Hamster wheels

[Maddamay32]

How are y'all putting your hamster wheels in your tanks? I'm not able to find any wheels that are metal free. Right now the one I currently have has it's metal base buried in the sub but I'm not happy with that. Do you guys have any ideas? I'm trying to think of some way to suspend the wheel itself and ditch the base but I'm not having any luck.
I've seen those plastic "flying saucer" hamster wheels but I don't really like them. Let me know what y'all think I should do!

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[Maddamay32]

Here's what it looks like right now

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[PinchersAndShells]

I use command hooks to hang mine upside down like this:

I’m not too concerned about the metal because most of it is coated in paint, and I’m not directly spraying the wheel with water. Metal itself isn’t harmful to the crabs, just rust.


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[Maddamay32]

I love that! Thank you so much, I have the same thing going on in my tank with the hooks and fishnet!!!

[CrabbyLover77]

I use command hooks to hang mine upside down like this:

I’m not too concerned about the metal because most of it is coated in paint, and I’m not directly spraying the wheel with water. Metal itself isn’t harmful to the crabs, just rust.


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I know that's a temperature probe in the pic, but it looks like a mini microphone...maybe it's recording their crabby conversations for the nightly news? Lol

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[ciaraalston]

I ordered mine from Amazon. I'm not sure if its coated metal or plastic. Maybe I should have checked that before hand....

Anyways, mine is hung the same way! And they love it! They hang out on the white piece that's possibly metal, so far no issues and no paint chips that I've seen!

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[GotButterflies]

Both types of wheels are fine! In two of my tanks I have two silent spinners and one saucer. All three get used in the tanks! It's actually funny to see them on the saucer!

[ROSIEonFIRE]

I use command hooks to hang mine upside down like this:

I’m not too concerned about the metal because most of it is coated in paint, and I’m not directly spraying the wheel with water. Metal itself isn’t harmful to the crabs, just rust.


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How sure are we that rust is harmful to crabs? Iron is one of the most abundant elements on earth and I imagine that crabs are exposed to it (and consequently rust) from time to time in the wild. I have been thinking alot about this question because the metal stand for my hamster wheel is very rusty and I'm wondering how important it is to do something about that.

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[PinchersAndShells]

I’m going to quote a post by wodesorel on another topic - sorry in advance for not typing out my own response! College has me exhausted, barely enough energy to cook food for myself.

Iron oxide by itself is considered harmless in small quantities, though unsightly. Between the humidity and the salt it's pretty well unavoidable. You shouldn't let a lot into the tank, but some is okay. Try to remove whatever is really rusting, or find a way to cover it so it doesn't fall in. Rusty lids can be repainted, but they take a few weeks to air out after.

[purplepincher]

im just a teen. any simple ways to hang mine? all we have is plastic ones on stands. : (

[PinchersAndShells]

Command hooks are really easy to hang, they’re less than $10 for a pack at Walmart.

[purplepincher]

thx 4 the advice

[purplepincher]

but can i put in a wheel that looks like this?

<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... mster2.jpg" alt="Image result for hamster wheel"/>

[Maddamay32]

but can i put in a wheel that looks like this?

<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... mster2.jpg" alt="Image result for hamster wheel"/>

I would say no, their claws have been known to get caught in the little holes and chip them or pull them off.

[GotButterflies]

but can i put in a wheel that looks like this?

<img src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/imag ... mster2.jpg" alt="Image result for hamster wheel"/>

This wheel is unsafe. Not only can their legs get caught in the holes, if you have more than one crab, their legs can get snapped off by the bars that hold the wheel. You need a wheel that has one way in and one way out. For example, Kaytee Silent Spinner. Walmart sells a similar wheel for fairly cheap.