Hamsters are fairly easy to care for. They are excellent pets, and they’re playful and adventurous.
When playing, your aim should be to keep your pet’s freedom of movement in mind.
If your hamster seems uncomfortable, it’s up to you to use gentle, encouraging behavior to get him used to being confined in any particular area. So, why do hamsters run on wheels?
Hamsters love running on wheels. First, it helps them exercise.
Hamsters are naturally active and fast, so they need wheels that keep their bodies moving. Second, running on wheels helps hamsters socialize.
They can sit and spin with their fellow hamsters, which is fun for them. Finally, running on wheels helps keep them healthy.
Hamsters need exercise to stay healthy, and running on wheels is a good way for them to do it.
Is It Good That Hamsters Run On Wheels?
Contents
Hamsters are known for running on wheels.
This is partly because they can’t control their running speed when off wheels, and partly because wheels are easier to maintain than cages or wooden wheels. However, many owners still run their hamsters on cages or wooden wheels because hamsters feel more secure when they have a solid surface beneath their feet.
Some people also prefer cages over wheels because they’re healthier for hamsters. For example, wood can be toxic for hamsters, and cages allow hamsters to avoid harmful germs and bacteria from their cage mates.
However, cages and wooden wheels make hamsters more likely to chew and bite their legs, which is painful and can lead to infection. Overall, hamsters running on wheels or in cages are both healthy options.
Do Hamsters Need a Wheel?
Yes, running on wheels is part of their natural habitat.
Hamsters are naturally active creatures, so they need running wheels that keep their bodies moving even when cages or wooden wheels are the only wheel option.
Foraging is an important part of a hamster’s behavior in the wild.
Keeping a hamster on a wheel keeps its foraging instinct active. The foraging instinct helps hamsters maintain their health and overall fitness.
A hamster without the wheel to forage is much more likely to become obese and develop health problems such as diabetes.
Furthermore, they are considered to be great pets as they are relatively easy to take care of.
Why Do Hamsters Run on Wheels?
They May Just Be Exercising.
Exercising causes endorphins to be released in their bodies. Endorphins are neurochemicals that reduce stress and act as natural painkillers. These chemicals also generally create a sense of well being.
They Have an Upset Stomach or Are Hungry. Toothless hamsters run on wheels because they feel sick or are experiencing hunger pains. To help your hamster get rid of an upset stomach, feed it a small meal of seeds or cereal.
They Have an Infestation. Hamsters that are constantly running from their cage may suffer from fleas or mites.
To get rid of the infestation, clean the cage with soap and water daily for several days to kill any eggs that are hatching out, and then bathe the hamster in hot water with a few drops of dish soap in it to help kill any live.
There Are No Other Toys to Play With
If they don’t have any other toys to play with, a pet hamster may choose to run on wheels or chew on the cage bars instead of playing with balls or toys made for hamsters.
When this happens, your hamster is bored and needs to find new ways to entertain itself.
A hamster will run on wheels for many reasons. Because many owners simply let their hamsters run on wheels, it’s important to keep track of your pet’s behavior so you can spot any problems early on.
Consuming a High-energy Diet
Hamsters consume a high-energy diet, which boosts their need for exercise. A high-energy diet includes foods such as sunflower seeds and fish meal food, which are both energy-rich and protein-rich.
Hamsters are relatively sedentary, so running on wheels is their natural way of burning excess energy.
As a result, jogging is one good way to keep a hamster healthy over a long period of time.
Some owners prefer running wheels to cages because it allows for cleaner, straighter lines, and because hamsters tend to chew less on running wheels than they do on cages.
Hamsters in captivity need objects that provide exercise.
Some states require pet owners to keep their pets from running for too long every day.
Even so, hamsters can run on wheeled activity centers for hours each day without any serious health concerns developing as long as the wheel is large enough to accommodate their weight and their energy level isn’t too high.
They May Be Bored
Hamsters get restless and bored when there is nothing to keep them entertained, and they may resort to wheel running to keep themselves occupied.
Some hamsters will run on wheels all day if they’re bored or have nothing else to do.
They also get bored easily when they’re given a large cage to play in, so hamsters may need two or three cages to keep them entertained.
A bored hamster may chew on any available objects, including the cage bars or the cage itself.
As a result, if you install a wheel in your pet’s home, you may need to change it out every few weeks to prevent it from being chewed up.
Because of Their Innate Inclination
Running is a natural habitat for wild rodents like mice and rats, so your domesticated pet may be more inclined to run on the wheel than not.
Hamsters are rodents with the ability to run quickly. As a result, they are more likely to run on wheels than others because of their innate inclination.
Are Wheels Beneficial to Hamsters?
Keep Your Hamster Healthy
If you’re a hamster owner who wants to keep your hamster active and healthy, running wheels are a good solution.
If your pet hamster has to run on its wheel all day, it will eventually become bored and may begin to chew or bite at its cage bars.
This chewing habit can harm your pet’s health, so it’s important to change the wheel out every so often to prevent it from chewing on the cage bars.
If your pet hamster is overweight, you can also start an exercise plan with your veterinarian that involves feeding it a high-fiber diet and taking it for walks.
Hamsters Are Nocturnal Animals
These rodents sleep in daytime and are most active at night.
They are mostly nocturnal animals by nature, so your hamster may be more energetic at night than during the day.
It makes no difference if you give your hamster a wheel to run on during the day or at night; it won’t make a difference.
Hamsters Like Running and Exploring.
Hamsters like jogging and running because they’re curious animals who enjoy exploring their surroundings.
These rodents are naturally vibrant and energetic, so jogging is a natural behavior in the wild.
Hamsters have a natural tendency to run at times because they enjoy exploring their surroundings.
Also Read: Why Is Hamster Not Running On Wheel?
Conclusion
It is OK to let your Hamster run on its wheel all day as its natural habit is to use running wheel.
Many hamster-specific toys have been created and added in the toys list including ball mazes and wooden puzzles of hamster size.
These toys are actually designed and intended to keep your Hamster healthy and happy, and they can still be used when your Hamster runs on its wheel all the time for its common natural behavior.
If you want to have a bigger selection of toys for your hamster, you can look at the list of toys including tunnels, tube mazes, plastic balls etc.
Make time every day to interact with your hamster. In this way, you minimize the chance that your pet hamster will get bored, since your personality will come natural to them, especially when you are petting or brushing your hamster.
Hamsters are also social animals, so having playtime with your pet every day helps keep them from developing health problems.
This allows you to bond with your rodent while also encouraging healthy behaviors for your pet.
You will also assist your vet in diagnosing problems early on if you’re able to notice them yourself.
Hamsters often damage themselves when running erratically in their cages, but using running wheels helps prevent this problem from occurring.
Keep an eye on your hammy’s diet to prevent obesity from affecting their health.
Hamsters are lonely creatures that may readily accept a friendship with another pet if yours dies or gets ill and can no longer live with you.
Please spend time with your hamsters every day so that they get lots of exercise and entertainment to keep them happy.
