Silent Runner Ø 29 cm Regular

Firstly, this is being sold at an extortionate price here. It should be about £25.Secondly - I was a huge fan of this wheel when it first came out - not only was it silent but it fitted well to cage bars, which helps me create a good cage set up for a hamster. I have had three of them since they first came out, and yes they can be a pain to clean but they were safe, sturdy, silent and fitted to the bars.I no longer think so. I bought my fourth wheel recently and there are little gaps inside next to the joining strip on the running track. I know how to put these wheels together properly - I've had three before, I've reviewed the wheel, I know the manufacturer instructions. It should have no gaps inside either side of the joining strip. I queried this with both the seller (not bought on Amazon) and with Exotic Nutrition and sent photos and both said - it's always been like that and it's normal. I don't agree. I have had three of them before - it is starting to mess with my head! I must have imagined that this is normal when it wasn't before. Anyway I am not happy. Look at the photos. The joining strip fits clearly on the outside - no gaps (yes you have to push the front and back very firmly together to ensure no gaps). But on the inside there are. Underneath these gaps on the inside is the plastic outer rim, so they are not "deep" gaps - there is no air showing through - it is not a gap that goes all the way through. It's a shallow gap - but it's still a gap. Not good enough. Sadly I am switching to something else. There are other good silent wheels with solid running tracks with no gaps. I am told "hamsters run in the middle - not near the gaps". Not good enough. Hamsters are maverick. And run very fast - I am just not happy with the idea a toenail could get caught.I can recommend the Trixie 28cm which is cheap and cheerful (if you don't want a completely silent wheel). Or the Karlie Wonderland cork 28cm wheel (it's slightly better quality than the Trixie one that looks identical) - which is silent. Neither are as long lasting but a running track is important. As I still want a wheel that fits to the bars well and have a Rodipet cork wheel for our dwarf hamster, I will be doing the same for our Syrian now. Except Rodipet are out of stock so I'm getting the 30cm getzoo one which is similar. I will need to make a cage adaptation so it screws to the bars.