What is Reddit's opinion of Kaytee Silent Spinner Wheel For Pet Chinchillas, Rats, and Hedgehogs, Giant 12 Inch?
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Hi, generally 12” wheels are best for Syrians. If he is having to arch his back whilst running on it then it is too small for him, I have a Syrian and just purchased a 10” silent wheel for her and that seems to be perfectly fine. Recommended size is 12 inch but honestly depends on the size of your Syrian, but maybe go for slightly bigger just to be sure. I bought mine off of amazon, can’t find the exact one but this is pretty similar and is big. As for cage sizes, 80cm wide x 50cm deep x 35 cm high technically is the minimum cage size. Atm I have a large cafe from pets at home for my hamster which is a good size however soon I’m planning on getting her a bin cage, which I’ve read are really good for them. They’re fairly cheap as well, literally just clear storage boxes but you’d have to look into them more. Failing that, buying a large rat cage should be okay as well. :)
As for ball sizes, I don’t have a ball for mine as they can be very bad for them if you let them run around in it in supervised as they have poor eyesight and their feet can get caught in the gaps of it. So I would be careful with them. However if you are only using them for a short amount of time in a supervised environment, making sure there is no risk of him hurting himself then 12 inch should be fine too. (However may want to fact check that size as I’m not 100% certain what the requirement is, but 12” should be fine)

Thank you for your response! Sorry for the bad photo she is very wriggly!

They appear to be sores (almost like blood blisters) but they haven’t bled or oozed at all. We gave her a warm foot bath earlier to try soften them. She has a large plastic bottomed enclosure which is half line with fleece (she likes to burrow and dig around in it) and she poops in the unfleeced area which gets wiped up everyday. Her nails are always kept well trimmed. After doing some research it seems her wheel could be the issue. I have taken it out so she isn’t tempted to use it at all and have ordered a completely smooth and slightly larger one. I have also added an extra fleece so she isn’t putting too much pressure on her little paws.

I have the same cage as you! It's awesome. For litter box training – If you do, you can switch to fabric liners which I think are easier to clean and more fun for the rats. Lots of people use fleece, but I think flannel is a better bet. Synthetic fleece ends up in tiny particles in the water supply and is bad for the ocean. I don't think you should use just plain towels, tbh. Anyway, I change them out every 4-7 days or so. I use this wheel which can mount to the back of the cage (just ask if you want to see pics of how I've laid things out). I think the metal saucer will take up too much space, and as long as the wheel is solid, it should be plenty safe. I wouldn't worry too much about the fear thing. Just keep taking them out and having them on you for as long as you can manage. None of the treats you're using sound especially unhealthy, so I wouldn't worry too much about it if they're staying at a healthy weight.

Patti's a year old and she took to it like crazy, but the other rats (both younger – 6 months and 3 months) haven't really gotten the hang of it. If you get a wheel and they don't use it, you'll eventually have rats that do. This the the brand and size I have, and I'd recommend it. It's quiet and you can either use the stand or attach it to the cage wall.

A good wheel is going to be a bit on the pricy side, but it may last you forever if you decide to get another hammy later on. For dwarf hamsters you want anything over 8 or 9 inches, and for syrians you want to go over 10-11 inches. The larger the better, since most hammies have no problems pushing larger wheels.

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel.
Another good "brand", let's call it that, is the Carolina Storm wheel from etsy - though I'd get the kind that is made from a thicker, sturdier material. They're around 10"-11" since they flare out a bit. They also make some from a thinner type of bucket, but I remember someone posting a video and it looked kinda rattle-y? Though the sturdy/thick one looked perfect.
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a year or two-ish.
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 10" in diameter.

I provided the links just for reference, of course, availability and/or price will depend on where you live. Even for "local" sites like exotic nutrition, getzoo, or rodipet, you may be able to find their wheels on Amazon, depending on your location or the warehouse you buy it from. Hope this helped!

A good wheel is going to be a bit on the pricy side, but it may last you forever if you decide to get another hammy later on. For dwarves, you'd want a wheel that's at least 8-10"; with Syrians, you'd want a wheel that's at least 10". But larger is always better for both!

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel. The larger, the better, since hammies generally don't have troubles pushing larger wheels once they get the hang of it!
Another good "brand", let's call it that, is the Carolina Storm wheel from etsy - though I'd get the kind that is made from a thicker, sturdier material. They're around 10"-11" since they flare out a bit. They also make some from a thinner type of bucket, but I remember someone posting a video and it looked kinda rattle-y? Though the sturdy/thick one looked perfect.
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Size-wise, go for anything over 25cm (10") or 28cm (11"). Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a year or two-ish.
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 10" in diameter.

I have wood ledges that lead up to plastic baskets ziptied to the side of the cage.

that wheel is far far too small, you want to get something like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006IK0PQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

here are some of the ledges I have in my cage:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0755CQFH8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LBH6UP4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0764JKVF7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this is my boys #1 place to sleep/chill

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07W1Z3G55/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

if you have trouble getting those things to stay then i suggest going to the hardware store and getting larger washers. i put the big washer on the inside of the cage and the small washers on the outside, it helps a bit to keep them stable (only have that problem with that one hammock though, not any of the other stuff)

on the bottom i have this for my shy baby to hide/sleep in, its his fave spot

https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/cages-habitats-and-hutches/all-living-things-natural-wood-dome-small-pet-hide-55252.html?cgid=600201

i give him crinkle paper which you can find at the dollar tree. rivian uses that and stuffs the wood house with it to make his nest

https://www.dollartree.com/voila-lavender-decorative-shredded-paper-2oz-bags/195263

A good wheel is going to be a bit on the pricy side, but it may last you forever if you decide to get another hammy later on. With Syrians, you'd want a wheel that's at least 10", but larger is always better.

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel. The larger, the better, since hammies generally don't have troubles pushing larger wheels once they get the hang of it!
Another good "brand", let's call it that, is the Carolina Storm wheel from etsy - though I'd get the kind that is made from a thicker, sturdier material. They're around 10"-11" since they flare out a bit. They also make some from a thinner type of bucket, but I remember someone posting a video and it looked kinda rattle-y? Though the sturdy/thick one looked perfect.
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Size-wise, go for anything over 25cm (10") or 28cm (11"). Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a year or two-ish.
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 10" in diameter.

The kaytee comfort wheel can be silent in the beginning but it tends to get rattle-y and squeaky rather quickly. What wheel do you have now?

Unfortunately a good wheel is going to be more pricy (around 30-40 dollars on average), but it's going to be silent and good quality and you won't have to replace it often like you'd do with cheaper wheels. Personally right now I have a Trixie wheel and good lord if you value your sleep you'd be fine with investing a little bit in your wheel, if you know what I mean.

That said, here's a few wheels that are on the market and why I would recommend them (or not!):

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel. The smallest sizes are 9" for Silent Runners and 8" for Wodent Wheels but I'd go for at least 11" either way, since hammies generally don't have troubles pushing larger wheels once they get the hang of it!
Another good "brand", let's call it that, is the Carolina Storm wheel from etsy - though I'd get the kind that is made from a thicker, sturdier material. They're around 10"-11" since they flare out a bit. They also make some from a thinner type of bucket, but I remember someone posting a video and it looked kinda rattle-y? Though the sturdy/thick one looked perfect.
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a year or two-ish.
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 8" for robos (though personally I'd recommend 10" regardless), over 10" for dwarves, and over 11-12" for Syrians.

I do, actually! Sorry for being so late, I just got back from work.

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel. The smallest sizes are 9" for Silent Runners and 8" for Wodent Wheels but I'd go for at least 11" either way, since hammies generally don't have troubles pushing larger wheels once they get the hang of it!
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe, which would be too small for Syrians.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Size-wise, go for anything over 25cm (10") or 28cm (11"). Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a short while. Personally I'd only have these as a temporary fix until you can get a better wheel, since a good quality wheel can last you even for seve
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 10" in diameter.

A good wheel is going to be a bit on the pricy side, but it may last you forever if you decide to get another hammy later on.

Stuff from Exotic Nutrition are great - Silent Runner, or Wodent Wheel. The smallest sizes are 9" for Silent Runners and 8" for Wodent Wheels but I'd go for at least 11" either way, since hammies generally don't have troubles pushing larger wheels once they get the hang of it!
Another good "brand", let's call it that, is the Carolina Storm wheel from etsy - though I'd get the kind that is made from a thicker, sturdier material. They're around 10"-11" since they flare out a bit. They also make some from a thinner type of bucket, but I remember someone posting a video and it looked kinda rattle-y? Though the sturdy/thick one looked perfect.
Kaytee can have good wheels too (I think they're called Silent Spinners?), but they tend to be pretty hit-or-miss. Though a large portion of the people I know who have them don't have any complaints. Personally I would go for the 12" one since one size down would be 8" for them, I believe.
Wooden/cork wheels are a good alternative for a more "natural" looking enclosure. Getzoo (site is in german) and Rodipet have great wooden/cork wheels, but if your hamster takes a liking to peeing in the wheel, you will have to varnish it with a child-safe non toxic varnish so the pee doesn't soak into the wheel, and it's overall easier to clean if varnished. Size-wise, go for anything over 25cm (10") or 28cm (11"). Trixie seems to have okay wooden wheels too! Though I'm not sure about the sizes they carry so feel free to look around.
A quick and cheap fix would be a Trixie wheel or a Comfort wheel. They tend to get rattle-y and squeaky since they don't have ball bearings like the other ones, so while they're cheap, you may have to replace them after a year or two-ish.
If none of these are available to you either online or in pet stores, look for any vertical wheel, solid plastic or wood/cork (no bars, no mesh, anything of the sort is a recipe for broken limbs and bumblefoot), over 10" in diameter.

Get a Kaytee wheel. It’s cheap, can attach to cage and spins silently: Kaytee Spinner, Giant Wheel, 12 Inch (Colours Vary) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0006IK0PQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UgQxDbHRBGAB7

http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-12-Inch-Silent-Spinner-Exercise/dp/B0006IK0PQ

The sides the wheel is attached to are completely enclosed, so there is no way for their tails to get caught.

For those that are interested, Wodent Wheel and Silent Spinner. :) They are super great for all rodents, and come in all sizes, from mouse right up to chinchilla.

She is a dumbo!

I haven't played or done much more than get the girls food since about Wednesday last week (with Thanksgiving and being sick myself .... ). It is possible that she's had this for a couple of days. I think I would have noticed her limping before last night, and the bald spot is decently large, but it is possible that she had the problems for a day or so before I noticed.

I did a basic check last night and I was going to do a more in depth one now (since now it's light outside and I can see a bit better anyway). I didn't see any signs of mites or fleas last night, however (and the others aren't showing any signs of them), and only a couple of scratches that are healing and that I was aware of.

This is the cage, or pretty close to it (some things are moved around or different - I bought a different wheel and last night the "tightrope" was more like a U or a swing - they rarely bother doing anything regarding it anyway). The idea that she fell isn't far off - she often jumps from the lower of the two hammocks to the top-most balcony, and she doesn't always make it. Also, the flooring isn't ideal (I'm working on changing that) - being 1/2" square mesh, but it doesn't quite seem small enough for her to get her arm stuck in.

The last time I fixed up the cage was a week and a half ago (and it needs it again, I've been putting it off). Usually when I do that I tend to breakdown everything and clean it with this stuff. I haven't used a bleach solution since I first put the cage and girls together - back in March.

I wouldn't be surprised if she got into a fight. One of the other girls - Anise - often beats on Moe when she gets hormonal (so every couple of days), and I've definitely seen her aggressively "grooming" that spot on Moe's neck after a tiff.