Hamsters are incredibly active little rodents with an instinctual propensity for covering long distances in twenty-four hours. In the wild, they live underground and travel using burrowed tunnels, so they naturally need to move around often. This may lead you to wonder whether a hamster can go without a wheel and, if so, for how long.
A hamster should only go with a wheel for one week at most. Hamsters should always have a wheel as it helps reduce levels of stress and anxiety, provides them with a way to exercise to prevent obesity, and allows them the opportunity to act on their natural instincts of regular movement.
Since these rodents are domesticated, hamster owners need to provide their pets with a sufficient environment, which includes ensuring a wheel is present to simulate long-distance travel. Let’s keep reading to learn more about the other things a hamster needs to thrive healthily and happily as a house pet.
Hamster Characteristics
If you are considering purchasing a hamster, you should first learn some information about the characteristics and natural instincts of a hamster. This will help you better prepare your pet’s cage for its new life with you!
Habitat, Sleep, and Sociability
Hamsters are nocturnal rodents with short, stumpy legs and furry little ears. They live in warm climates in Europe and Asia and travel through burrowed tunnels beneath the ground. Depending on the species, of which there are over twenty, hamsters may live alone or with a colony.
These rodents sleep during the day and keep active during the night, meaning you’ll often hear them scurrying around, burrowing, or running on their exercise wheel while you’re trying to fall asleep!
Different species of hamsters are also more sociable versus aggressive than others. For example, Syrian hamsters are best as solo pets and tend to have aggressive and territorial tendencies, but dwarf hamsters thrive when sharing a cage with others.
Hamsters travel for food and eat and live underground. They are quick to mate when given the opportunity.
Food
Hamsters eat nuts, berries, seeds, grains, cracked corn, fruits, and veggies. They’ll also prey on insects and small reptiles in the wild. Typically, hamsters hoard food in the pouches of their cheeks and transport it to their nest to consume it. This is just one testament to the instinctual need for hamsters to move frequently– they travel for food by design.
They will also burrow and store food, which they can sometimes do in captivity by storing food pellets beneath their bedding.
As you can probably tell, hamsters are frequently using their hands and feet in the wild, but as house pets, they don’t have nearly the same amount of space to do this. That’s why having a hamster wheel is considered absolutely necessary if you want to own a hamster as a pet.
Hamster Care
Hamsters in captivity need to have their natural environments simulated in their cages as much as possible. Most hamsters will live to be about 2 years old, depending on the species (some can live as long as five years). So, to give them the best lives, they need a few basic necessities in their cages.
These essentials include:
- A 24x12x12 cage
- An exercise wheel
- Bedding (shredded toilet paper, shredded cardboard)
- Climbers and tunnels
- Blocks to chew on
- Hanging water bottle
- Food pellets in a ceramic bowl
These items will help to keep your hamster healthy, exercised, fed, and hydrated!
Exercise Wheels, Climbers, and Tunnels
Exercise wheels, climbers, and tunnels help your hamster keep its body and mind active. Since hamsters instinctually travel for food, burrow, and nest– and have less space to do so when housed in a cage– these items are vital for hamsters to live a full life.
There are a variety of hamster wheels to choose from when looking for a sturdy one. An inexpensive and ideal wheel is the Niteangel Super-Silent Exercise Hamster Wheel (available on Amazon.com). It is easy to assemble and operates on a quiet spinner, which is beneficial when these nocturnal creatures want to burn off steam in the middle of the night!
Niteangel Super-Silent Hamster Exercise Wheels: - Quiet Spinner Hamster Running Wheels with Adjustable Stand for Hamsters Gerbils Mice Or Other Small Animals (S, Brown)
Niteangel also makes the Niteangel Creative&Composable Hamster Tunnel (available on Amazon.com), which is a favorite because it’s made of hay and straw, giving it a more natural feel.
Niteangel Creative & Composable Hamster Tunnel - DIY & Build Unique Tube Burrow as Hideout for Small Sized Animals Like Hamsters Mouse Gerbils Mice (Tunnel)
The Niteangel Hamster Secret Peep Shed (available on Amazon.com) is another great creation that allows your hamster to climb around and explore, acting as mental stimulation.
Niteangel Hamster Secret Peep Shed 2-Chamber Hideout & Tunnel Exploring Toys (Large - for Syrian Hamster)
Bedding
Most pet owners use shredded cardboard or toilet paper, which are the two most cost-efficient forms of bedding. Hamsters also love it because they can quickly burrow and nest in these types of bedding.
For example, the Kaytee Natural Animal Bedding (available on Amazon.com) contains paper bedding made from recycled materials.
Strong-smelling wood bedding such as cedar and pine chips can irritate your hamster’s lungs, so stick to all-natural, recyclable, unscented materials. Your hamsters’ bedding should be changed every week, along with a thorough cage cleaning.
Food, Water, and Chew Blocks
Needless to say, hamsters need regular food and water. Although chew blocks can be viewed as optional, they do help hamsters to grind down their continuously-growing teeth.
Hamster pellets should be kept in a ceramic bowl (or any other type of bowl that is sturdy and not easily tipped). Loose mixes of food (foods that contain grains, seeds, and nuts, among other things) are not ideal for hamsters– especially the picky ones. Instead, buy pelleted food at your local pet store. You can also feed your hamster fresh vegetables.
Water shouldn’t be given to hamsters in a bowl because the bowl can get dirty or filled with bedding. Use a hanging bottle with a stainless steel spout instead, and ensure you’re refilling it with fresh water daily.
If or when you’re searching online for a bottle, make sure to check the reviews– some bottles tend to fall off the cage frequently, meaning your hamster won’t be able to access it.
What if You Don’t Have a Wheel?
If you don’t have an exercise wheel for your hamster, you can purchase one at your local pet store. There are also several wheels online, like the Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner or the ACEDIVA Flying Saucer Hamster Wheel (available on Amazon.com). If you want something dead silent, go for the Exotic Runner, and if you want something that looks cool and modern, get the Acediva Flying Saucer.
There may also be free resources at your community’s veterinary office or for pet owners in your area that are no longer in need of specific hamster equipment.
What Are the Health Repercussions of Not Having a Wheel?
Exercise wheels help hamsters exercise their brains and bodies. Without one, they run the risk of developing stress, anxiety, and excessive weight gain. These issues can lead to cardiac problems and early death.
As a result, wheels (and arguably climbers and toys) are mandatory to keep your hamster happy and healthy.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, a hamster should only go without a wheel for up to a week. Any longer, and your pet may begin to get stressed and anxious without being able to run. They can also suffer from obesity without a way to exercise and burn off weight. They also need recyclable bedding, nutritional food, and fresh daily water.
Now you better understand hamster characteristics and care, including how long these rodents can go without using an exercise wheel.