Russian Hamster Vs. Hamster Wheel! | Pets: Wild At Heart | BBC Earth

For Russian hamsters, it's all about running. In nature, they cover 10 kilometres a night and often they have to outrun predators. In captivity, they can cover the same distance by running on the spot. And it seems they do it for fun. When scientists placed a wheel in the wild, mice took to it just as keenly as this enthusiastic hamster. Like human athletes, exercise creates a rush of endorphins. He experiences a runner's high. At full pelt, he reaches 600 strides a minute, four times more than the fastest racehorse. Moving x-ray shows that unlike horses, even when flat out, he always keeps one foot on the ground. He may be fast, but nothing improves performance like a bit of competition. Hamsters aren't the most sociable of creatures. It seems they're bad losers too. The loser settles for the consolation prize, while the winner goes for gold. Like wild hamsters, he mostly runs at dawn and dusk. But when the time is right, enthusiasm can get the better of him. His racing instinct is so ingrained, little puts him off. The quest for speed, once vital for survival, has become a game. While he's been enjoying himself, so has the other hamster.