Trixie Wooden Exercise Wheel, Large ø 28 cm (for rats, hamsters, degus)

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We all have seen a video or witnessed with our own eyes that a hamster running on an exercise wheel could fly off. This is can be a terrifying and worrisome issue. It is a criminal offence to ignore the requirements of The Animal Welfare Act: – to provide a suitable environment and to protect your pet from pain, injury and suffering. When selling unsuitable products retailers are misleading you as a customer to break the law. To make it worse, hamsters are nocturnal creatures too, which means you can often say goodbye to sleep and hello to midnight marathons. If this is a concern, you can opt for a wooden wheel. Those are much heavier, which means even when your pet is running at speed, it can’t go too fast and cause accidents. This is also the reason why you must get an extra large hamster wheel. Another preference is a solid running surface; one that doesn't trap or catch your hamster's feet. Avoid wheels with rungs or anything that looks like it could have snare points - wire laddered wheels are particularly risky, even if they look like a cheaper option. Injuries can lead to the nasty foot infection bumblefoot. A lot of owners prefer solid metal wheels because they cannot be gnawed or chewed. Noise

https://www.hamsterwelfare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Tiffany-video-how-a-hamster-should-look-in-a-wheel.mp4 The majority of hamster wheels are made from either plastic or metal. Metal is obviously a stronger material and is far more durable than plastic, but it is also harder to clean. Wooden wheels are also available and usually the quietest, however, they require varnishing to prevent stains and don’t last as long. Stands/ Fitting Wheels which are smaller than 28cm (11″) should not be advertised as being suitable for a Syrian Hamster. It's a popular belief that the Aztecs invented the wheel. Wrong! It was in fact hamsters and that's why they love running on them. Most of you would agree that a hamster's cage isn't complete without a wheel. Many hamster gurus would argue that bigger is better, but make sure you don't buy a wheel that doesn't fit - measure up before you buy. Size Those with a “nature” theme for a hamster cage prefer a wooden wheel. They are good and expensive looking. If you buy a good brand, they shouldn’t make any noise either. The only cons of using a wooden wheel are when the wood is not well shaved and finished (not 100% smooth). These tiny pieces of wood can injure your hamster’s feet. Regular Plastic WheelTry to also choose a wheel with a solid running surface. Classic rung designs can actually be harmful to hamsters as their feet can be easily caught between them while running. Special Features Here at Hamster Wheels, we think there's nothing more adorable than spinning hamsters. Mull it over for a second...we're right aren't we! So that's why choosing the right wheel for your hamster is just sooo important - good job we're here to help then isn't it?! This simple guide on choosing a hamster wheel will make sure that it's your hamster (and not you) getting the run around. A cage that is too small to fit a 28cm (11″) wheel should not be advertised as being a suitable cage for a Syrian Hamster. As well as classically helping your hamster improve health, balance and agility, this wheel is made from 100% wooden material, creating an incredibly smooth motion unlike plastic, reducing the likelihood of annoying noises. Hamsters are protected by The Animal Welfare Act, it makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These include the need:

The Hamster loving community get frustrated to see tiny wheels being advertised as suitable for both Dwarf and Syrian Hamsters (This is probably because it would only fit a tiny cheap cage). When your hamster is pregnant, you should definitely remove the wheel for safety reasons. Also, hamsters are often lazy when pregnant anyway. But leaving a wheel once the babies are born can cause injuries to the babies or worse death. If it needs an upgrade

To provide a suitable environment and to protect hamsters from pain and suffering the following changes need to be made so that pet keepers are not breaking the law:

Some hamsters simply don’t like using a large hamster wheel. If that’s the case, you can try a flying saucer, which is flatter or has more upright wheels. This is a controversial topic because it takes so much floor space and also sends the hamsters flying when they go too fast. If you are placing your hamster in the same room as where you sleep, definitely get a silent wheel, if not, my hamster loves the Sugar Glider and Trixie Wheel. A wooden wheel is great if you have a nature-theme hamster cage. WHEN TO REMOVE THE HAMSTER WHEEL

Another solution is to put extra bedding just under the wheel, which could prevent the wheel to run too fast.It is important not to place the wheel too far from the ground or the beddings. Placing a wheel too high will give your hamster a hard time getting on it and getting off it. This will result in your hamster jumping off the wheel and hurting itself. Clean the wheel once a week