RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Thu Aug 21, 2003 7:20 am

For Wiley's Mom and Mousie's Mom - here is how I attached the wodent wheel to the ceiling of the cage.

Take the wheel apart and place the stand upside down where the base is flush with the top of the cage on the outside of the cage and the part the wheel attaches too slides through one of the bar spacings.

Top view:

Once you attach the wheel to the stand it will stay in place pretty good. The bar spacing doesn't allow it to move side to side, though I do like to tie the base down with trash ties or zip ties to keep it from making so much noise when the ratties run.

Side view:

Back view

I hope that makes any sense at all. If not I'll explain further. I do have to take the wheel apart to get it in the door of the cage and then put it back together again but it works just fine!

_________________
Christy
RP Admin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Thu Aug 21, 2003 8:25 pm

Thanks Christy.

Unfortunately, it didn't work on my cages. I don't have Martin's, so my cages are a bit different. On the boys cage, the top level is just short enough the wheel won't fit, and on the other cage, it's so big that the ratties would really have to be gymnists to get up too it.

I have the bottom of my cages lined with carpet runner. So I stood the wheels standing up, but the base is tucked under the carpet runner. It seems to work pretty good......so far.......But after two weeks, they still won't go near the wheels.

I guess it takes time??

_________________
Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Fri Aug 22, 2003 1:49 am

Yeah, I was afraid it wouldn't work for other cages possibly. Sad

But it sounds like you found a solution!

It does take some time for them to acknowledge it...and some won't ever. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Christy
RP Admin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Fri Aug 22, 2003 5:18 am

	Quote:
	It does take some time for them to acknowledge it...and some won't ever.

That's so true. Curly is the only rat we have who uses the wheel...it made me wonder if he'd had one back at the university, since he hoped right on and started to jog...Leather sat in it once. The rest have ignored it completely.

_________________
~Abita and the Rat in a Box rats

In loving memory of Krycek, Rizzo, Curly, Bob, Witter, Kono, Rat, Pinky, Olie, Metro, Calle, Cinnamon Schwartz, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, and Mr. Mistoffelees

Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:18 pm

Ingenious, Christy! Of course the girls' cage (the only ones who actually RUN on a wheel) have a flip top cage, so it wouldn't work. But the boys cage, now that might just work! They use their wobust wodent wheel for a "Barka-lounger".

_________________
Scout of Manitou Mischief Rattery

Fri Aug 22, 2003 7:59 pm

I did a similar thing my our wheel - but instead of putting the base on the top of the cage like that, I;ve put it through the side so that the wheel is between the middle and upper floors of the cage - i'ts held in place with some cable ties (I think they're called zip ties in the US).

Works really well.

If you need pics, then let me know and I'll see what I can sort out.

:-)

Christine

_________________
<:3( )~~ <:3( )~~ <:3( )~~ <:3( )~~

Fri Aug 22, 2003 8:00 pm

I keep expecting to at least see my bunch sleeping in their's. But they still think it's some big scarey thing and stay away from it. I try to pick them up and put them in and they will have NO part of that. I even put treats in it to show them it's not scarey. Well, the treats dissapeared Rolling Eyes

But really, how long is enough time to just give up and take them out?

_________________
Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Fri Aug 22, 2003 8:53 pm

	MousiesMom wrote:
	But really, how long is enough time to just give up and take them out?

If it's not taking up too much space and getting in their way I'd leave it. Some of them will all of a sudden one day say "Oh lookie there! A wheel!" Two-Tone has recently become an avid wheel runner whereas she pretty much ignored it before. Though I don't know if it's because she just discovered it or because Gracie was always hogging the wheel in the past.

_________________
Christy
RP Admin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily