Socks: Mouseworks Dynamic Cardboard Redesign and Basic Tunneling

Socks Mum said:
Socks: Mom asked me to give her a hand, so I'm blogging today. My wheel almost fell over, which was a right nuisance for a fellow who loves his regular work outs! So Mom and I are looking for one with a non slip base, preferably wood as the cork is good for my paws and joints. She offered to paint plastikote on the cork and I shrugged, if you like. I love my wheel, but a new, smoother model, well I won't say no 😄
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I know Im late to this thread.... but I got a seagrass placemat for a dinner table ... and sewed the base of my wheel onto the mat ... in the middle .....with a big darning needed and thick cotton thread....I then put it in the cage just under the level of substrate Buddy runs on... that further helps to anchor it ... Ive brushed off the substrate to show the mat..... my wheel has a metal grid type base... but I think it would work on a wooden block base if you keep the tension tight... and if they chew it ... its all natural products I think ... (y)
 

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😄 yes, it's looking like an agility course in places with cardboard up as jumps. There are hamster toys and hides scattered around and large books on the floor! That's interesting about peaks of activity. He probably finds my activity patterns a bit strange, "Don't you know being out in daylight is dangerous?"
 
oddvon said:
I know Im late to this thread.... but I got a seagrass placemat for a dinner table ... and sewed the base of my wheel onto the mat ... in the middle .....with a big darning needed and thick cotton thread....I then put it in the cage just under the level of substrate Buddy runs on... that further helps to anchor it ... Ive brushed off the substrate to show the mat..... my wheel has a metal grid type base... but I think it would work on a wooden block base if you keep the tension tight... and if they chew it ... its all natural products I think ... (y)
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That's brilliant! The wheel can't slide about and is stable. Thank you for sharing your tip!
 
oddvon said:
I know Im late to this thread.... but I got a seagrass placemat for a dinner table ... and sewed the base of my wheel onto the mat ... in the middle .....with a big darning needed and thick cotton thread....I then put it in the cage just under the level of substrate Buddy runs on... that further helps to anchor it ... Ive brushed off the substrate to show the mat..... my wheel has a metal grid type base... but I think it would work on a wooden block base if you keep the tension tight... and if they chew it ... its all natural products I think ... (y)
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I’d still keep an eye on it to check he doesn’t chew it because cotton thread can be swallowed and cause blockages. If he does show signs of chewing it maybe replace it with a chill b chew mat? They are made of hyacinth and safe to chew.

I haven’t seen that wheel before - which one is it oddvon? Just interested 😊
 
Socks Mum said:
😄 yes, it's looking like an agility course in places with cardboard up as jumps. There are hamster toys and hides scattered around and large books on the floor! That's interesting about peaks of activity. He probably finds my activity patterns a bit strange, "Don't you know being out in daylight is dangerous?"
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Daylight isn’t necessarily bad for them but it can affect their circadian rhythms - ie sleep patterns. But if a hamster comes out during daylight that up to them and of course they will do when we get lighter nights and it doesn’t seem to be an issue.
 
Maz said:
I’d still keep an eye on it to check he doesn’t chew it because cotton thread can be swallowed and cause blockages. If he does show signs of chewing it maybe replace it with a chill b chew mat? They are made of hyacinth and safe to chew.

I haven’t seen that wheel before - which one is it oddvon? Just interested 😊
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Ok I will keep an eye on it for damage......
Screenshot 2024-03-29 at 14.47.42.png this is the wheel... and I know its expensive.... but its SILENT !!!!!! so happy with it..... its not 12 inches though... more like 9"...... and mine canme as a gun metal grey... I wanted green but needed it quickly so kept it... :love:
 
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Thank you :-) That's a new one on me :-) The cheapest silent ones are the wood and cork Trixie/Karlie wheels, but they need painting with plastikote or they get pee stained.
 
Sorry Socks Mum - we went off topic on Socks' thread :-).
 
This one has a bearing hub in that white triangle centre and I literally cant hear it spin... its such a difference to the gear we had in the 70's and I couldn't have afforded one back then anyway !! but for something so very quiet,, its worth paying for with Buddy doing 26 miles per session :love: ☄️
 
Lucky Socks having so much space to free roam! It was such a lovely idea to get two playpens to give him more space. I have a feeling once he gets used to it, he will be wanting to use it a lot more and will gain confidence. 🥰
 
RainbowBrite said:
Lucky Socks having so much space to free roam! It was such a lovely idea to get two playpens to give him more space. I have a feeling once he gets used to it, he will be wanting to use it a lot more and will gain confidence. 🥰
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Thank you! Yes, I think he enjoys having outings and doing something a bit different!
 
oddvon said:
This one has a bearing hub in that white triangle centre and I literally cant hear it spin... its such a difference to the gear we had in the 70's and I couldn't have afforded one back then anyway !! but for something so very quiet,, its worth paying for with Buddy doing 26 miles per session :love: ☄️
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26 miles is the London Marathon! He is a small marathon runner!
 
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Socks was out last night enjoying a visit to the suburbs. I found that using a small table lamp did not discourage him, so that made it easier to monitor him. Socks: She stopped shining that pesky torch in my face!"
In true Syrian fashion he plucked at the carpet in corners that might lend themselves to the formation of a burrow, but "Mom was as keen as any raptors and swooped on my activities". He was quite skittish and rounded on me a bit defensively when I crawled towards him. He skipped over my arm a few times when I tried to slowly corral him, but it also worked a few times, especially alongside a wall. He had two ten to twenty minute sessions, punctuated by naps in his concertina tunnel and took being back in his cage in good humour, running on his wheel when he couldn't get out again.

I had to untie his wheel from the bars as he climbed up the back and then one of his back legs got stuck in the bars. I think I will get a cork mat for Sock's wheel.
 
Socks seems to be enjoying his playpen time. It is really lucky you were there when Socks got his leg stuck in the bars. I hope the cork mat works.
 
It sounds to be going well :) Yes they kind of want to be left alone when free roaming I think and decide when to come to you - if at all! Maybe if you sit in the pen with him he will come back sometimes and run over you :) Or try have some food in your hand with the palm of your hand facing up. Then they get used to walking on your hand. But I know what you mean - you have to stop them chewing at carpet corners! The bars aren't too narrow on the Plaza 120 so don't quite understand how he got his leg stuck! Was it between the string and the wheel he got stuck?
 
He put his foot and leg through the bars right up to his knee 🫨 and then became part of a sandwich between the bars and the back of the wheel. I put my finger against his foot where it was sticking out the bars and he pushed his foot against it, and used it as a foothold to go on climbing. Once the cork mat is under the base, there should be a space on the platform, behind the wheel for him to run through so he doesn't try to get climb over the upright.
 
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Yes, he scampers and scurries about, but when he needs a break he goes into his concertina tunnel and sits quietly there. Then I put the tunnel into his cage, with Socks in it so that he can go into his MCH for a snooze. If I need the loo before half-time, catching him is a bit more complicated 😄
 
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The pet shop near me has a female Syrian hamster for adoption. She needs a glass tank as she is a major chewer of plastic!
 
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