Why Isn’t My Hamster Running on His Wheel: Know The True Myth
Hamsters are adorable as pets, but they also need to keep themselves healthy. A healthy hamster will be more energetic and they can learn tricks faster. However, your hamster may sometimes hesitate to exercise on their wheel or learn new tricks even when they’re healthy.
This makes many people wonder, “Why isn’t my hamster running on his wheel?” Most of the time, it’s because of preference. But it can also be because of old age, wheel noise, uncomfortable design, lack of nutrition, or if the hamster just doesn’t like exercising.
However, there’s much more to it than just that. Today, we’ll cover all about hamster wheels, why your hamster may not be using them, and much more. Let’s begin.
Why Isn’t My Hamster Running On His Wheel?
Hamsters are usually very eager to run on a wheel, as it’s fun to do most of the time. But some hamsters don’t, which might make you ask, “Why isn’t my hamster running on his wheel?”
So here’s a list of all the reasons why it might not be running on its wheel —
Old Age
Hamsters usually live for a very long time. But just like humans, they aren’t strong enough to exercise or run on their wheel whenever they reach a certain age. Old age puts a mental impact on them too, and they can feel like they aren’t of the age to run on their wheel anymore.
Old age can also deteriorate their joints, and they might have pain while running. So if your hamster is relatively old and doesn’t want to run on its wheel, you should check if they have any diseases first and keep them from getting obese.
So if you’re wondering, “why isn’t my hamster running on his wheel anymore” it’s likely due to old age.
Poor Design
Most of the time, cheap hamster wheels have poor, uncomfortable designs which will demotivate the hamster from running on the wheel. The wheels with metal bars can cause injuries to your hamsters too.
Generally, a hamster wheel should have grips, a solid floor made out of wood or plastic, and a loose wheel that doesn’t take much effort to move. This ensures that your hamster will have fun while using its wheel.
Uncomfortable Size
If the size of your hamster wheel is too small or too big, it will be excruciating for your hamster to run in it. And their backs would need to bend awkwardly. This happens when the wheel is too small.
Research from Laboratory Animals shows that bigger wheels are better, which are of 35cm in size or more.
So if your hamster is usually active but doesn’t use the hamster wheel, it’s likely due to the wheel’s small size. Plus, here’s a forum that speaks about the right wheel size.
Wheel Noise
Wheel noise is also a big reason your hamster might not use their wheel. This is because your hamster will usually run on the wheel for long periods of time, and constantly hearing a noise can get incredibly frustrating.
You can usually fix a squeaking hamster wheel by applying some oil or making it looser. But if that doesn’t work, you should purchase a quiet hamster wheel, such as the silent spinner.
Not Liking To Exercise
Some hamsters simply don’t like to exercise, and they prefer sleeping or resting most of the day. They’ll still have the energy to play, but not enough to run on a wheel for long periods of time. This is relatively uncommon, though.
Not Enough Nutrition
When hamsters don’t get enough nutrition, they won’t have enough energy to run on a wheel. Malnutrition can get them sick, too, so we recommend you take the hamster to a vet to get them checked and give the proper nutrition intake.
Illnesses Or Injuries
When your hamster gets injured or ill, it obviously won’t want to exercise on a wheel. An injury or disease will not only prevent them from exercising, but they can also be unable to do regular tasks and walk properly, and it can even cause death.
So you should immediately take your hamster to a vet if they’re sick. You can identify if they are sick if you see a discharge in their eyes or a runny nose. They might have injuries if they’re not putting weight equally on all of their legs, too.
They Might Not Exercise With People Around
Hamsters are nocturnal animals, meaning they’re active at night and oftentimes active when someone isn’t there. This is just their natural instinct, so they might run on their wheel when someone isn’t looking.
So if you think your hamster is sleeping too much during the day and not exercising, that might not be true. If you want to check, you can set up a night vision camera in their room during the night.
Why Do Hamsters Use a Wheel?
![Why Do Hamsters Use a Wheel](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Why-Do-Hamsters-Use-a-Wheel.jpg)
There isn’t any scientific reason why hamsters use a wheel. It really just depends on preference or their health most of the time. Most hamsters actually look forward to using a wheel, though, since it can calm them down and help them exercise.
This keeps them healthy, and there are other benefits too. But here’s a list of the reasons why your hamster might want to use a wheel —
For General Activity
Pet hamsters usually don’t go outside, so running on the wheel can simulate running outside and make them happier.
As Entertainment
Hamsters often find running on a wheel entertaining and a way to play when someone else isn’t around. So they might decide to run on it for a while.
Staying Healthy
As mentioned above, running on a wheel is one of the best ways for a hamster to exercise and stay healthy. This is undoubtedly the biggest reason hamsters decide to run on wheels.
These three are just the most common reasons, though. They can also run on wheels due to stress for simulating exploration of the outside world, hormonal activity, and adrenal activity.
Overall, it can keep them healthy and entertained and make them feel like they’re running outside instead of their tiny cage.
What Happens If My Hamster Doesn’t Use a Wheel?
![What Happens If My Hamster Doesnt Use a Wheel](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/What-Happens-If-My-Hamster-Doesnt-Use-a-Wheel.jpg)
Running on wheels is a huge part of the exercise for hamsters. As as they don’t usually play with other toys that require them to exercise so much. So if you’re wondering what happens if my hamster doesn’t have a wheel or doesn’t use the wheel, it can get obese.
Obesity can put pressure on their lungs, legs, back, and their heart. Running will be harder this way and this can lead to other problems. So to stay healthy, they must run on their wheels for a while every day.
How Can I Convince My Hamster To Run On His Wheel?
![How Can I Convince My Hamster To Run On His Wheel](https://caringtinypets.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/How-Can-I-Convince-My-Hamster-To-Run-On-His-Wheel.jpg)
Hamsters naturally find it fun to run on a hamster wheel. So if you have a good wheel and they don’t have any issues regarding their health and body, they should run on their own on a wheel.
But if you need to convince them, you can put some treats on the wheel and give them some treats after they run. After a while, they should start running naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Now that you have a good idea about hamster wheels and why your pet might not want to run on them, here are some frequently asked questions to clear any confusion —
- Can hamsters ever run too much?
Yes, running too much can cause blisters, or they can get dehydrated and exhausted. You don’t need to worry about this much, since if they’re getting enough rest running a lot is okay. But if they’re not getting rest and are addicted to the wheel, let them play with other toys and let them run outside their cage with supervision.
- Should I Let My Hamster Run At Night?
Yes. Most people wonder why their hamster constantly runs at night. But you shouldn’t worry about it too much as they’re nocturnal and used to running at night.
It is a part of their daily routine, so taking the hamster wheel out during the night can cause them health problems. As you’ll be cutting out a massive chunk of their exercise.
But if they aren’t running at night either, and you’re wondering, “why isn’t my hamster running on his wheel at night” they likely are sick.
Conclusion
Hopefully, your question of “Why isn’t my hamster running on his wheel?” is answered. Although it’s usually due to preference, it can be due to old age, poor hamster wheel design, malnutrition, injuries, and more.
Most of the time, you can prevent this by simply taking them to the vet or purchasing a more comfortable wheel design. You shouldn’t limit their exercise to just wheels, either. Let them run around outside their cage with supervision sometimes. This can keep them happy and healthy. With all that being said, cheers!