What kind of wheel?

[birchmoon]

In 2 months, my gerbies have gone through 4 plastic wheels. Right now they have wodent wheels, but they won't last much longer. I want to get them something more permanent, but also safe. What does everyone else do for wheels?

heather

[RyanF]

You could try concrete... One way to resolve this is to make sure they always have cardboard to chew.

[birchmoon]

They have lots of cardboard. I put little holes in boxes and put them in there for them just about every day.

[lydia]

Hi, I've never successfully been able to prevent wheel chewers from destroying wheels.I usually have one frantically trying to run in the wheel,whilst it's partner is frantically trying to chew the wheel.
I no longer provide my gerbils with wheels.
You could try a metal,free standing wheel,but rather than have it in their cage,use it in a play area where they are supervised.Alternatively,use a play ball daily,rather than a wheel.

My first gerbils had one of these balls,they loved it.They deliberately bashed it into the walls and skirting boards,cracking it.They then removed some of the pieces they'd cracked.This was one of their more intelligent ideas,they would roll the ball to where they wanted to go,pop out through one of the gaps they'd made.Explore etc.,before getting back into the ball,and rolling it somewhere else to explore or play.

Lydia

[j]

Use the wire mesh wheels.

[sweetie]

Hello,

If you use the wire mesh wheels, make sure the holes are small enough not to get thier little feet stuck in or thier tails caught in. Peter does not use any wheels with his gerbils. The gerbils get enough excersice, that they don't need one. I have tanks with cages on top with the wheels attached not free standing. My gerbils do not use them!!! They instead use them as a potty or sleeping quarters!