Hamster Is Clueless Inside Wheel

[Iverson03]

I recently bought a hamster wheel 1 week ago, and I've been putting my hamster in the wheel for about 10 minutes everyday. All it seems to be doing is biting at the airholes and nothing else. Anyone know what I should do?

[LuckyBunny888]

do u have any pictuers of the wheel you can post?

[Fluff N Roll]

Do you mean a hamster BAll? and if so yes they will do that because they arn't used to it. If you are talking about the ball i would say it's ok. I had one of those for a while with my first hamster and she chews for a while and then it cracked. I would say to get the critter cruiser that is what i have now. it works alot better and it doesn't throw them around plus it comes with that car it sits in.

[Dash]

balls don't throw my hams around. wheels are necessitys. balls are more for play time,if your ham don't like it then don't put her in.

[Iverson03]

yea a hamster ball that you put the hamster in

[Fluff N Roll]

OK well the ball that i have or had my hamster now wont use it at all. But she will use her critter cruiser. If you havn't seen or heard of it here is a pictire of it, you can find it at petco or petsmart.http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 9175&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026368&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1123639055066

[Iverson03]

nope never heard of a critter cruiser, but now I know what it is. What do you suggest I do? Return my hamster ball and buy a critter cruisier?

[Fluff N Roll]

nope never heard of a critter cruiser, but now I know what it is. What do you suggest I do? Return my hamster ball and buy a critter cruisier?
If it has been used you can not return it to the petstore, but you can donate it to a rescue. If your hamster doesn't use the critter cruiser i dont know what to tell you, but you have a laid back hamster. just make sure that there is a wheel in the cage and you should be set. and also get your hamster out for free rome in a section where i has been hamster proofed if he doesn't like the ball/car. then he will still be getting the exercise

[Iverson03]

All I really have in the cage is a wheel and no toys really. I let him out every day for a bit. When he is in his cage I always see him he is biting or grinding his teeth on the cage (I have a wire cage)

[Fluff N Roll]

That's all you have in the cage? but you do have food and water right? You should have some toys for him to play with even if you make them or they are just cheap toys. Make sure they are ok for hamsters.
Hamsters also need chew sticks so there teeth dont grow out to long. It's good that you are getting him out every day, what kind of cage is it that you have? And where did you get it because if it is to small he may be going crazy. Are there levels and if there are are they also wire if they are that is a bad cage!
I know i am asking alot of questions but really to help i need to know:) If you have any picures of the cage can you post them if you dont can you tell me what kind of cage it is?
-Dakota

[Iverson03]

Yea I have food and water of course. I also have some bedding fluff that came with the cage I bought. I have a chewing toy for him also but I don't see him using it yet, probably because he is only a few weeks old. I have a wire cage and he is always grinding his teeth on the wires.

My cage has 2 levels. I don't have any pics of my cage, but I can tell you its dimensions. The cage's length and width are 38cm by 26cm. The height of the cage is around 40cm or so. Also the level is wire I think. Like when he is on the upper level, he is walking around on wires. The hamster wheel is on the upper level. I need more toys in the cage. Any ideas of homemade ones I can do?

[Fluff N Roll]

Yea I have food and water of course. I also have some bedding fluff that came with the cage I bought. I have a chewing toy for him also but I don't see him using it yet, probably because he is only a few weeks old. I have a wire cage and he is always grinding his teeth on the wires.

My cage has 2 levels. I don't have any pics of my cage, but I can tell you its dimensions. The cage's length and width are 38cm by 26cm. The height of the cage is around 40cm or so. Also the level is wire I think. Like when he is on the upper level, he is walking around on wires. The hamster wheel is on the upper level. I need more toys in the cage. Any ideas of homemade ones I can do?

OK to start that is a tiny Cage, you need a new cage part of the reason for his chewing is he has no where to go. If the levels are wire you def. need to get a new cage because that can cause a break to his leg or bumble foot to the piont were he cant walk any more. You get a tub and make air vents but make sure he cant get out or he cant cut himself on sharp pieces. Also if you want to add levels you can. I can show you an idea of a cage plan if you want, i made a bin and it's great it cost me $7. Think about it because that is to small of a cage!

Toys-
*You can hang bird toys
*If your hamster is small enough to fit threw tp tubes and you dont think he would get stuck in it you can put some in the cage.
*Also they do have cheap, fun toys at petstores but they usually ask to much for the item itself.
you can go and do a search on yahoo or google "home-made hamster toys"

I know i'm the only one posting lol, I'm sure others will have better ideas for toys.
If there is anything els i can help with let me know.:)
-Merrit

[TiaMaria]

no wonder you are a elder fluff :P

[Fluff N Roll]

no wonder you are a elder fluff :P
lol, yeh prolly :laughing: It doesn't seem like i post that much.

[7GameSavvy]

Fluff is right (as always) lol, one thing you can try with the ball is when your ham is in it, slowly role it in the direction your ham is facing, they might not know they can move. That's what I had to do with my hams and now they cruise all over the house:)

Hope that helps!!!

Savvy

[allyg8tor]

Aww, the critter cruiser is cute.

[BellaItalian]

I need to get one of thoose for my self, and of course fluff is correct.

Bella

[TiaMaria]

I have like 20 balls like that, even dwarf balls. It took mine about 2 weeks to learn how to motor around and now they love it everytime they are in it.

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, mine love their balls too. They each have their own. Smidget's is purple and it matches her wheel in her cage and Twig's is orange but I want to get him a blue one to match his wheel:)

Savvy

[Iverson03]

How long should I put my hamster in the ball each day until he knows how to use it?

[TiaMaria]

I put mine in for 15-30 minutes and then take them out for a drink and a bite to eat. Then if they still wanna go back in I put them in for a lil bit longer. They love it and the more time they spend in it, the better they will be in it and get use to it.

Hope this helps and Good Luck,
~Tia

[7GameSavvy]

Yeah, if they do start running around, 15-30 mintues. If they just sit there and chew on the air holes even after you push them around a bit, then they might just not be interested in exercise:)

Savvy