One Wheel or Two Wheels?

[andyv2k14]

So, I got one wheel for my babies (call it Lilath's turning 6 month old present). Both chins love the wheel and are constantly clambering all over it. I was wondering, do two chins need two wheels? Or are they good with one because space constraints make two difficult.

They don't fight over it or anything, they actually try to run in tandem, which is highly entertaining. I'm just worried that one will throw the other off and cause injury of some sort. If I need a second wheel, I might just schedule exercise times for them, tho I hate to be too controlling of their lives.

Watching two run in tandem on a wheel is hilarious though. Unfortunately, Lilath is still smaller than Tig, and so sometimes when Tig gets going, Lilath gets thrown off the wheel.

 

[Godofgods]

Watching two run in tandem on a wheel is hilarious though.

That it is lol. While i dont no your chins personaly (obviously), I have had no rela problem with this myslef. I have one cage of two males, and one cage of three females. Both with their own wheel. Some times they will want on at the same time, but as to date theyve never had any issues with it.

Tho their was this one time...

Mother Sophie likes to use the metal wheel as a bed to rest on when shes up. One time she was actuly laying on it and her daughter hopped up on their and started to run.... That was one shocked chinchilla lol :laughitup:

 

[ChinnyMom]

i would think one wheel would be enough. i would make sure the wheel is close to the cage floor so that when Lilath gets thrown off the wheel, it isn't a drop for them. fleece liners on your cage floor will help cushion them.

 

[AznTiger]

i think one is fine. actually my shares and takes turns. but omg my tum tum sleeps JUSt like that on it!! so cute!!

 

[andyv2k14]

THanks

Thanks for the input. Yeah, Tig likes to sleep on the wheel sometimes and Lilath will jump on just to throw her off. Might be a bit vengeful there, but it's funny. It's weird because Tig is bigger (and older), but Lilath is far more pushy than she is. Must be short chin syndrome or something, but it is hilarious to watch.

Any ideas for feeding them treats? I feed them both the exact same treat and Lilath drops hers to try and steal Tig's. I guess the biscuit must taste better when it rightfully belongs to someone else.

 

[ChinnyMom]

by 'biscuit' what treat do you mean exactly? there are many treats out there that aren't safe for chins. pretty much any treat you can buy in a store (like petsmart, etc) is not healthy at all and full of sugar.

you could give Tig a treat first, and then give Lilath hers in a different area of the cage. might help.

 

[greychins]

I think one wheel should be fine. Even in the cages where we have several chins, there's only one wheel. Sure, they do sometimes try to run at the same time, which is pretty comical, but for the most part they share. I wouldn't think you'd need two... one should be fine.

 

[andyv2k14]

By treats I mean plain shredded wheat. I was told that once a week a shredded wheat piece is ok, just so long as they aren't babies and have plenty of water. So far, it hasn't been an issue, both have a good appetite, normal feces etc.

 

[Dewdrop]

Shredded wheat is fine

I think you'll be OK with one wheel too. Did you recently get it? My older two were kinda like that when I first got the wheels. They eventually figured it out and take turns nicely now.

 

[CritterLover86]

I would think one wheel is fine as well. I think they sometimes try to use it at the same time when it's a new toy, like kids, I don't think they're patient/willing to share the new toy I think as time goes on they'll take turns just fine

 

[Shooper]

My boys only have one flying saucer in their cage and do just fine. It is funny when they get pushy though!

 

[andyv2k14]

Has anyone ever had problems with two chins suddenly argueing? Mine will have little spats, I don't know a better term. It's not an actual fight, just trying to jump on each other's backs and a lot of indignant noises. Then they retreat to different corners of the cage and skulk. After about ten minutes, they go back to being together again. This is repeated two or three times a day. Should I be concerned? They still sleep together and share pretty well (outside of treats).

 

[Godofgods]

my two young girls do that sometimes (sisters). Usually a dominance thing. As long as its not escalating to anything.

 

[ChinnyMom]

how long have they been housed together andy? they could still be sorting out who's the dominant chin. keep an eye on them, and if it progresses to actual fighting, separate them.