One detail that you hinted at, but didn't actually say, is what can happen when the wheel is the only source of enrichment, rather than just one of many. Under that specific circumstance, wheel running can infact become an obsession (stereotypic behavior), where the rats WON'T stop when they start to get uncomfortable, or even when they're straight up in pain. It's comparable to humans with anxiety chewing their finger nails so short that they start to bleed. That would be an example of bad husbandry, which unfortunately often goes hand in hand with wheels that are too small. These are the cases where it is easiest to blame the wheel for any problems the rat may have, when really, the problem is caused by the way they are being kept.
there’s only two useful things Kaytee sells for rats. the largest comfort wheel is a great wheeel for rats (i use it) and the clean and cozy bedding. actually, the cage cleaner is alright too.
why do i find my rats running on their wheel so entertaining?? i get happy every time they use it especially since i just got them and i didnt think they would use it
My rat curls her tail when she runs in a wheel. It disappears when she runs a few minutes outside the wheel. It doesn’t look genetic. I made a compromise. I use it when they roam around, it’s not in the cage. Her tail still curves for 1-2 minutes but not because she’s in pain she just holds it like that 🤷♀️ I have the biggest wheel I could buy it’s not too small it’s even 1/3 bigger than yours. I learned my rats so many tricks from your tutorials, thank you so much! It’s so fun to see them learning and especially to surprise people that rats can outsmart a cat and even a dog. Everyone who left the house was just in love with them :)
Wheel Tail is pretty much the silliest theory I've ever heard. They sleep curled up in hammocks for many more hours than they'd ever spend on a wheel. Why don't they call it Hammock Tail? 😂
I Tell you why. One reasons is muscle tension. If they lay down to sleep they are relaxed, but running in a wheel and actively holding the tail up is like training. It trains the brain and muscles into a certain position and then you get problems with joints. Its like with humans having bad posture due to habitual movement patterns Bad posture does Not only affect the tail, but everything that is connected with them. Hips , spine etc until you reach the front
I had 2 rats that's didn't but once I got a third one, and she does run on it she taught the others how two run on the wheel. If you want them to use it and are planning to get another rat I'd suggest doing what I did.
I have 7 girls and two 14" wheels in the cage. I have a triple CN cage. Only three of the rats run on the wheel and usually it's only for a few minutes. When they were younger they all would run. I used to laugh at them cause not only would two of them try to run inside but a third would always try to run on top... Needless to say she would get flung to the floor lol. Non of my rats have curved tails. They are all normal. My rats ages are from 1-2 yrs of age.
Thanks for this info. For folks who say rats might run on it for long periods of time to their own detriment, there is no rule that a person has to leave it in the cage at all times. I don't. I put it in every now and then and they are thrilled with it, which probably not be the case if it was just part of the "furniture" so to speak.
The ONLY issue ive EVER had with a wheel was one of my girls loved the wheel so much she couldn't keep weight onto her. She always had issues since I got her. She was so adventurous and could not keep weight onto her unless I forced her into a small cage for a few days. Which we both hated. I fed her and her sisters every day but she finally passed on because of the weight issue.... RIP Allie girl...
Hi Shadow the Rat how are you doing today fine I hope. thanks so much for sharing this video with us it was so much fun to watch. This video was very informative. I really didn't know if rats like wheels or not. I have a hamster and she doesn't go on her wheel she uses it as a climbing frame
I never even thought of giving them a wheel... always assumed that was a hamster thing. Mine have the entire living room/inside of sofa and armchairs to explore when they’re out and about so lots of climbing and burrowing and ratty shenanigans. x
At about 10 months, one of my rats decided that she will always have "wheel tail". She's never used a wheel and it doesn't seem to bother or impede her at all.
I’d suggest looking for bird cages as those are often large and have appropriate bar spacing. Otherwise the European version of the double critter nation (my cage) is the savic royal suite.
Thanks for this video, I've been debating on whether or not to get my rats a wheel. I'm going to now since seeing this video and now that they have their big rat " condo " as I call it. I think it will give them something else to do plus get exercise ... ☺️🐁
I'm planning on getting rats and picked up a nice little wheel on clearance at petsmart. i realized while waiting in line that it was probably too small (and it was, only 8". it's also wire mesh, which I knew was wrong but I just couldn't pass up the deal lol). I'll break it down and use it to make something else, like a strange bed or climbing toy or something. Not sure what I'll do with it yet. I'm thinking of getting a silent spinner made by my breeder, or getting one of those saucer runners (or both? not sure!) Thanks for the tips. I thought the debate was a bit odd, and this helped me understand it a bit.
One big con; If you sleep in the same room that you have the cage in, wheels make a lot of noise. I am often woken up at 3 am to the sound of the wheel. (I just rollover and fall asleep again so it's not that bad).
Have you seen the bucket wheels that use a rollerblade wheel for spinning? These wheels are absolutely silent. The only noise you hear is their little feet, though the cage may shake and make some noise when they get running really fast. I have the 16" wheel from Tic Tac Wheels.
I ve got now a wheel for my 1 year old male (but one is very active) rats but the issue is, they are terrified of it. I used to stick banana pieces inside it so they would learn to go in it. It worked for short times if I hold the wheel from moving but when it moves it becomes creepy for them. What could be the best way to teach them not to be scared of it?
How long have they had it? I've found it can take up to a month for my rats to start using the wheel, and the best thing to do is just leave it in the cage 24/7 so they can adjust at their own pace.
Do you think you'll ever use cage liners for the cage? I just started by making my own liners and it's worked out well so far. It's so cheap, easy and not messy. It would be a good idea to make the cage easier to clean 😊
Are your rats bathroom trained? if so was it hard? My last mischief it never caught on but I just got a set of young boys and want to try it again :) I don't wanna use cage liners if they'll just stamp poop into it so toilet training is wanted XD
They sometimes poop in a specific corner, or in their litter basket. I didn't really do anything to train them, i just put the litter pan in the corner (I also scooped some poop in there so they know where to go) they pooped in the most and they did their thing in the basket after a while. You just need to clean it, or they will turn to another corner. But make sure at least one piece of poop stays in there to make sure they know where to go. After about a year i finally figured out i was spending over 30 dollars every few months on bedding. Just try what i did.
I got a saucer for my girls a couple of months ago, but none of them have seemed interested at all, even after cage reshuffles and me baiting the wheel (they turn it with their front paws to get at the baby food, which is adorable). They do have an entire sofa to explore though, so maybe that's part of it?
Rats don't typically like saucer wheels - I'd guess its because to use them they have to essentially run sideways. Out of 20 rats, all who loved the upright wheel, i only had 1 rat use the saucer wheel and even she preferred the upright wheel. And we had some fancy 14 inch saucer wheels so it was more than large enough - I even started 3 of my rats with only saucer wheels at 4 weeks old, and all used it at first, but then I gave them an upright option from 5 weeks onward and 2 switched and never looked back (the third would use both and is the only rat I've had that would use the saucer at all lol). Anyways all that is to say I'd recommend trying a normal 12+ inch wheel for at least a month - chances are your rats will like it quite a bit (the reason i say it might take a month is because some of my rats have taken a few weeks to adjust, especially to my metal wheels. But they do adjust and now all my rats prefer the large metal bucket wheels, although they will use the plastic 12 inch one occasionally as well. But none of my current rats will use the saucer wheel, and honestly at this point I'm considering donating it to someone with mice or a hamster since they seem to actually use saucer wheels)!
No - saucer wheels force the rats to run at a sideways angle, which isn't natural for them and so discourages use. Occasionally very young rats may be willing to use very large saucer style wheels, but it won't last past a few weeks of age and its never as comfortable or easy for them to use as a traditional wheel. I'd recommend a 15-16 inch normal upright wheel for any rats, including babies, dwarfs, and standard adults.
My oldest has it reaaally bad. Shes unable to make her tail even slightly straight. Shes been given to my local shelter in a 20 gallon tank so im guessing when she was young she had a mouse wheel and it was never taken out. Her tail is pretty much in a full hoop on her back at this point. My girls have the large silent spinner and she wont touch it so im assuming it was a overall bad experience. She was maybe 1 to 1.5 years old when i got her, shes now going on 3. Rats should always have a wheel, the largest you can get. People tend to think that if they can squeeze in they dont need a bigger one. I have a collection of hamster wheels from getting my rats and two running balls. That can be another video topic for you? Not too many people know the dangers of that ball and why rats should never be in one. Sorry for the long comment but a small tip, i have a large running ball without the lids and i tip tie one end to the back of a cage and it makes a sturdy large enclosed bed, just throw in a blanket and they love it. Just need to make sure the holes at the bottom are covered for their feet
Unfotunantly shipping one to the US is insane - I mention that in this video (ruclips.net/video/ZW6yMIFImJw/видео.html) near the end actually, because I wanted one but paying like $150-200 due to shipping was crazy. Anyways he video I linked above has me reviewing the chin sprint which is a metal bucket wheel that’s 15 inches - it’s basically the US version of tic tak wheels and great quality and noiseless. Only downside is the price ($95-$120 depending on where you buy) but it’s still cheaper than shipping a tic tak wheel here. Anyways I still leave my 12 inch kaytee wheel in the cage as well just in case more than 2 rats want to use it (2 can run on the 15 inch at once or 3 if they squeeze but I like giving them a second option) and since most of my girls are on the smaller side they tend to use both the 15 inch and 12 inch interchangeably (my 2 largest girls however almost exclusively use the 15 inch)
I've had 9 rats over the years and not a single one of them has ever even tried to use a wheel and I've provided them all with one to begin with. I've used the biggest ones available and the disc ones. Eventually I end up taking them out to make room for items they will use.
I find a lot of things influence if they use them, for starters I find some rats need 2-4 weeks to even start using it so I always leave the wheel in the cage for at least that long. I also find where the wheel is really matters - for example my girls run on the wheel more when its on the bottom of the cage and if its on the bottom they won't poop or pee on it (something they do if its on a shelf). As for the saucer wheel I've only ever had rats introduced at 4 weeks old take to it so I'd say its just not natural for them, even among my 4 month old girls who were introduced to it at 4 weeks old only one girl (Biscuit) actually uses it at this point (the others use the normal vertical wheel).
@@ShadowTheRat I left the wheels in much longer than that and they still showed no interest, other than just lying in it sometimes. Oh well, they've always been happy enough without a wheel anyway.
The wheels in this video are actually the minimum size for rats - you really want to go bigger when possible. Anyways the green wheels are 12 inch kaytee comfort wheels while the blue saucer is a 12 inch silent spinner (which I wouldn’t go for as many rats never use it). With that being said a 14-16 inch wheel would be best - here is a 16 inch wheel I made myself for $15: ruclips.net/video/2ClycBagr-U/видео.html&app=desktop
Since most rats don’t use them I’d say no. I had to introduce my girls to it at 4 weeks old just for them to learn it (older rats have always ignored it) and once I let them have a normal wheel 2 girls switched over and never looked back. Only the smallest of those 3 still uses it and so I wouldn’t recommend it (1 rat of my 20 so far had used it - however all 20 of my rats learned to use the normal wheel). Also the saucer is less natural of a way for them to run as it forces hem to run sideways - so your better off with a normal up and down wheel
Depends on how the wheel attaches. If it only has on attachment at the center then its better off using a stand (only having one center attachment point puts a lot of strain on the bars and also makes the wheel less stable), but if it has 3-4 attachment points then it can work on the bars as well.
Yeah but thats Not Always the case! Just Like Humans have Bad posture because one single wrong movement doesn't hurt. Its the sum of our Lifestyle that does harm us. Same with rats
Uh spinal issues/problems with posture are a thing caused by wheels that are to small, which most wheels are. You make it sound like thats not a thing but it is. Rats will not notice that because its not a problem that comes with the first use, but with multiple uses.
I need help my pets don't go in there weel idk why one of them is fat and is scared of the weel the other I put it on there it is like there is nothing to do ad goes please help 😣
All my rats had wheels just not the ones that will get their feet hurt plastic like yours never had a problem also had a baby playpen for time out of cage
i just put a wheel in my rats cage, and they were terrified of it, so i tried putting plain yoghurt (their favorite) around the inside, and they haven't touched it yet.
Just leave it - let them adjust on their own time. It’s normal for them to avoid it for a week or few but you have to let them approach it at their own pace. You can place food nearby but don’t place food on it at first since I’d they are scared it will just make them conflicted and potentially cause more anxiety about it - really it’s best to just do nothing and let them approach it at their own pace. Most of my rats have taken a week or two to start using the wheels but some have taken up to a month - in the end they all like them though so just settle in for the long run of letting them slowly acclimate to it.
I have the green Kaytee wheel shown in this video and it's super noisy. No amount of lubrication to the spindle helped to quiet it down. After a month of dealing with it, I got a Carolina storm wheel and the only noise that one has is the tapping of their feet on the plastic.
hi shadow the rat, this isn't really on the topic of wheels, but I'm really worried about my rats. they are fighting and one of them is puffed up, and the other is terrified of the other. the puffed up one goes up to the other one and kind of butts up to him, then he pins him down, and the scared one starts screaming a lot. do you have any idea what's going on? i separated them, and I've tried a few more interactions, but the same thing happens. could you please help me to understand what is going on? I'm really scared for them. thanks
its like every episode gets more serios. now if the scared one runs out of his hut, the other one chases him and was like jumpind and pounding one him with his front paws
Yes. Duh! Just make sure they’re big enough and are smooth/featureless. 12” diameters shown in this video will curve the spine and are far too small! 12” is minimum even for hamsters!
12 inches is fine for smaller rats or even medium rats, however yes, larger rats will need a larger wheel. And I also kept hamsters for years prior to rats and had both syrian and dwarf hamsters - dwarfs do fine in a 6-8 inch wheel depending on species, and Syrians need an 11-12 inch in most cases. I never had any especially large Syrians so I could see them perhaps needing a slightly larger wheel, but most would be perfectly fine with a 12 inch. You always have to base it on the individual of course, but in general female rats do fine with a 12-14 inch, and males do best with a 14-16 inch.
Hey, I know you don’t have the time to respond to anyone but I need your help. Several months ago I got two female rats, or they were supposed to be female.... today heard A bunch of squeaking and since I’ve had a little of dwarf Hampsters in the past I knew what the sound was... I went online to see what I could do and separated the male just in case. Left the female and her 15-16 babies in the original cage... wanted to know if you had any information for me of what to do in this situation. I’ve decided to work on finding them homes as soon as they’ve reached the age where they can leave the mom and separate the sexes.. would u know what the best food to feed her would be? And any other tips You could provide would be a tremendous help! If you can somehow email me or private message me write back here and I’ll send u my info! Thanks
I don’t have any personal experience with litters but I suggest you join the rat fan club on Facebook as they have a group specifically to help with oops litters. From what I do know though it’s good you seperate the male as females can get preganant again just after giving birth. Be careful with the cage as well as if it has levels there’s a possibility the mom will try and nest up high which could be harmful to the babies if they fall. Otherwise you’ll want to feed the mom lots of protein foods, boiled eggs, meat, cooked beans, and so on are great protein foods.
Shadow The Rat awesome thanks I’ll try that out! She seems to be a very attentive mom for such a young rat.. She seems okay when I put my hands in the cage to change her litter/food etc. And even though I read it’s alright to handle the babies because she won’t reject them, I’d rather not, just in case. Thanks for the tip!
Join our rat page on facebook it is called The Rat Fan Club (i am an admin there) we will be happy to provide detailed help there for your little cute jellybeans.
Shadow The Rat I’ve spent a few nights now doing as much research as I can. Problem is, so many people say many different things, however, they all agree protein is very important. I’ve given her some eggs and avocado, but beans totally slipped my mind so I appreciate the suggestion, thanks! We had a big second level which is where they used to always be, so when I removed the male, I removed the second level as well because I was worried about just that! She nests in the same corner and uses these two apple tree branches I had given her to chew on as mini walls to keep the nesting material in! I am honestly so surprised how smart she is, it really is amazing! She even knows to use the softer bedding on the inside, and rougher bedding on the outside! We started with 15 babies and unfortunately have lost 3. The first two disappeared the first night, (though I figured out by reading online what happened to them), and the third I removed when I was spot cleaning the cage. It’s sad, but I’m very glad to say that we haven’t lost any more in 3 days! The other 12 are looking wonderfully healthy, and except for two runts that are more on the smaller side, they now all have these ADORABLE chubby belly’s! I sing to them and check them everyday while I move Rin, (The Mom), to a temporary enclosure so she can eat, play with me, and take a breather for a few minutes. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching something so awesome, but wow, if I wasn’t so nervous to stress her out, i would just grab a chair and watch for hours! I would never breed just for “fun” or the experience, but it sure is amazing to see my baby have babies! Thanks again!
Mammary tumors suck :( If you can you might consider a vet consult - if the tumor is still small then removal is very possible (especially if the rat is health and not too old). If not then you just want to monitor it - rats do very well with tumors for the most part, and until it gets large enough to impede mobility they should continue to enjoy life. Once it starts effecting mobility though that's when you have to consider PTS, but until then if she seems happy and active then I'd just monitor her.
Wheel tail is rarely genetic. In most cases, it's indirectly the fault of a wheel. Rats who are 4 months or younger still have fragile, developing bones, and if you combine it with a wheel (like poor posture a child sits in eventually develops back issues) it'll heighten risks of a messed up tail. However, a bigger cause of wheel tail is diet. Everytime I hear someone say their rat has wheel tail, it's a rescue or pet store rat. And those rats grow up on very poor food, and/or are very underweight. I got 2 rats recently from a teenage girl who fed her rats an extremely poor diet. All her rats were extremely underweight and malnurished. I also noticed both rats had mild wheel tail syndrome, but one of them had a much more curled tail. If you feed your rats proper lab blocks, if you don't give them a wheel when they're under 5 or 4 months old, if your rat isn't underweight, you'll avoid wheel tail syndrome.
Its worth a shot, can't tell you if they'll like it or not but generally I find even my older rats take a run on it every once in a while. If you do get one be sure to leave it in the cage for at least 2-4 weeks as some rats take a while to discover how to use it.
This video is wheely good
Corny ass joke
Deathxz *good ass joke
One detail that you hinted at, but didn't actually say, is what can happen when the wheel is the only source of enrichment, rather than just one of many. Under that specific circumstance, wheel running can infact become an obsession (stereotypic behavior), where the rats WON'T stop when they start to get uncomfortable, or even when they're straight up in pain. It's comparable to humans with anxiety chewing their finger nails so short that they start to bleed.
That would be an example of bad husbandry, which unfortunately often goes hand in hand with wheels that are too small. These are the cases where it is easiest to blame the wheel for any problems the rat may have, when really, the problem is caused by the way they are being kept.
Well said
For anyone who is wanting to give there rats a wheel get the kaytee 12-14 inch one or the saucer wheel.
Frutti Bat I know Katie products are never that good for rats. The wheels are tough.
The Rat Crusader Some of their bedding is pretty good
there’s only two useful things Kaytee sells for rats. the largest comfort wheel is a great wheeel for rats (i use it) and the clean and cozy bedding. actually, the cage cleaner is alright too.
A 12” diameter wheel is too small for rats! Their spines clearly curve! LOL my #WinterWhite❄️ #Djungarian🐹 #RussianDwarfHamsters 🇷🇺 have a 12" wheel!
But it’s sooooo expensive
why do i find my rats running on their wheel so entertaining?? i get happy every time they use it especially since i just got them and i didnt think they would use it
My rat curls her tail when she runs in a wheel. It disappears when she runs a few minutes outside the wheel. It doesn’t look genetic. I made a compromise. I use it when they roam around, it’s not in the cage. Her tail still curves for 1-2 minutes but not because she’s in pain she just holds it like that 🤷♀️ I have the biggest wheel I could buy it’s not too small it’s even 1/3 bigger than yours. I learned my rats so many tricks from your tutorials, thank you so much! It’s so fun to see them learning and especially to surprise people that rats can outsmart a cat and even a dog. Everyone who left the house was just in love with them :)
Thank you, very interesting and informative. You are my rat guru for at east 2 years. You know about as much as a specialized vet imo!!! ❤
Wheel Tail is pretty much the silliest theory I've ever heard. They sleep curled up in hammocks for many more hours than they'd ever spend on a wheel. Why don't they call it Hammock Tail? 😂
I know right!
I Tell you why. One reasons is muscle tension. If they lay down to sleep they are relaxed, but running in a wheel and actively holding the tail up is like training. It trains the brain and muscles into a certain position and then you get problems with joints. Its like with humans having bad posture due to habitual movement patterns
Bad posture does Not only affect the tail, but everything that is connected with them. Hips , spine etc until you reach the front
My rat doesn’t know how to use a wheel
Some rats don’t bother, my rats have saucer that they never use.
I had 2 rats that's didn't but once I got a third one, and she does run on it she taught the others how two run on the wheel. If you want them to use it and are planning to get another rat I'd suggest doing what I did.
My girls are seriously scared of wheels. For some reason the fact that it moves when they touch it, freaks them out. So I had to get rid of it lmao.
Had four rats, only one used it, but she never really ran fast in it like this rat does.
I have 3 rats and only one of them uses it :,)
I have 7 girls and two 14" wheels in the cage. I have a triple CN cage. Only three of the rats run on the wheel and usually it's only for a few minutes. When they were younger they all would run. I used to laugh at them cause not only would two of them try to run inside but a third would always try to run on top... Needless to say she would get flung to the floor lol. Non of my rats have curved tails. They are all normal. My rats ages are from 1-2 yrs of age.
whered you get the wheel? i cant find any 14 inch wheels anywhere
Thanks for this info. For folks who say rats might run on it for long periods of time to their own detriment, there is no rule that a person has to leave it in the cage at all times. I don't. I put it in every now and then and they are thrilled with it, which probably not be the case if it was just part of the "furniture" so to speak.
Thx for the help keep up the good work😁👍🏾
The ONLY issue ive EVER had with a wheel was one of my girls loved the wheel so much she couldn't keep weight onto her. She always had issues since I got her. She was so adventurous and could not keep weight onto her unless I forced her into a small cage for a few days. Which we both hated. I fed her and her sisters every day but she finally passed on because of the weight issue.... RIP Allie girl...
Hi Shadow the Rat how are you doing today fine I hope. thanks so much for sharing this video with us it was so much fun to watch. This video was very informative. I really didn't know if rats like wheels or not. I have a hamster and she doesn't go on her wheel she uses it as a climbing frame
All my 3 girls love their wheel. I got them a 12 inch custom made metal wheel fixed to the cage wall. Runs silent plus good exercise for them.
I never even thought of giving them a wheel... always assumed that was a hamster thing. Mine have the entire living room/inside of sofa and armchairs to explore when they’re out and about so lots of climbing and burrowing and ratty shenanigans. x
Of course, that is much better.
At about 10 months, one of my rats decided that she will always have "wheel tail". She's never used a wheel and it doesn't seem to bother or impede her at all.
I am going to get 2 rat, but bere in Italy there aren't a lot of cages or they cost a lot.
Have you got some diy cheap cage ideas?
Anita Porcelli you can always take some sets of half inch bars and combine them together with zip ties and then put some toys in.
I’d suggest looking for bird cages as those are often large and have appropriate bar spacing. Otherwise the European version of the double critter nation (my cage) is the savic royal suite.
You could look at Erin’s hamster you Gould make the test tube cage
Anita Porcelli Check out zooplus
You could try to make something out of wire mesh if one is sold at your hardware store. Also, check local ads for used ones.
please could you do something like 10 things to know before getting a pet rat, or something like that?
She made a video on it called rat care 101 a few months ago
great review!
Thanks for this video, I've been debating on whether or not to get my rats a wheel. I'm going to now since seeing this video and now that they have their big rat " condo " as I call it. I think it will give them something else to do plus get exercise ... ☺️🐁
They should ALWAYS have a wheel unless they are roaming free.
Thank you!
I do think you should. It needs to be big enough for your biggest rat to fit in there and needs to not have wire as the run.
I also have observed that the tails will also when that are really happy.
I'm planning on getting rats and picked up a nice little wheel on clearance at petsmart. i realized while waiting in line that it was probably too small (and it was, only 8". it's also wire mesh, which I knew was wrong but I just couldn't pass up the deal lol). I'll break it down and use it to make something else, like a strange bed or climbing toy or something. Not sure what I'll do with it yet. I'm thinking of getting a silent spinner made by my breeder, or getting one of those saucer runners (or both? not sure!)
Thanks for the tips. I thought the debate was a bit odd, and this helped me understand it a bit.
When I first purchased pet rats I got them a wheel and they never used it lol
I have the same model of wheel
Now I want a wheel.... I should buy one soon! ^^
What’s your email or is there anyway that I can contact you?
rattrixs@Gmail.com is my email :)
@@ShadowTheRat can you email me a food list of food mixes of block foods i can mix for myrats
One big con; If you sleep in the same room that you have the cage in, wheels make a lot of noise. I am often woken up at 3 am to the sound of the wheel. (I just rollover and fall asleep again so it's not that bad).
Have you seen the bucket wheels that use a rollerblade wheel for spinning? These wheels are absolutely silent. The only noise you hear is their little feet, though the cage may shake and make some noise when they get running really fast. I have the 16" wheel from Tic Tac Wheels.
At first it annoyed me too, but now I can tune it out. Sometimes the sound helps me fall asleep. lol.
Some wheels also tend to unscrew off the cage wall and fall. Now this is the BIG con (-; Although after some running-in the problem disappeared.
My new one doesn't. Lmao.
I ve got now a wheel for my 1 year old male (but one is very active) rats but the issue is, they are terrified of it. I used to stick banana pieces inside it so they would learn to go in it. It worked for short times if I hold the wheel from moving but when it moves it becomes creepy for them. What could be the best way to teach them not to be scared of it?
How long have they had it? I've found it can take up to a month for my rats to start using the wheel, and the best thing to do is just leave it in the cage 24/7 so they can adjust at their own pace.
Do you think you'll ever use cage liners for the cage? I just started by making my own liners and it's worked out well so far. It's so cheap, easy and not messy. It would be a good idea to make the cage easier to clean 😊
Are your rats bathroom trained? if so was it hard? My last mischief it never caught on but I just got a set of young boys and want to try it again :) I don't wanna use cage liners if they'll just stamp poop into it so toilet training is wanted XD
They sometimes poop in a specific corner, or in their litter basket. I didn't really do anything to train them, i just put the litter pan in the corner (I also scooped some poop in there so they know where to go) they pooped in the most and they did their thing in the basket after a while. You just need to clean it, or they will turn to another corner. But make sure at least one piece of poop stays in there to make sure they know where to go. After about a year i finally figured out i was spending over 30 dollars every few months on bedding. Just try what i did.
I got a saucer for my girls a couple of months ago, but none of them have seemed interested at all, even after cage reshuffles and me baiting the wheel (they turn it with their front paws to get at the baby food, which is adorable). They do have an entire sofa to explore though, so maybe that's part of it?
Rats don't typically like saucer wheels - I'd guess its because to use them they have to essentially run sideways. Out of 20 rats, all who loved the upright wheel, i only had 1 rat use the saucer wheel and even she preferred the upright wheel. And we had some fancy 14 inch saucer wheels so it was more than large enough - I even started 3 of my rats with only saucer wheels at 4 weeks old, and all used it at first, but then I gave them an upright option from 5 weeks onward and 2 switched and never looked back (the third would use both and is the only rat I've had that would use the saucer at all lol).
Anyways all that is to say I'd recommend trying a normal 12+ inch wheel for at least a month - chances are your rats will like it quite a bit (the reason i say it might take a month is because some of my rats have taken a few weeks to adjust, especially to my metal wheels. But they do adjust and now all my rats prefer the large metal bucket wheels, although they will use the plastic 12 inch one occasionally as well. But none of my current rats will use the saucer wheel, and honestly at this point I'm considering donating it to someone with mice or a hamster since they seem to actually use saucer wheels)!
where did you get a 15 inch wheel? and do i need two wheels for two rats?
Would you recommend a 16 inch saucer style wheel?
No - saucer wheels force the rats to run at a sideways angle, which isn't natural for them and so discourages use. Occasionally very young rats may be willing to use very large saucer style wheels, but it won't last past a few weeks of age and its never as comfortable or easy for them to use as a traditional wheel. I'd recommend a 15-16 inch normal upright wheel for any rats, including babies, dwarfs, and standard adults.
@@ShadowTheRat thank you! I wanted to get a wheel for my rats and they're expected to grow pretty large, so what wheel would you recommend?
Nice girl, now i want one and i have a fancy mouse
My rats have a wheel but I have never seen them use it. Still, it's there if they want it.
My oldest has it reaaally bad. Shes unable to make her tail even slightly straight. Shes been given to my local shelter in a 20 gallon tank so im guessing when she was young she had a mouse wheel and it was never taken out. Her tail is pretty much in a full hoop on her back at this point. My girls have the large silent spinner and she wont touch it so im assuming it was a overall bad experience. She was maybe 1 to 1.5 years old when i got her, shes now going on 3. Rats should always have a wheel, the largest you can get. People tend to think that if they can squeeze in they dont need a bigger one. I have a collection of hamster wheels from getting my rats and two running balls. That can be another video topic for you? Not too many people know the dangers of that ball and why rats should never be in one. Sorry for the long comment but a small tip, i have a large running ball without the lids and i tip tie one end to the back of a cage and it makes a sturdy large enclosed bed, just throw in a blanket and they love it. Just need to make sure the holes at the bottom are covered for their feet
My gerbil ate the bottom of the saucer wheel and tried to make it into a Heidi spot
Trop intelligent il save que il vont pas nul part
I'm getting my 2 boys next week
Get the tic-tac wheel it’s big so they don’t get deformed and they are silent.
Unfotunantly shipping one to the US is insane - I mention that in this video (ruclips.net/video/ZW6yMIFImJw/видео.html) near the end actually, because I wanted one but paying like $150-200 due to shipping was crazy.
Anyways he video I linked above has me reviewing the chin sprint which is a metal bucket wheel that’s 15 inches - it’s basically the US version of tic tak wheels and great quality and noiseless.
Only downside is the price ($95-$120 depending on where you buy) but it’s still cheaper than shipping a tic tak wheel here.
Anyways I still leave my 12 inch kaytee wheel in the cage as well just in case more than 2 rats want to use it (2 can run on the 15 inch at once or 3 if they squeeze but I like giving them a second option) and since most of my girls are on the smaller side they tend to use both the 15 inch and 12 inch interchangeably (my 2 largest girls however almost exclusively use the 15 inch)
Will my rats need to be taught how to use the wheel or will they eventually get it on their own?
Nice video
I've had 9 rats over the years and not a single one of them has ever even tried to use a wheel and I've provided them all with one to begin with. I've used the biggest ones available and the disc ones. Eventually I end up taking them out to make room for items they will use.
I find a lot of things influence if they use them, for starters I find some rats need 2-4 weeks to even start using it so I always leave the wheel in the cage for at least that long. I also find where the wheel is really matters - for example my girls run on the wheel more when its on the bottom of the cage and if its on the bottom they won't poop or pee on it (something they do if its on a shelf).
As for the saucer wheel I've only ever had rats introduced at 4 weeks old take to it so I'd say its just not natural for them, even among my 4 month old girls who were introduced to it at 4 weeks old only one girl (Biscuit) actually uses it at this point (the others use the normal vertical wheel).
@@ShadowTheRat I left the wheels in much longer than that and they still showed no interest, other than just lying in it sometimes. Oh well, they've always been happy enough without a wheel anyway.
Omg!! That wheel is huge! What wheel is it?
The wheels in this video are actually the minimum size for rats - you really want to go bigger when possible.
Anyways the green wheels are 12 inch kaytee comfort wheels while the blue saucer is a 12 inch silent spinner (which I wouldn’t go for as many rats never use it).
With that being said a 14-16 inch wheel would be best - here is a 16 inch wheel I made myself for $15: ruclips.net/video/2ClycBagr-U/видео.html&app=desktop
Shadow The Rat
Do you think flying saucers work? A 12 inch one?
Since most rats don’t use them I’d say no. I had to introduce my girls to it at 4 weeks old just for them to learn it (older rats have always ignored it) and once I let them have a normal wheel 2 girls switched over and never looked back. Only the smallest of those 3 still uses it and so I wouldn’t recommend it (1 rat of my 20 so far had used it - however all 20 of my rats learned to use the normal wheel).
Also the saucer is less natural of a way for them to run as it forces hem to run sideways - so your better off with a normal up and down wheel
For a wheel should a wheel be attached to the cage or stand alone? My cage is 3 levels@30x18x30
Depends on how the wheel attaches. If it only has on attachment at the center then its better off using a stand (only having one center attachment point puts a lot of strain on the bars and also makes the wheel less stable), but if it has 3-4 attachment points then it can work on the bars as well.
The logic is inescapable. "If the wheel hurts the rat, the rat will....stop." Makes absolute sense to me.
Yeah but thats Not Always the case! Just Like Humans have Bad posture because one single wrong movement doesn't hurt. Its the sum of our Lifestyle that does harm us. Same with rats
Uh spinal issues/problems with posture are a thing caused by wheels that are to small, which most wheels are. You make it sound like thats not a thing but it is.
Rats will not notice that because its not a problem that comes with the first use, but with multiple uses.
3:32 12”(inch)=30.50cm
I need help my pets don't go in there weel idk why one of them is fat and is scared of the weel the other I put it on there it is like there is nothing to do ad goes please help 😣
All my rats had wheels just not the ones that will get their feet hurt plastic like yours never had a problem also had a baby playpen for time out of cage
I am fervently on the opinion that you should give your rats DOOMWHEELS and WARPSTONE.
What do you feed your rats?
As a main food? Oxbow adult rat food.
We tried to get our rats to use a wheel but they didn't know what to do with it lmao
i just put a wheel in my rats cage, and they were terrified of it, so i tried putting plain yoghurt (their favorite) around the inside, and they haven't touched it yet.
Just leave it - let them adjust on their own time. It’s normal for them to avoid it for a week or few but you have to let them approach it at their own pace. You can place food nearby but don’t place food on it at first since I’d they are scared it will just make them conflicted and potentially cause more anxiety about it - really it’s best to just do nothing and let them approach it at their own pace. Most of my rats have taken a week or two to start using the wheels but some have taken up to a month - in the end they all like them though so just settle in for the long run of letting them slowly acclimate to it.
its been about 4 weeks now, and they aren't scared of it anymore, but they still haven't really explored it yet
Rat-at-wheel
I have the green Kaytee wheel shown in this video and it's super noisy. No amount of lubrication to the spindle helped to quiet it down. After a month of dealing with it, I got a Carolina storm wheel and the only noise that one has is the tapping of their feet on the plastic.
if anyone has an idea of how to get them to use it, i would very much appreciate it
My rats have had many wheels to choose from, they never used one, I don’t know why
hi shadow the rat, this isn't really on the topic of wheels, but I'm really worried about my rats. they are fighting and one of them is puffed up, and the other is terrified of the other. the puffed up one goes up to the other one and kind of butts up to him, then he pins him down, and the scared one starts screaming a lot. do you have any idea what's going on? i separated them, and I've tried a few more interactions, but the same thing happens. could you please help me to understand what is going on? I'm really scared for them. thanks
I just put them together to work it out, and it went fine they are friends again
oh boy. they are at it again, and this time the puffed up rat made the other scared one bleed. pls help!
its like every episode gets more serios. now if the scared one runs out of his hut, the other one chases him and was like jumpind and pounding one him with his front paws
Yes. Duh! Just make sure they’re big enough and are smooth/featureless. 12” diameters shown in this video will curve the spine and are far too small! 12” is minimum even for hamsters!
12 inches is fine for smaller rats or even medium rats, however yes, larger rats will need a larger wheel. And I also kept hamsters for years prior to rats and had both syrian and dwarf hamsters - dwarfs do fine in a 6-8 inch wheel depending on species, and Syrians need an 11-12 inch in most cases. I never had any especially large Syrians so I could see them perhaps needing a slightly larger wheel, but most would be perfectly fine with a 12 inch. You always have to base it on the individual of course, but in general female rats do fine with a 12-14 inch, and males do best with a 14-16 inch.
mine dont even run in them, they just sleep in them
My rat is weird he lays in it like its a bed
Hey, I know you don’t have the time to respond to anyone but I need your help. Several months ago I got two female rats, or they were supposed to be female.... today heard A bunch of squeaking and since I’ve had a little of dwarf Hampsters in the past I knew what the sound was... I went online to see what I could do and separated the male just in case. Left the female and her 15-16 babies in the original cage... wanted to know if you had any information for me of what to do in this situation. I’ve decided to work on finding them homes as soon as they’ve reached the age where they can leave the mom and separate the sexes.. would u know what the best food to feed her would be? And any other tips You could provide would be a tremendous help! If you can somehow email me or private message me write back here and I’ll send u my info!
Thanks
I don’t have any personal experience with litters but I suggest you join the rat fan club on Facebook as they have a group specifically to help with oops litters. From what I do know though it’s good you seperate the male as females can get preganant again just after giving birth. Be careful with the cage as well as if it has levels there’s a possibility the mom will try and nest up high which could be harmful to the babies if they fall.
Otherwise you’ll want to feed the mom lots of protein foods, boiled eggs, meat, cooked beans, and so on are great protein foods.
Shadow The Rat awesome thanks I’ll try that out! She seems to be a very attentive mom for such a young rat.. She seems okay when I put my hands in the cage to change her litter/food etc. And even though I read it’s alright to handle the babies because she won’t reject them, I’d rather not, just in case. Thanks for the tip!
Join our rat page on facebook it is called The Rat Fan Club (i am an admin there) we will be happy to provide detailed help there for your little cute jellybeans.
Stoned Savage! Thank you sounds great! I’ll send a request ASAP!
Shadow The Rat I’ve spent a few nights now doing as much research as I can. Problem is, so many people say many different things, however, they all agree protein is very important. I’ve given her some eggs and avocado, but beans totally slipped my mind so I appreciate the suggestion, thanks!
We had a big second level which is where they used to always be, so when I removed the male, I removed the second level as well because I was worried about just that! She nests in the same corner and uses these two apple tree branches I had given her to chew on as mini walls to keep the nesting material in! I am honestly so surprised how smart she is, it really is amazing! She even knows to use the softer bedding on the inside, and rougher bedding on the outside! We started with 15 babies and unfortunately have lost 3. The first two disappeared the first night, (though I figured out by reading online what happened to them), and the third I removed when I was spot cleaning the cage.
It’s sad, but I’m very glad to say that we haven’t lost any more in 3 days! The other 12 are looking wonderfully healthy, and except for two runts that are more on the smaller side, they now all have these ADORABLE chubby belly’s! I sing to them and check them everyday while I move Rin, (The Mom), to a temporary enclosure so she can eat, play with me, and take a breather for a few minutes.
I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasure of watching something so awesome, but wow, if I wasn’t so nervous to stress her out, i would just grab a chair and watch for hours!
I would never breed just for “fun” or the experience, but it sure is amazing to see my baby have babies!
Thanks again!
My rat has a mammory tumor and im really worried about her
Mammary tumors suck :( If you can you might consider a vet consult - if the tumor is still small then removal is very possible (especially if the rat is health and not too old). If not then you just want to monitor it - rats do very well with tumors for the most part, and until it gets large enough to impede mobility they should continue to enjoy life. Once it starts effecting mobility though that's when you have to consider PTS, but until then if she seems happy and active then I'd just monitor her.
Крыски молодцы, нашли вечный двигатель...
Wheel tail is rarely genetic. In most cases, it's indirectly the fault of a wheel. Rats who are 4 months or younger still have fragile, developing bones, and if you combine it with a wheel (like poor posture a child sits in eventually develops back issues) it'll heighten risks of a messed up tail. However, a bigger cause of wheel tail is diet. Everytime I hear someone say their rat has wheel tail, it's a rescue or pet store rat. And those rats grow up on very poor food, and/or are very underweight.
I got 2 rats recently from a teenage girl who fed her rats an extremely poor diet. All her rats were extremely underweight and malnurished. I also noticed both rats had mild wheel tail syndrome, but one of them had a much more curled tail.
If you feed your rats proper lab blocks, if you don't give them a wheel when they're under 5 or 4 months old, if your rat isn't underweight, you'll avoid wheel tail syndrome.
My rats never use their wheel
Why was she pushing them like that
Should I give my male rats a wheel
Its worth a shot, can't tell you if they'll like it or not but generally I find even my older rats take a run on it every once in a while. If you do get one be sure to leave it in the cage for at least 2-4 weeks as some rats take a while to discover how to use it.
OK thanks
The truth is you dont even have a rat wheel but i agree if u get one be careful for their little rat toes.