Post by LilyandDaisy on Sept 26, 2023 16:27:21 GMT -8
The Niteangel wheel pedometer counts how many rotations your pet's wheel makes within a 24 hour period. You can them use this number to calculate the distance run, using this chart. I believe it works with any Niteangel wheel but not any other brands.
I've been using this pedometer for a few weeks and I'm very happy with it. It's simple to install, although I did find the instructions a little unclear and I had to use a Youtube video to help. Essentially, you need to stick the sensor on the wheel using the sticky pads provided, and then screw the pedometer into place. It requires a CR2032 battery, which isn't included, but is easy to find (it's commonly used in bathroom scales). The counting period begins once the battery is inserted, and the pedometer will then reset every 24 hours. You can press the button to flick through that past 9 days of data, and long press it to delete all data.
The sensor is waterproof, so you don't need to remove it to wash the wheel, though I wouldn't recommend getting the pedometer itself wet. The pedometer seems very accurate to me. I have found that my gerbils run about 5 miles per day, and sometimes up to about 8. On top of all the running around they do off the wheel, that's very active!
My only reservation with this pedometer is that there may be a small chance of a gerbil's tail getting trapped behind it. Niteangel wheels come with a removable disc in the centre, which has been linked to a handful of tail injuries in long-tailed rodents. Fortunately this disc is entirely cosmetic and easily removed. The pedometer screws onto the same place as this disc, so the same risk may theoretically apply. I stuck some sticky foam pads behind the pedometer to reduce the space between it and the wheel, and thus hopefully eliminate the risk of a tail getting stuck.
Although this is mostly a frivolous product (for the owner's pleasure rather than directly benefitting the gerbils), I can see it being genuinely useful in tracking a gerbil's activity over time and potentially spotting any reduction in activity due to illness earlier than it might otherwise be noticed. You could even make a graph of your gerbils' daily distance run to look for any trends. I'd definitely recommend it!
I've been using this pedometer for a few weeks and I'm very happy with it. It's simple to install, although I did find the instructions a little unclear and I had to use a Youtube video to help. Essentially, you need to stick the sensor on the wheel using the sticky pads provided, and then screw the pedometer into place. It requires a CR2032 battery, which isn't included, but is easy to find (it's commonly used in bathroom scales). The counting period begins once the battery is inserted, and the pedometer will then reset every 24 hours. You can press the button to flick through that past 9 days of data, and long press it to delete all data.
The sensor is waterproof, so you don't need to remove it to wash the wheel, though I wouldn't recommend getting the pedometer itself wet. The pedometer seems very accurate to me. I have found that my gerbils run about 5 miles per day, and sometimes up to about 8. On top of all the running around they do off the wheel, that's very active!
My only reservation with this pedometer is that there may be a small chance of a gerbil's tail getting trapped behind it. Niteangel wheels come with a removable disc in the centre, which has been linked to a handful of tail injuries in long-tailed rodents. Fortunately this disc is entirely cosmetic and easily removed. The pedometer screws onto the same place as this disc, so the same risk may theoretically apply. I stuck some sticky foam pads behind the pedometer to reduce the space between it and the wheel, and thus hopefully eliminate the risk of a tail getting stuck.
Although this is mostly a frivolous product (for the owner's pleasure rather than directly benefitting the gerbils), I can see it being genuinely useful in tracking a gerbil's activity over time and potentially spotting any reduction in activity due to illness earlier than it might otherwise be noticed. You could even make a graph of your gerbils' daily distance run to look for any trends. I'd definitely recommend it!
