Exercise wheel

[Bebe<3]

Hi, I bought my chinchilla a 15 inch exercise wheel and she has no interest in it at all. I've tried holding a treat up so she will learn to walk on it but she just reaches up and grabs the treat then runs away, or she will loose interest and again, run away. I am afraid she is not getting any exercise but is it possible that she will just never want to run on a wheel? I have also considered buying a flying saucer but that is alot of money to spend on something she may never use :hmm:

 

[Linzizzlejo]

Did you just put it in today? Give her a little time and she'll either figure it out or stumble onto it and see that it turns. I'm sure its hard for a chinchie to just look at a wheel for the first time and know what to do

 

[Sdo9396]

Hi, I bought my chinchilla a 15 inch exercise wheel and she has no interest in it at all. I've tried holding a treat up so she will learn to walk on it but she just reaches up and grabs the treat then runs away, or she will loose interest and again, run away. I am afraid she is not getting any exercise but is it possible that she will just never want to run on a wheel? I have also considered buying a flying saucer but that is alot of money to spend on something she may never use :hmm:

It takes some chins a few days to figure out how to use a wheel. How old is your chin? People don't suggest letting a chin have a wheel until they are at least 6 months old so that they don't exercise too much while they're still growing and burning off much needed calories. Give her a few days and see if she figures it out. Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Bebe<3]

She just turned six months a couple days ago and it has been in her cage for about three months maybe a little less but I would think that's enough time but maybe she was just too young?

 

[michellemonster]

its like what my draken does. i bought him a brand new shiny wheel.. instead of going on it and running he decided best use of the wheel was to sit on top of it or crawl under it. but he wont go on it and run. and he has had it for months.

 

[ticklechin]

Young chins IMO should not have a wheel yet.

 

[Bebe<3]

:laughitup: Exactly, she goes on it and under it, but not in it! Well thanks everyone I will try again when she is older.

 

[lauralynne]

Take into consideration that she may be using it...just not when you're watching.

 

[Pikaia]

When I got my Chichi, she would not use the wheel. She was a year and a half old, but never had a wheel before. I tried to tempt her with treats, I spun it to try and demonstrate for her, but she never had any interest. When she had the kits, they just jumped right into it and started running! Mind you, the kits never had a wheel in their cage. Just in their playpen. Chichi started using it after that! The kits actually taught mommy a thing or two!

Trying again when she's older is a good idea.