What to ask for...

[cooljm94]

So I'm stuck between a chin spin and a flying saucer (the metal one), I own 3 chinchillas and it seems 2 know how to use it but only one likes the wheel. I have my chinchillas in my bedroom, I'm a pretty deep sleeper but I would still prefer a quieter wheel. I love the fact that the saucer is more "fitted" for a chinchilla's spine, but I also want them to get exercise. Space isn't a big deal as I have the ferret nation 142.
So which one should be on my christmas list?
Do you think all my chinchillas eventually catch on to a saucer?

PS I tested to see if they knew how to use a saucer with the crappy plastic one at petsmart.

 

[RDZCRanch]

If you want a quite wheel, I was told by someone who owns at least one of each of the chinchilla safe wheels that the grape escape/silver surfer wheel is the quietest. Some people say the running surface of the grape escape/silver surfer is too small, but a few years back the number one chinchilla wheel was the Leo Braun which has a running surface about the same size. The Leo Braun wheels sold for about $80-$120 brand new if I remember correctly because they were hand made by Leo Braun. Unfortunately, Leo passed on so it has become extremely difficult to find a Leo Braun.

So, IMO, if you are going for quiet, I would go with the silver surfer/grape escape.

 

[missjess10475]

I have also been deciding on chin spins or silver surfers. It seems like people really like the chin spins, but many of them have to replace bolts, etc. on a regular basis. Not everyone, but a lot. I don't want to have to do that, so I'm going to get silver surfers for my chins.

 

[sheltiefan]

I have a question about the grape esape.
I have a superpet cage ( purple with purple shelves and green ramps ) I have taken out the green ramps. I still have purple shelves she doesn't really chew on on them. All the chew marks on it was made from my rats ( when they used to live in it ) But I have read the chin spin will break the bars on the superpet cages because they are heavy and the welds arn't that good. Is the grape esape lighter? will it break the bars. What can i do to prevent the bars from breaking

 

[Cuddlebug]

Before I knew better, I had one of those plastic wheels that the pet stores sell. It was pretty light. any way, I had a super pet cage at that time. My chinchillas broke the cage running by running in their wheel. The welds broke just above the place where the wheel was attached.

 

[greychins]

I have a question about the grape esape.
I have a superpet cage ( purple with purple shelves and green ramps ) I have taken out the green ramps. I still have purple shelves she doesn't really chew on on them. All the chew marks on it was made from my rats ( when they used to live in it ) But I have read the chin spin will break the bars on the superpet cages because they are heavy and the welds arn't that good. Is the grape esape lighter? will it break the bars. What can i do to prevent the bars from breaking

The only wheel I've ever attached to a superpet cage was the flying saucer, and I never had a problem with that... That said, I've had bars break from shelves/perches being attached to them... which would seem lighter, but at the same time, some of those were smaller shelves/perches which only attached to the cage at one point... putting pressure on a specific bar. Versus like with the flying saucer or with the other wheels, where they attach to the cage at several points (flying saucer, 3 points, chin spin 4 points). I have never tried to attach a chin spin or other large heavy wheel to a superpet cage, but if I did, I would watch to check the bars seem ok.... and I'm not sure how well it would hold up to be perfectly honest.

 

[cooljm94]

So is it possible that my chins will never run on the wheel?

 

[sheltiefan]

The only wheel I've ever attached to a superpet cage was the flying saucer, and I never had a problem with that... That said, I've had bars break from shelves/perches being attached to them... which would seem lighter, but at the same time, some of those were smaller shelves/perches which only attached to the cage at one point... putting pressure on a specific bar. Versus like with the flying saucer or with the other wheels, where they attach to the cage at several points (flying saucer, 3 points, chin spin 4 points). I have never tried to attach a chin spin or other large heavy wheel to a superpet cage, but if I did, I would watch to check the bars seem ok.... and I'm not sure how well it would hold up to be perfectly honest.

i got her a flying saucer but she was terrified of it. it was in there for like a motnh and she advoided it like the pleage. Any ideas about attaching a chin spin or grape esape?

 

[Essentia]

So is it possible that my chins will never run on the wheel?

It's always a possibility, though out of all the chins here (rescues and pets alike) they ALL run on their wheel. Some more than others, but every single chinchilla does make use of it. We have all different wheels here too. Some chin spins, flying saucers, and a couple Ed Wheels.