Trixie 61011 Running wheel, plastic, ø 28 cm (Assorted)

Product Information

Meredith, Susan (2000). Hamsters. Tulsa, Okla.: EDC Pub. p.30. ISBN 9780794507961 . Retrieved 21 June 2020. Blue Cross is one of the UK’s leading animal charities established over 125 years ago, they recommend the following hamster wheel sizes for different species: Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT) recommends wheels should be at least 20cm (8") for dwarf hamsters and at least 30cm (12") for Syrian hamsters, since smaller diameters lead to permanent spinal curvatures, especially in young animals. They also recommend a solid running surface because rungs or mesh can cause injury. [33] This silent spinner wheel is distributed by Sharples Pet they also specialise in tiny cages, edible chews and kapok bedding.

De Bono, J. P., D. Adlam, D. J. Paterson, and K. M. Channon. 2005. Novel quantitative phenotypes of exercise training in mouse models. American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 290:R926–R934.

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:

Often, hamster wheels sold along with a hamster cage are too small. Despite this fact, hamsters will continue to use the small wheels and over time it can cause damage to the spine. Therefore, these wheels should be replaced with a suitable alternative. Any wheels with spokes or mesh should also be replaced, due to the risk of feet getting caught. Like other rodents, hamsters are highly motivated to run on wheels; it is not uncommon to record distances of 9km (5.6mi) being run in one night. Other 24-h records include 43km (27mi) for rats, 31km (19mi) for wild mice, 19km (12mi) for lemmings, 16km (9.9mi) for laboratory mice, and 8km (5.0mi) for gerbils. [8] Hypotheses to explain such high levels of running in wheels include a need for activity, substitute for exploration, and stereotypic behaviour. However, free wild mice will run on wheels installed in the field, which speaks against the notion of stereotypic behavior induced by captivity conditions. [9] Alternatively, various experimental results strongly indicate that wheel-running, like play or the endorphin or endocannabinoid [10] release associated with the ' runner's high', is self-rewarding. [8] [11] [12] Wheel use is highly valued by several species as shown in consumer demand studies which require an animal to work for a resource, i.e. bar-press or lift weighted doors. [8] [13] This makes running wheels a popular type of enrichment to the captivity conditions of rodents. Choice tests with Syrian hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus) have shown that they prefer larger wheels; the animals chose a wheel diameter of 35cm (14in) over 23cm (9.1in), [2] which itself was preferred over 17.5cm (6.9in). [3] Aschoff, J., Figala, J., and Poppel, E. 1973. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) measured with two different techniques. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 85: 20-28. 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).

Keeney, B.K., Meek, T.H., Middleton, K.M., Holness, L. F. and Garland, T., Jr., 2012, Sex differences in cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) pharmacology in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 101: 528-537. https://www.hamsterwelfare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Tiffany-video-how-a-hamster-should-look-in-a-wheel.mp4 Hibbert, Clare (2004). Looking after your pet Hamster. Smart Apple Media. p.32. ISBN 9781583404331 . Retrieved 21 June 2020.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. Coutinho A.E., Fediuc S., Campbell J.E., and Riddell, M.C. 2006. Metabolic effects of voluntary wheel running in young and old Syrian golden hamsters. Physiology and Behavior 87: 360-367. Alderton, David (2002). Hamster: a practical guide to caring for your hamster. London: Collins. p.128. ISBN 9780007122820 . Retrieved 21 June 2020. Dunlap, J.C., Loros, J.J., and DeCoursey, P.J. 2004. Chronobiology: Biological Timekeeping. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland MA.

Sherwin, C.M., 1998, The use and perceived importance of three resources which provide caged laboratory mice the opportunity of extended locomotion, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 55: 353-367.To make it worse, hamsters are nocturnal creatures too, which means you can often say goodbye to sleep and hello to midnight marathons. 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: The neurotransmitter systems involved in wheel-running behavior have received considerable study. [29] Recent evidence suggests that changes in both dopaminergic and serotonergic tone alter running-wheel activity. For example, one study in mice has shown that several antidepressant medications (all of which directly or indirectly enhance serotonergic tone) suppress running-wheel activity without suppressing general locomotion. [30] The endocannabinoid system also contributes to wheel running in a sex-specific manner in rodents. [31] Mice from lines that have been selectively bred for high levels of voluntary wheel running have altered responsiveness to drugs that alter dopamine and endocannabinoid signalling, and enlarged midbrains. [32] Animal welfare considerations [ edit ] Cobos, E. J., Ghasemlou, N., Araldi, D., Segal, D., Duong, K., & Woolf, C. J. (2012). Inflammation-induced decrease in voluntary wheel running in mice: a nonreflexive test for evaluating inflammatory pain and analgesia. PAIN®, 153(4), 876-884. Gebhardt-Henrich, S.G., Vonlanthen, E.M., and Steiger, A., 2005, How does the running wheel affect the behavior and reproduction of golden hamsters kept as pets, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 95: 199-203.

Rhodes, J.S., Gammie, S.C. and Garland, T., Jr., 2005, Neurobiology of mice selected for high voluntary wheel-running activity, Integrative and Comparative Biology, 45: 438-455. Meijer, Johanna H.; Robbers, Yuri (2014), "Wheel running in the wild", Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 281 (1786): 20140210, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0210, PMC 4046404, PMID 24850923 Hamsters are protected under The Animal Welfare Act and there is a good argument that small hamster wheels should be banned. In addition, Hamster cages which are too small to fit an adequate sized wheel should also be banned.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. All Wheels below 6.5″ should be banned, this size is only suitable for a Roborovski hamster, anything smaller is not suitable for any size of hamster. Rayner, Matthew (2004). Hamster. Milwaukee, Wis.: Gareth Stevens. ISBN 9780836846171 . Retrieved 21 June 2020.