Excercise Wheel?

Do you guys give your norway rats an exercise wheel?
I've seen people give wheels to mice and asfs, but I have yet to see one for norways.

My rats are always trying to run around, but the tub I have them in is too small for significant exercise so I've been thinking about giving them a big wheel. (Chinchilla size since it looks like all the smaller wheels are too small for an adult rat....)

From talking to pet rat owners, it seems like mostly the females use wheels. And it's either a hit or miss with rats...They either use it or they don't...

So does anyone have a wheel for their norway rats?

My males have always been more interested in using their wheels as a rocking chair than a wheel as they get older. Most of my females have used wheels their entire lives however. I'm sure they'd appreciate them. Looks like you're already looking at the right size too (at least 11") =)

I have two pet male rats living in a 3 story ferret cage, and I've been kept up more than once to them running in their darn wheel lol.

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Originally Posted by Anatopism

My males have always been more interested in using their wheels as a rocking chair than a wheel as they get older. Most of my females have used wheels their entire lives however. I'm sure they'd appreciate them. Looks like you're already looking at the right size too (at least 11") =)

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Do you recommend a certain brand of wheel?
I really liked the chinchilla sized Silent Spinner due to the fact the rats' tails won't get stuck or caught....But it's like 25-30$ each x__X

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I have two pet male rats living in a 3 story ferret cage, and I've been kept up more than once to them running in their darn wheel lol.

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I don't think the sound will bother me so much. They already do make a ton of noise moving all their hides and such at night... haha
(Maybe i'll invest in a pair of ear plugs?)

What kind of wheel do you have?

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Originally Posted by satomi325

I don't think the sound will bother me so much. They already do make a ton of noise moving all their hides and such at night... haha
(Maybe i'll invest in a pair of ear plugs?)

What kind of wheel do you have?

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It's just a basic plastic (solid...not the kind that they can get their tails stuck) wheel, it came with a hampster cage that he was in as a baby before he outgrew it. I am looking at those really cool silent ones you mentioned though. Almost looks worth the money anyways.

I have a 17" wheel in with the parents and the med 11" (maybe) in with the weanies and all of them use it.

The asf's would probably die or get into too much trouble without it

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Originally Posted by LGray23

It's just a basic plastic (solid...not the kind that they can get their tails stuck) wheel, it came with a hampster cage that he was in as a baby before he outgrew it. I am looking at those really cool silent ones you mentioned though. Almost looks worth the money anyways.

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My friend has a small one for her mice. She said it works great. Very quiet. But man...the price of the silent wheels sure jacks up after the mouse sized ones. lol

I would recommend the silent spinner if the rats are in your room. But petco has a new wheel out, its a metal mesh style wheel that isn't terribly loud.

http://www.petco.com/product/105026/...0Wheels-105026

I've had that in my girls cage and they love it. It hasn't gotten too loud and its waaaaay cheaper than the Silent spinner.

If you give them things to climb on, play with and destroy they'll be happy and you won't have to deal the noise from an exercise wheel. Rats are intelligent so you could even give them puzzles such as treats hidden in various things that they have to get open/knaw on/tear apart. I've given mine various little cat or ferret toys to play with with success. I've never had a rat use a wheel properly so I gave up. They'd move it around and use it to climb on and jump off of.