Do Hamsters Need a Wheel? 5 Benefits of Hamster Wheels
Hamsters are active, energetic animals that love to play a lot. It’s important for them to play because it keeps them entertained and promotes overall well-being. There are many toys that hamsters can play with, including wheels.
But do hamsters need a wheel in particular? Yes, hamsters need a wheel to keep them active and mentally stimulated. Without a wheel, the hamster can’t exercise, so it will gain weight, becoming obese and unhealthy. Hence, if you can’t find a hamster wheel, you must get alternative toys for the animal.
Keep reading to learn more about why hamsters need a wheel, the benefits and risks of hamster wheels, and the ideal wheel size for different hammies.
Key Takeaways
| Benefits of hamster wheels | Exercise, mental stimulation, energy release, weight management, reduce anxiety |
| Distance a hamster can run | More than five miles |
| Ideal hamster wheel size | Above 8 inches for a dwarf hamster |
| Above 11 inches for a Syrian hamster | |
| Risks posed by hamster wheels | Tiredness, injuries, sores |
| Hamster wheel alternatives | Hammocks, flying saucers, hamster balls, climbing toys, tubes, and tunnels |
Why Do Hamsters Need A Wheel?
Hammies need a wheel because it allows them to satisfy their natural instinct to run. According to the RSPCA, hamsters typically run an average of five miles per night, it isn’t easy to make a cage big enough to run in without a wheel. Hence, if you want your pet hammy to feel comfortable, you should get her a wheel.
Hamster wheels offer many benefits to your pet hamster, including the following;
1. Exercise
Since they are naturally energetic and active animals, hamsters need frequent exercise to stay healthy. Running on a wheel allows hammies to stay engaged in physical activity leading to better cardiovascular health and stronger muscles.
2. Weight management
Wild hamsters survive on limited food, but when domesticated as pets, the owners offer plenty of food. If a pet hamster doesn’t have a wheel to run on, it gains weight quickly, becomes obese, and develops health issues like diabetes.
3. Mental stimulation
One of the reasons hamsters run in the wild is to satisfy their curiosity by exploring. A wheel provides a great outlet for their urge to explore and keeps them mentally occupied, thereby promoting their mental health.
4. Energy release
Since they are crepuscular animals, hamsters are most active at dawn and dusk. Having a wheel in the cage allows the rodents to expend the extra energy they typically have during these times.
5. Reduces anxiety
Hamsters regularly cover large distances in the wild, but when domesticated as pets, they live in small cages. Whenever they cannot follow their natural instincts to run and explore, they feel anxious, especially while living in captivity.
Does Running On A Wheel Make Hamsters Happy?
From everything we’ve seen so far, it may seem like running is just something hammies have to do to survive. However, according to research done by the Royal Society, wild hamsters and other rodents enjoy running on wheels even without the promise of reward or escape.
The fact that wild rodents chose to hop onto a wheel and run voluntarily with no reward seems to hint that running simply makes them happy. This happiness results from a rush of the feel-good chemicals filling their bodies, just like what happens to you when you exercise.
What Is The Ideal Size of Hamster Wheel
The ideal size of a hamster wheel depends on the species and size of your hammy. It’s important for you to choose a wheel that allows your hamster to run comfortably to avoid unnecessary injuries.
For example, the ideal wheel diameter for dwarf hammies such as Campbell’s hamsters should be above 8 inches or 20 centimeters. However, if your dwarf hamster is smaller than average, you can use a 7-inch diameter wheel at your discretion.
On the other hand, the best hamster wheel size for Syrian hammies should be above 11 inches (27 centimeters).
What Are The Risks of Wheels To Hamsters?
Running on wheels provides numerous benefits for hamsters, but there are also some potential risks involved. Here are some of the most common risks of wheels to hamsters;
1. Injuries
Some hamster wheels have a mesh as the running surface. Hamster feet and toes are so small that they can get caught in the gaps while running, leading to injuries. The gaps in the mesh can also catch the tail, causing serious harm when the rodent is running at high speed.
When getting your pet hammy a wheel, pick an appropriate size. If the wheel is too small, the hamster arches its back while running, causing back injuries and spinal issues. Similarly, if the wheel is not properly secured, it can fall during use and injure your hamster.
2. Tiredness and sores
It’s important for hamsters to run, but sometimes they can run themselves ragged. Hence, the hamster cage should have enough space for the rodent to stop and rest when needed.
Besides tiredness, too much continuous running can cause your hamster to develop sores on its feet, even if the wheel’s running surface is solid.
Do Hamsters Need A Wheel at Night?
Yes, hamsters need a wheel at night because that’s when they are more active. Though they are known to be crepuscular, hamsters are also active during the night. Naturally, they are more active at night than during the day because the darkness maximizes their chances of escaping predators in the wild.
Hence, though you may want to remove the wheel at night to reduce the noise, that’s not advisable. Instead, the better decision is to try and get a quieter wheel or relocate your hamster away from your bedroom.
Can A Hamster Survive Without A Wheel?
Yes, a hamster can live without a wheel. Though a wheel offers benefits such as exercise, mental stimulation, and weight management, it is unnecessary for a hammy’s survival.
However, though the hammy can live without a wheel, it cannot survive comfortably for a long time. As such, you must provide alternative means for the animal to exercise, avoid boredom and manage weight.
How Long Can a Hamster Go Without a Wheel?
Your hamster can stay without a wheel indefinitely, provided it has alternative means of exercise and stimulation. However, if you don’t provide these alternative means, your hammy will succumb to anxiety, stress, and boredom in a few days.
Hamster Wheel Alternatives
Wheels help keep hamsters active and mentally stimulated. Hence, to find alternatives to hamster wheels, you must ask, ‘What Do Hamsters Like To Play With’?
Many alternatives to wheels can provide similar benefits for your hamster. They include;
a) Flying saucers: A flying saucer is like a hamster wheel, only that it spins horizontally instead of upright.
b) Tubes and tunnels: Wild hamsters love burrowing, so it’s not surprising that pet hammies love tunnels. You can easily construct a maze-like network of hamster tunnels and tubes that will satisfy your pet rodent’s natural curiosity while playing and exercising.
c) Ladder toys: Climbing toys like ladders offer a lot of fun for your pet hammy while being a challenging exercise.
d) Hammocks: Placing a toy hammock in your hamster’s cage will enhance its living situation and offer a cool spot to relax and observe the surroundings. So, do hamsters use hammocks? Yes, they absolutely love them.
Final Words
Hamsters need a wheel to run on to be comfortable and stress-free. Since they are prey in the wild, they have a strong instinctive need to run. They also enjoy running because it stimulates them mentally and releases feel-good chemicals that make them happy.
Though hamsters can live without wheels, you must provide alternatives that keep them entertained and active. Otherwise, they become bored, obese, and eventually diabetic. So, if you’re looking to keep your hammy healthy and happy, add toys like wheels or ladders to your hamster supplies list.
