Post by Darren Lim on Mar 9, 2004 23:50:27 GMT -5
While a wheel is not a necessity it can be a great addition to your chinchilla’s cage. This is especially true if you do not have a lot of time to let your chin out for free run regularly. Most chins will figure out how to use the wheel on their own given some time. You may want to encourage them to hop in the wheel and then gently start rotating it with your hand if they have not picked it up after several weeks.
“The Rolls-Royce of wheels is known to be Leo Braun's” It is very expensive, and can be a bit noisy but is quality that is worth the money.
Here are some rules of thumb when considering a chin wheel:
Size 12” at least but 15”is recommended (important if you have larger chins)
Solid running surface. Although wire may make it easier to clean since pee and poop don’t mess it up, little chinnie feet have been known to get caught. Having your chinchilla get injured is not worth the risk for the sake of saving a few $$
No cross bars
Made of metal not plastic. Chins will chew plastic. Before you know it the wheel will be destroyed. Besides that plastic isn’t all that healthy for them to ingest.
Recommended Wheels
Leo Braun www.chinworld.com
FlyingSaucer www.chinworld.com
Mary Ann Holden’s wheels www.questhavenpets.com
Wheels to avoid
15" Quality Cage Powder Coated Wheel, such as the one sold at www.TheFerretStore.com
Wodent Wheel. If you go to www.wodentwheel.com it says on the site ASPCA approved. Once again proving not everything you read is true.
chinmania.tripod.com/chin_wheels.html Has instructions for building your own wheel
There are many other cages out there, both safe and unsafe. This will hopefully get you started.
“The Rolls-Royce of wheels is known to be Leo Braun's” It is very expensive, and can be a bit noisy but is quality that is worth the money.
Here are some rules of thumb when considering a chin wheel:
Size 12” at least but 15”is recommended (important if you have larger chins)
Solid running surface. Although wire may make it easier to clean since pee and poop don’t mess it up, little chinnie feet have been known to get caught. Having your chinchilla get injured is not worth the risk for the sake of saving a few $$
No cross bars
Made of metal not plastic. Chins will chew plastic. Before you know it the wheel will be destroyed. Besides that plastic isn’t all that healthy for them to ingest.
Recommended Wheels
Leo Braun www.chinworld.com
FlyingSaucer www.chinworld.com
Mary Ann Holden’s wheels www.questhavenpets.com
Wheels to avoid
15" Quality Cage Powder Coated Wheel, such as the one sold at www.TheFerretStore.com
Wodent Wheel. If you go to www.wodentwheel.com it says on the site ASPCA approved. Once again proving not everything you read is true.
chinmania.tripod.com/chin_wheels.html Has instructions for building your own wheel
There are many other cages out there, both safe and unsafe. This will hopefully get you started.