Do you have hamster at home? If you do, then you probably noticed by now that these creatures are awake at night and keep on running here and there. Hamsters are born runners! Its part of their everyday life and their nocturnal instincts tell them to always be active and alert. To ensure that your pet hamsters get enough exercise, you will need to purchase a hamster wheel. In fact, once you decide to get a hamster, the cage that you would purchase should already come with a wheel.

Some hamster cages have built-in wheels, but you can also get free-standing ones. For instance, if you are opting for glass aquariums or plastic tanks, you will need to get a free-standing wheel that is of the right size for your precious pet. Dwarf hamsters are relatively small and so you need to get a smaller wheel, preferably around 6.5 inches in diameter. In the case of Syrian hamsters, you will need to get wheels around 8.5 inches.

The very first models of hamster wheels had rungs, but did you know that such design can be potentially dangerous to your small pet? When the feet of the hamster get caught in the rungs, it can cause an injury. Another concern is the pokes found in some wheels. If your pet accidentally stuck their head in the poke while running, it will lead to a very bad accident. Instead of getting wheels with rungs, it’s much better to get the solid surfaced wheels. Avoid hamster wheels that have pokes on the sides and rungs.

Some pet supply stores still sell these wheels with rungs. Now that you know of its disadvantages, you shouldn’t buy it. Making an informed purchase is vital and will ensure a safe and sound pet hamster.

The wheel is a must for hamster owners. Without it, your hamster may not get its needed exercise. These small creatures can run for many miles every day! I bet even you can’t do that, right? The wheel alone can already satisfy their need to run most of the time, but you still need to provide a cage that has enough space for their other activities. You see, aside from running, these creatures also love burrowing. Therefore, the cage floor should be filled with bedding materials as well.

So which hamster wheel are you going to get -- the built-in or the free-standing? You can make the right choice by considering the type and size of the hamster you have. Smaller hamsters need smaller wheels, while the bigger ones need larger wheels. As long as your pet is safe and comfortable in using the wheel, and the wheels are not too noisy, you and your pet can live in harmony at home. Get a noise-free wheel especially if the cage is found in your room. Nocturnal creatures are always awake at night, and when you are sound asleep, your hamster will surely be running around, playing in the wheel, and looking for food.