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Why do hamsters run round in a wheel all night2007-11-24 22:19:19

The reason they use wheels is not because they think they are running somewhere - it is just for exercise. They know they aren't getting anywhere.

I have heard that you can try to switch their sleep pattern so they are awake in the day but I don't know how you can do it - sorry!

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Hampsters naturally are scurrying little furballs that have a desire to run about. Being caged up is kind of restricting that except for the relief of the wheel.

Biting the cages is probably grinding down his teeth to stop them becoming overgrown. Add some good gnawing stuff to his cage such as nuts and so may help.

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In the wild hamsters would travel up to 8 miles a night on those little legs of theirs in search of food, so hamsters that are domesticated are just playing out an instinct that is built into them. But yes, your right, you would think that they would realise they are not getting anywhere fast!

Hamsters diets can be quite high in fat to as they love sunflower seeds, hazlenuts, monkey nuts etc, and being in a cage all day can cause obesity in hamsters so its actually a way for them to kep healthy too.

Me and my husband have had our male hamster a year, and he's no ones fool. He has never played on his wheel the whole time we have had him, so we have to make sure he comes out of the cage at least an hour every day to exercise.

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think they like the exercise, don't really know but...