exersize wheels

[Mike Cavanaugh]

Ok, so here is my basic setup:

Breeding normal fancy rats.

I have two 30" x 12" tanks with two females in each. I have one male rat in a 20" x 10" tank. Aspen bedding. 1 medium igloo hide (this thing is huge, could probably fit 6 large rats) in each of the large tanks, and one small igloo hide in the small tank (big enough for one large rat)

My plan is to put the male in one of the big tanks with two females, and keep him in there with them for 18 days. On the 18th day I will take him out and put him in with the other two girls in the other big tank. Again, I will leave him in there for 18 days. Then on the 18th day I will put him back in his own tank until I am ready to start over ( or I might have a third tank of females by then).

The girls in both tanks will have the babies and nurse in the two big tanks.

I know there are lots of ways to do this, but after reading a LOT, this is how I am going to try it for the first round.

So, My question. Should I put exersize wheels in the big tanks? I can't fit one in the small tank.... It is already probably too small without any clutter.... but I could fit one in the big tanks, but it would croud things a bit. If I should get it, what size and kind of wheel should I get? To sum things up, the large tanks will hold 2 females and one male during breeding, then 2 females and 2 litters of babies during the 4 weeks of nursing, then just the two females until they are ready to breed again.

Thank you very much for any light you can shed on this subject.


mike

[Shelby]

Rats usually don't care for wheels.. and their tails can get caught in some of them. I'd leave it out and save the space in the cages.

[littleindiangirl]

We have a wheel in the 'vacation' cage. It's a large cage with a large 12" closed side wheel, and every rat uses and loves it. They are on that thing day and night, sometimes pairing up or getting a trio on it.

The nursing moms dont get one, as I dont think they would even use it while nursing.