Because I'm naffed off with crap ones. The first one that came with our hammy's cage was too small and she outgrew it after about a month. And then she outgrew her cage. So now she has a nice big cage, which I can fit a big(ish) wheel into. I bought the Savic Rolly giant wheel which was ok but really noisy, so I then bought the Superpet Comfort Wheel which was big and apparently 'whisper quiet' 
. That lasted a month until yesterday when I noticed the wheel had completely broken away from it's axel and is completely knackered. So now poor hammy is looking very sorry for herself as she is without a wheel.
I really don't want to buy another crap wheel. The 'silent spinner' ones I've seen either look too small or enormous. I could fit one of up to about a 9 inch diameter into the cage, but nothing as big as 12inches, which is the diameter of the bigger silent spinner. Any suggestions please?
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Small pets
Recommend a good quality hamster wheel please...
badtasteflump · 09/01/2013 13:17
I can't help practically but just want to say how lovely and caring you sound! A lot of people wouldn't care enough about a little hammy to go to such trouble 
Ah thank you Peggotty. I probably sound as bit of a lemon, but she is such a cutie and loves her (now broken) wheel 
I know when I walk in tonight she'll be standing at the door of her cage on her back legs all expectantly, waiting to see what I've bought her. Honestly! 
That's really helpful, thanks both you you
The silent spinner looks good but I'm not sure about the sizes - I think the medium one would be too small but the big is enormous!
Bonkey the Karlie Wonderland looks fab is the middle sized one big enough for a fattie syrian do you think? I don't think I'd fit the biggest one in her cage. Also (sorry for all the qs) if you have one, is it really big depth-wise? Can't see from the pic and just want to make sure it would fit in around all her ladders & stuff.
Thanks again
Ok, the base depth is 10cm and the wheel is roundabout 6.
Tbh, its the smallest you can get away with i should think. I have seen people fit them in most cages so if you have a shift around then you should be fine. What cage have you got?
I have in the past taken a ladder away, put the floors closer together and a small wooden bridge or tunnel in place so they can still run/jump up and down but have plenty of room for the wheel.
Also the little wooden shelves are good to make steps up the side of a cage if you have a wire one! Also a good space saver. Ebay and search chinchilla shelves!
If you still can't make it fit take something else away - a wheel is vital to a happy hammy.They won't love anything as much as they do running!
My old girl was on her wheel (albeit at a snails pace) until the week she passed, it was lovely to see her tottering round :) , my current boy goes like the clappers . Which is another reason for this one because he is in my ds's room so it must be quiet. All you get is the patter of feet which tbh is quite cute! 
One of the most common things in the hammy world is people using wheels that are far too small. It bends their backs and they suffer great pain after a while.
It great that you are doing the best by your little fluff ball .
This is her cage
We had an 8inch wheel in there before at the back in the middle, I had to move the bridge forwards a bit but it was fine - she loves her bridge too & uses the underneath of it as monkey bars!
I've since seen much bigger cages but she does seem happy in this one - her first one (bought at PAH and recommended as being 'plenty big enough' was ok for about a month then suddenly seemed tiny and she was chewing the bars constantly. So that went back...
She spends a fair amount of time out each day in her ball - and in her 'indoor run' me & DC1 made for her . The wheel that came with her cage was tiny though and went in the bin...
Love the cage pics BTW! Makes me feel slightly less of a nutter for all the crap toys I keep buying her
Yes I've heard that, actually. Although I have to say since we got her new cage she's not chewed the bars at all - I don't know if it's because they're coated with something rather than just being metal so maybe they're not as appealing & chewy 
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