|
|
Post by mcats on Oct 8, 2015 21:18:04 GMT -8
I have one guy who absolutely loves his wheel. He's a smaller gerbil without much of a tail. I'm considering the 6.5 for him as I'd like to attach it to his topper, which is too small for a 12 inch. However, I'm considering another option with the 12 inch wheel. I'm concerned that it might be too big(really wish they had a 9 inch wheel!), though, and want to make sure he'll be able to comfortably run on it.
Is there really a big risk with the 6.5? Especially in a gerbil who is smaller/kind of an odd build/without much of a tail? He's the only one who uses his current wheel, ftr. Also, do gerbils do fine with the 12 inch version?
|
|
PurpleSheep
Member
Bossed around by rodents & a toddler
Posts: 331
|
Post by PurpleSheep on Oct 8, 2015 22:59:25 GMT -8
We have a 6.5'' Silent Spinner for our gerbils and it's absolutely fine. It has been used by two of our girls, one who is quite small and the other was probably slightly bigger than average. Neither of them had any problems, no arched backs or anything.
We also have a 12'' wheel for our Syrian hamster and it's seriously big! I don't think a gerbil would have problems using it but it would be larger than they need, and it does take up quite a bit of space.
|
|
|
|
Post by blanknote on Oct 9, 2015 7:35:05 GMT -8
I happened to see the 12" one in a shop today, and it is massive! I wouldn't recommend getting it.
Do you know how big the wheel is that he is currently using? Or would you consider getting a different wheel? I know people recommend Silent Spinner, because it is quite silent (although mine did make quite a big of noise on their topper when my gerbil ran on it), but there are other wheels available that are good as well.
Also, if you do get the 6.5" and it turns out to be too small, you could always return it to the store?
|
|
|
|
Post by mcats on Oct 9, 2015 9:00:57 GMT -8
Hello - He's currently using a 7inch wheel. He's had a 9inch(I believe) for a long time now but I had some difficulty attaching it the last time I cleaned their enclosure so I just threw in his old 7inch wheel as a temporary measure.
If I get the 6.5 inch Silent Spinner to attach to their topper, I might leave the 9inch wheel in their tank as an alternative for them.
I don't know how I would tell if the Silent Spinner was harming him. And he's used the TINY wheel in a hamster cage(one of their travel cages) before with no complaints before I removed it..haha. He just loves wheels and will use it regardless of whether it's good for him or not. Are the potential deformities from running on small wheels painful for the gerbils or do they limit their movement? Some of what I've read mentions their tails becoming curved and, as I said, he does not have much of a tail.
|
|
|
|
Post by mcats on Oct 9, 2015 9:03:11 GMT -8
Oh and.. I think I've seen the 12 inch wheel "in person" as well and it WAS massive! I really hope the company considers a more reasonably sized wheel and eliminates their smallest option.
|
|
|
|
Post by blanknote on Oct 9, 2015 10:25:15 GMT -8
You know the wheel is too small when the back archs when the gerbil is running on it, and touches the middle bit of the wheel. I think even if it doesn't touch the middle part, but goes really near it, it might be too small.
I upgraded my wheel to 8" one as I wasn't sure did my gerbil's back go too near the middle bit when I had the 6.5" one.
I think I have heard people using Comfort Wheel on their toppers, it is 8" one but if I remember correctly the plastic is thinner, so some gerbils decide to chew them.
|
|
