active chewers, would give your hammie diarrhea. She needs other safe chew alternatives, like safe wood, raw shelled nuts (NO ALMONDS), or edible chews from the pet store.

I'd also recommend replacing that wheel with something with a solid surface, like a Wodent Wheel, Silent Spinner, or Flying Saucer.

One of my favorite toys for cage boredom is a simple toilet paper tube, stuff a bit of non-perishable treats in the middle (like Cheerios, sunflower seeds, dried peas, etc) and the stuff the rest with shredded paper or hay. Wrap paper around it and twist the ends like a giant wrapped hard candy, and give to your hammie. They have to shred the outside to get to the treats inside, and they can use the leftover paper as nesting material.

I know a lot of these have been mentioned, but:

• You shouldn't keep rats alone. They're likely to become very depressed, even if you spend lots of time with them.
  
• The bars are too wide on that cage. Rats can squeeze through tiny openings. Bar spacing should be no more than about half an inch.
  
• The cage is way too small. Check out the rat calculator to see what size cage you should be looking for. In particular, look for something with plenty of height, as rats really like to climb.
  
• I can't be sure but that looks like galvanized metal, which tends to absorb moisture and smells. You should pick a cage with coated metal – I don’t know where you are but I have the Furet Plus for my two rats, which is a very good option. I’m sure everybody here could recommend you a good cage on a budget.
  
• I would remove that wheel straight away, and replace it with something like this, which has a solid surface for the rats to run on.
  
  Looking at your post history, it seems like this new friend is a bit of an impulse decision for you. I am all for people owning rats, but I don’t think you’re going about this the right way. Picking up a sickly bargain bin pet store rat as your first one is a terrible idea, and here’s why:
  
  
• Even if the store tells you the rat has recovered, rats tend to live with upper respiratory complications throughout their lives, and it can be very expensive to have rats treated.
  
• Rats should be kept in groups of at least two, which means you’ll also need to be responsible for introducing your rat to a new friend. This process can take weeks or even months, and requires you to stock and manage an extra cage until they’re used to each other enough to live together.
  
• Rats from pet stores aren’t bred for health or personality, they’re bred for quantity. There are more health and behavioural issues to contend with and this will make life difficult for you as a first-time rat owner.
  
• I and most of this sub would encourage you to use a reputable breeder rather than a pet store to adopt your animals, as pet stores have a terrible reputation for animal cruelty, and the animals tend to be very poorly socialised.
  
  Please really think this through. I know it’s difficult when you’ve already set your heart on a certain rat, but based on this post and your last one in this sub you don’t appear to have done a lot of research on the basics of rat care, and you need to seriously consider whether you are capable of handling a potentially very complicated pet.
  

What brand do you have now? I've had excellent luck with Silent Spinner and Wodent Wheel brands, really anything with a ball bearing axle.

Here are a couple decent options. I prefer the top one myself. Love your set up! Understandable with the bedding. It’s crazy how much bedding these can fit and for just changing her over, it’s clear you ran out. So happy for you both.

Silent Runner 9" - Exercise Wheel + Cage Attachment - for Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice and Other Small Pets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019RH7PPE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7h.IDbGA0DCXY

Mojetto Comfort Wheel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUFS1IM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ni.IDb58DA8JG

Oh I see what you mean! Yeah it has a decent sized stand you can kinda see below it half covered in bedding, got this one Trixie Wooden Wheel, 22 cm https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008H2VA6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_K1m5Bb46GPAZ8 taken them a good while.to chew through but they are getting there, had it for maybe 6 months now?

Yesss, way too small! Unfortunately there are no 8.5" Silent Spinners on the market (only 4.5", 6" and 12") however there is a 8.5" Wodent Wheel!
I've got that one right now, it's great. I love it. I'm not sure if it would fit in your cage though.

We use this and our gerbils don't bite on it, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q8QKCGT

I've read before that corner digging is a learned behaviour and is related to stress (apparently it's common from gerbils brought from pet shops as they are often overcrowded). I had a gerbil who used to do that. I got her to stop by really going to town on enrichment. I would recommend getting a load of things to chew on, try blocking the corners with hanging chew toys and driftwood. I'll drop a few links below of things I found actually helpful, I've wasted a lot of money over the years on toys that they don't like so these are just the ones I recommend.

Here are some things that my gerbils go crazy for;

1. chew toys (this material in general they love, they also love wood with bark, avoid plain wood and fruit/coloured chews, never known a gerbil show interest in them and they end up getting tossed out with bedding) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Boredom-Breaker-Treat-Chain/dp/B00PUENT9U?ref_=Oct_BSellerS_471575031_44 - I'd remove the bell personally
   
   
2. boredom breakers https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosewood-Boredom-Breaker-Animal-Activity/dp/B002NKD0BG?ref_=Oct_BSellerS_471575031_0
   
   
3. This wheel (22cm) can easily be suspended from their ceiling with some metal wire and is a must have because it's so quiet. Couldn't recommend it enough.
   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Wooden-Wheel-22-cm/dp/B008H2VA6G?ref_=Oct_CABSellerC_13755519031_2&pf_rd_p=3e28c275-fcd8-5699-9995-a5ba5528b63f&pf_rd_s=mobile-hybrid-6&pf_rd_t=30901&pf_rd_i=13755519031&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=SNRAXCADSZQJ00MTTZSX&pf_rd_r=SNRAXCADSZQJ00MTTZSX&pf_rd_p=3e28c275-fcd8-5699-9995-a5ba5528b63f
   
   Hope that helps!
   
   If some corner scratching persists, don't worry, sometimes that just happens. Hopefully they'll grow out of it!

Millie is still a pretty young baby ham. About 10 weeks old now. Every hamster I've ever had has loved their disk!
When she is fully grown I think we are going to have issues with the wheel size. You are right that the next size up is so large it's really not suitable.

We are having an issue with her nesting and weeing in her vertical wheel so we have removed it until we can find one that won't encourage this behaviour. For my previous hamster I just removed the disk as she just used the vertical wheel. I can't have Millie without any kind of wheel at all though if she gets big!

I have seen a wheel that is wooden and completely flat, which would give them some more running space for the same diameter wheel I guess, as it isn't tilted like the flying saucer disks.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EQFOVAA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6rY4yb80N3DQB [UK]- like this. I hope you can view the link ok

Also, keep the pics of Eve coming! She's lovely! I think we should be made to have our hamster names as our flairs as a rule! I've tagged a lot of regular users on this sub with their hamsters' name. Eve is tagged and yes, even u/Gymnastboatman 's Pohatu

any amazon.X i think its one of the most sold wheels, its an american product but as its actually really good for hamsters, you can get it anywhere in europe too

8" for robos
https://www.amazon.com/JUNIOR-WODENT-WHEEL-LAVENDER-WHITE/dp/B01BKU51LQ/ref=sr_1_9?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503510819&sr=1-9&keywords=wodent+wheel

11" for dwarfs https://www.amazon.com/Wodent-Wheel-Senior-Tail-Shield/dp/B01MRWR7MQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503510794&sr=1-2&keywords=wodent+wheel

12" for syrians https://www.amazon.com/Rodent-Semi-Enclosed-Exercise-Wodent-Lavender/dp/B073T8PTQ9/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1503510853&sr=1-1&keywords=wodent+wheel+12%22

i picked random colors, they are available in many colors

The fact that she's a female syrian means she's going to need a LOT of space. I'd get something along the lines of an Ikea detolf or a Christmas tree bin. Like you said this hits the bare minimum of floorspace for syrian hamsters.

as for toys, i'll send some links of toys i got for my syrian! this first one will be great for your girl since she loves burrowing.

---- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LUMU9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_AGdEDbPQKTZ2J

----- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MK1BY27/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DHdEDbBDEFDWS

---- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VIYAH4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DJdEDb1GQJEFR

Like the ones here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M769ZGN/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07M769ZGN&pd_rd_w=CFQXt&pf_rd_p=46cdcfa7-b302-4268-b799-8f7d8cb5008b&pd_rd_wg=Nq6N8&pf_rd_r=21QSTTKKWRKKY2TZRJ8N&pd_rd_r=6c8e0710-781e-11e9-a5c7-5965a5328207&smid=A1MQKVLZ9YD5ND ?

​

Or here https://www.farmerdavepetsupply.com/toys?

Heres the link:
https://www.amazon.com/lizhi-Exercise-Hamster-Jogging-Running/dp/B07JZMFRS7/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=hamster+wheel&qid=1564702411&s=gateway&sr=8-11

It’s from amazon! I bought the large which is 11’ for my Syrian.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J65QQJZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ps4lDb7K9FJ6S

They're not really loud and DEFINITELY not stinky. If you keep things clean for them and potty train them there's no smell.. Unless you like stick your nose in their fur and that's a really pleasant natural smell if you ask me. I have not seen a cleaner animal in my life. (Also, definitely stay away from scented bedding as someone else said)

As for the wheel, I managed to get my hands on this thing called a Savic Rolly wheel but it seems like they're only in the UK or something? I mention it so maybe you can find something using a similar mechanism because this makes zero noise (which I find very upsetting because I used to love to fall asleep to the sound of him running).

I just ordered this (in large). We'll see if it's any good. I will treat it with some natural stuff as well.

https://www.amazon.ca/Bravefull-Exercise-Climbing-Habitats-Dam-Board/dp/B07D3NF8MG/ref=sr_1_8?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0eH2o7nl5QIV7R-tBh2RwwY2EAAYASAAEgIN5fD_BwE&hvadid=269099466419&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001294&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2714834789149681429&hvtargid=kwd-304555214852&hydadcr=28948_10701504&keywords=wooden%2Bhamster%2Bwheel&qid=1573588320&sr=8-8&th=1

I've ordered both woodwn wheels. The other one was used for about a month before my girls destroyed it. Which I didn't mind that much because enrichment. I've heard other have had the one below longer. So I got it in a medium about a month ago and so far it hasn't gotten any major chews on it. I did have to do some repairs to the stand with children's glue when it arrived. But so far, so good.


Bestmemories Wooden Exercise Wheel for Hamster Running Spinner Wheel Wooden Chew Toys Exercise Wheel Natural Running Tools for Cute Little Pets Hamsters Gerbils Chinchillas Guinea Pigs Animals https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0799KXCD1/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_08y1DbYARP4WZ

Size might be okay -- a 12" wheel is supposed to be okay for average-sized rats, so I'd imagine a wheel as small as 6-8" could be fine for a dwarf. I agree about the design with holes though. Solid plastic like the Silent Spinner or Wodent Wheel is safer.