Bed or Saucer? you decide!

[Waysidecorpse]

Ok so i recently got in my FN cage and had ALL this extra room for him and stuff for which he can do his chin stuff with, So i figured it was time to get him a wheel of some sort, so i went to my local pet stores to see if i could find a good Saucer as i heard wheel's where just bad for chinchillas for various reasons and broke down and bought him a blue "Flying Saucer" at least thats what it said on teh package, and i put it into his cage when i got home. He seemed like he didn't care much for it to begin with but did investigate it and decided it would be a good place to take a nap. Now ever sense i left it in there i find him sleeping on it or under it and i have never seen or heard him using it. im starting to think my chinny doesn't understand teh concept of a wheel.

 

[EternallyCynical]

Its probably good that he decided to sleep on it rather than run on it..... plastic is hazardous at best, but those plastic saucer wheels are TERRIBLE. I've seen those, and they're flimsy and unsteady.... they won't hold up to much running at ALL. Any suitable chinchilla wheel won't be found in a big-box pet store.

 

[3CsMommy]

The plastic "flying saucers" are knock offs of the original ones designed for chins. You can order the real galvanized metal one from Quality Cage Co. for about $100.

 

[akane]

For $50 you can get a silver surfer which has a more standard running style but they aren't the quietest wheels.

 

[Waysidecorpse]

you say 50-100 dollars but you all forget i live in alaska and shipping and handling KILLS me up here so i use what i can get and if that makes me a bad chin owner then fine by me.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

My little honor students never got the hang of their metal flying saucer, so I got them a Chin Spin. They love it!!! Try Craigslist in cities near you or ask the Humane Society...

 

[Waysidecorpse]

Let me try to explain this, I live in alaska and 90% of the stuff i have bought for boco has had to be shipped up here, now i pay roughly 40-200 dollars shipping and handling depending on said item, so that 100 dollar chin spinner you suggest i buy would cost me anywhere between 40 and 60 dollars.

 

[Nerk]

No one said you were a bad owner, they're only trying to help from experiences and what they've learned. I'd say if the plastic one is the only option, only to designated run time on it to make sure it doesn't start breaking and he isn't chewing on it, plastic can and will cause digestion issue, even if not at first it will over time. As people have said, they're not the best quality and may break easily, that's why you should keep a close eye on it. If you can, search craigslist you may find hidden gems on there. And maybe over time you can save up for a chinspin or silver saucer. You'll have Boco between 10-15 years and you'll get your money's worth out of either.

 

[3CsMommy]

1) A safe wheel isn't hard to engineer if you know somebody with tools and can get sheet metal, a cabinet lazy susan mount, and a 14" piece of wood. That said, I priced it out a Flying Saucer shipped by UPS ground to Nome, Alaska; you'd pay $87 for the wheel and $72 for the shipping.

2) Why waste money when stuff is so hard to come by, and a chin vet is likely even harder to find? Better for the chin to have no wheel at all than a potentially dangerous junky one that kills him before his time.

3) "i use what i can get and if that makes me a bad chin owner then fine by me. "
Being limited by means/location may not make you a "bad chin owner" but usually, a bad attitude will. If you're not going to at least take valid safety concerns to heart, then why are you here?

 

[Narcissus]

no wheel is better than an improper one.... that is just my opinion

 

[Waysidecorpse]

**** it I'm taking boco to the animal shelter maybe they can treat him better then I can.

 

[ninjaturtletayy]

Not one time did anyone tell you to take Boco to the shelter. You are blowing this way out of proportion for no reason at all. Everyone just suggested that you get a different wheel just because we all know how dangerous plastic is. But given your situation, as long as you keep an eye on it and make sure Boco is safe and not chewing it, then it's fine. Never once did you address the possibility of looking at Craiglist or other places around you. No one told you that you're a bad chin owner except yourself. We can all safely assume that you do the best that you can for Boco, that's why people suggested other options. So instead of acting immature and twisting comments and acting like everyone is attacking you, you could try and just take the suggestions to heart instead of using it as a reason to get rid of your beloved pet. You don't HAVE to get the metal wheels, but you CAN just watch him and make sure that he isn't chewing the plastic one. So do not act like everyone here is against you and you have to get rid of your pet because that was not implied one time from anyone's comments.

 

[Lynn & The Chins]

Chins can live an excellent, happy life even without a wheel as long as they are loved and otherwise well cared for.

 

[Godofgods]

 

[mercynursie]

I think everyone hear is actually trying to help you in the long run not put your care for your animal in question. Even the problem of needing a veterinarian is a problem in many states,not just Alaska. I live in an area where there are not really any true chinchilla vets. I was blessed to talk with a breeder a few years ago in the next state over and she gave me the name of the vet that she used.Thank God I found a vet first before I needed one. When your pet is injured or sick is not the time to have to try to find a competent chinchilla vet-not just an exotic vet.Even the vet that I use/was recommended is at least one hour away from me and he is only willing to see my guys since he used to have personal chinchillas/breeder years ago. He is first to tell me that he is not fully up to speed on the newest chinchilla treatments and if he is not comfortable with treating my animal he would refer me to a specialist who most likely would be at least 4 hrs one way to state university/chinchilla vets are more common in that area of our state.The next problem I face is getting meds compounded for the chinchillas as not many pharmacies compound anymore/much less have vet meds on hand. Just giving you some advice,not in any way trying to say you aren't caring for your baby so please don't take it wrong. I've had pet chins now for over ten years and I am still learning about caring for these wonderful guys.Also these forums are one of my best resources for expert chinchilla care and advice when I need it. So just please think about your baby first-don't surrender him,just start having backup plans. That's all I can say.

 

[3CsMommy]

Keeping an animal ethically isn't about doing stuff "your way," it's about doing what's best for that animal. Not swallowing the malarkey pet supply sellers shovel to make money off of well-meaning people who don't know better is always going to be more responsible than taking a shot in the dark on a cool looking product. And pet suppliers lie regularly.

Have one of these
:chillpill:
and think about what we're collectively saying.

Chewing plastic is documented to cause gut impactions in mammals.
+
For chinchillas, impactions are frequently fatal.
=
A plastic wheel can kill your chin.
+
Most chinchillas live quite well without a wheel at all.
+
He's not running in it anyway.
=
Take it back, get your money back, and spend it on hay or rose hips or safe supplies (like a back up glass water bottle; I've lost count of how many I've broken while cleaning or had suddenly spring a leak).

Being responsible about your pets isn't difficult if you're willing to actually learn how do it instead of just guessing and doing things the way you want. If he's important enough to keep as a pet, he's important enough to not willingly endanger by being stubborn.

 

[DanceswithElvis]

I don't have a wheel. Nibbler was too...uh..."special" to use his wheel properly. So I just took it out. (He kept getting stuck behind it.) He's perfectly happy without it.

 

[e.murphy518]

I really hope you weren't serious about taking Boco to a shelter. I am sure he is happy with you and you seem to care a lot about him. No one on this forum is trying to make you feel as though you are a bad chin owner, but the reason for this forum is to post questions and comments and receive input from other people. Naturally, when forum members see something that they feel they can provide input on, they will in the hopes of helping out both you and your pet, and possibly preventing an accident that could wind up costing you thousands in vet bills. The fact that you are on this forum shows that you care for Boco, as I said I really hope you do not really intend to give him up. I agree with one of the above comments that that would be a drastic overreaction to people suggesting that a flimsy plastic wheel is unsafe. He really will be okay without a wheel, and if you save up a little bit each month, one day you will have enough to invest in a good quality wheel.

 

[fluffybut]

I wouldn't take your chin to the shelter. Everyone is right, no wheel is fine!

 

[MyzarandGemma]

Just because you live in Alaska does not mean your chin will live an unhappy life. I have heard horror stories about impaction with chinchillas... it is obvious that you love your chinchilla, so just do right by him. You wouldn't feed your dog chocolate, don't feed your chin plastic.

Also, I know for a fact both of my boys sleep on their silver surfer and only one gets how to run on it lol!