Wheel advice needed please

[smp1977]

Is there a decent metal wheel that I can get my gerbils? They need one with a solid base that doesn’t move around. The only ones we have found that have worked are plastic and they chewed through the stand. Both lasted less than a month. I then read a wooden wheel is better. This lasted less than a week as they are prolific chewers. Found a different plastic one but this too has been annihilated after a month! I can’t afford to go through wheels at this pace and I’m sure it can’t be good for them to chew plastic. The only metal ones I can find are bars or mesh which I am sure can’t be good for their little feet or tails.
Any advice will be most welcome. TIA

[betty]

There are several chinchilla/sugar glider brands that are metal for that exact reason.

Look at the different fittings though as often when the wheel is suspended (either stuck to the side of the enclosure or dangling from the top) there is more running and less chewing. Often, wheels that can becomes filled with substrate are chewed up very quickly - turning them so their opening is facing outwards - towards the enclosure glass - can keep them free-running for longer.

However chewing the bases is a different matter. Trixie plastic wheels have metal legs which could reduce chewing if they were stuck to the sides - but many come with hooks that can hold them on the mesh lids. If you have a barred topper than you can use all the chin/goo/glider ones more easily.

[Markpd]

Tictac wheels do metal wheels and metal stands (bar the end plugs), they're good quality wheels/bearings too, but they're not cheap! (although cheaper than buying multiple plastic/wooden ones, lol).

Oh, if you're not in the UK the postage cost is prohibitive

[smp1977]

I’ve managed to find one that is suitable but typically now have another issue! The gerbils seem to pee in the wheel whilst they are running and noticed that one gerbil in particular stinks of pee now! 🙄 what can I do to stop this happening?

[Markpd]

I'm guessing the wheel has a smooth surface?
When I lined my boys metal wheel with cork underlay (to give better grip), it gave an unexpected bonus of stopping my boys weeing in the wheel!

[Scott]

My nutjob gerbil chewing machines haven't touched the Niteangel wheels, even though they're plastic. To be specific, though, that's this wheel not this one--I would think the enclosure would invite chewing (it did on a similar wheel from a different brand I'd had).