Hamsters are naturally nocturnal creatures that like to roam around freely.They are prey for many animals. Their only way to survive is running, which is what has slowly formed a running instinct in these little furballs.The running wheel is a great toy, as well as the best exercise device for hamsters. Running is a natural instinct for hamsters, making it effortless for them to ride the wheel. To stay healthy and free of stress and obesity, these hamsters take up running on the wheels as a form of exercise. They also do it for fun. These hamsters are agile and fast. They are also known to be amazing climbers and have strong grips.Find more answers to the animal-related questions you want to ask on our site, by checking out these articles about why do dogs wink and why do sloths move so slow.Why do hamsters like to run on wheels?Owning a pet hamster is not an easy job. If you are on the hunt for a hamster as your pet, then a hamster wheel is something that you should consider buying for them.Getting them a wheel in their own cage is something that excites your little rodents. Hamsters are born to run. They use running wheels for their health. This species is very energetic and lively.Running is a natural feature of these tiny pet animals. They often utilize the exercise device they have in their cages. They love to spend time on their running wheels. They frequently and voluntarily run on exercise wheels. The fact why they like to run on wheels is because of their love for exercise and physical fitness and health. Even if wild mice are provided with a running wheel in their natural habitat, they utilize it for exercising. As for the question of whether hamsters know they’re not getting anywhere, the answer is yes. Still, they enjoy running on wheels.Can all hamsters run on wheels?Just like any rodent, all hamsters are motivated to run on wheels. Hamsters are active and energetic animals, and wheels can be a great exercise device or a way to mold all their hyper energy into a healthy fitness lifestyle. Whether it be adult hamsters, baby hamsters, or tiny dwarf hamsters, all equally enjoy running on wheels.A dwarf hamster can run several miles each day on its wheel. Roborovski hamsters are the smallest of dwarf hamster subspecies. These hyperactive creatures need to occupy themselves and expend their energy. A perfect solution to keep their energy focused is to get them into a hamster wheel. The hamster wheel is indeed an ideal method to keep dwarf hamsters healthy and fit, providing them the right amount of exercise.Also, it is important for baby mice and hamsters to get good immunity. How better to accomplish this than exercise? So baby hamsters are also encouraged to use the running wheels. At first, they might have problems adapting to them. But gradually, they learn how to use the wheel and enjoy using it. Being such active pets, baby and dwarf hamsters run several miles on wheels each day.How far can hamsters run on these wheels?Hamster wheels are great for exercise, but how far and fast can they run on them?A hamster can run up to nine kilometers, nearly five and a half miles when it is in the wild, not in the cage. According to research, hamsters are able to run 6 mi (9.6 km) in a single night on their wheels. For such long runs, they need space in their cages. There must be some tunnels, ladders, and other toys in the cage to keep the hamsters occupied.Hamsters have a natural ability to run for long periods of time making it to 9 mi (14.5 km) every night. Dwarf hamsters and Syrian hamsters are well known for their speed. A dwarf hamster can run for 5 mi (8 km) every day if they are allowed to run freely. They spend short periods running on hamster wheels, improving their body health and reducing obesity. They are most active at night time. Roborovski hamsters can run up to 5-6 mi (8-9.6 km) every single night. One thing to check about a hamster wheel is to make sure they are flat-surfaced and there are no bars in between so that their feet would not get trapped in them during their running sessions at night. The Syrian hamsters, being the fastest, are known to run at about 3-6 mph (4.8-9.6 kph). Speed and distance are totally related to individual hamsters and vary between different hamsters. Hamster’s small feet are likely to get trapped in the hamster wheel. But hamsters are known to take to the wheel like anything.Do hamsters need wheels? Why do they run on them?Is a hamster wheel good or bad? Is it a necessity or just a way to have fun? Can you place a hamster wheel in its natural habitat? Is it compulsory for every hamster to have a running wheel?Running wheels are a controversial toy in the rodent community. However, they are an important medium for exercise. According to a number of vets, the dangers of not giving proper exercise to your hamsters include obesity, stress, anxiety, bar chewing, etc.Rats and hamsters are mostly kept in their cages for a long time. It is important to provide cages of the proper size alongside a hamster wheel. Syrian hamsters need a cage size of 7 in (17.8 cm) diameter, while dwarf hamsters like Roborovski hamsters can live with 5 in (12.7 cm) diameter ones.In order to avoid boredom, they indulge themselves in running on these hamster wheels. They find fun in this. Some say that hamster wheels are perfectly healthy for rodents, while others point to these wheels as bad, as they might damage a rodent’s spine or tail. Mostly it is hamsters who choose to run on wheels and not their owner forcing them to do so.How to make them stop running on their wheels?Is the hamster wheel a cruel thing that must not be placed in a hamster cage? Taking away the hamster wheel from them might be similar to taking away joy from them. The only thing that keeps a hamster running in the cage is the hamster wheel.But sometimes these hamster wheels could be a problem for them. They could get their legs and tails stuck in them. Also, your hamster could get addicted to running. They might also get sores that are related to the continuous running process. So it is advised to check how long your hamsters run for and to keep a limit for their running time. If they spend a long time running, they might fall and get an injury in their legs. Certain materials can also have negative effects on your hamster’s skin.These confined creatures run miles due to boredom. A way in which you can stop them from running all these miles is by using a hamster ball or by taking it out of the cage and engaging with them to play. Leaving your hamster in those balls for more than 30 minutes puts them at risk of dehydration and overheating. A larger cage with toys can be an alternative to make your hamsters stop from running on hamster wheels.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do hamsters run on wheels then why not take a look at where do hamsters come from or golden hamster facts.
Hamsters are naturally nocturnal creatures that like to roam around freely.
