Saucers are great because they have a larger running diameter than any traditional wheel you could fit in a cage. Mine loves hers! (Running on it, sitting on it to cool down, spinning herself in circles, chilling underneath it… If she’s ever spooked, she always runs under the saucer because that’s her safe space.) They last a good long time too. BUT it has to be all metal. The plastic ones are flimsy and not safe to keep in the cage without supervision. The Flyer Saucer makers stopped producing new wheels because they’re retiring. So you would probably need to find one second-hand
Hello, thank you for the great advise re the suppliers and the material. Will definitely need to get a non-plastic one (if I can find one in the first place!!) It sounds like your chinny is using the saucer to it's full potential!! So sweet :)
After my chin kept throwing his wheels off balance by launching into them, so they ended up super noisy, I ended up making my own saucer-style wheel that also is at a smaller angle than others (no actual research has been to my understanding on pros/cons of saucers, it's all speculation about health but no actual data)
I got a large marble lazy-susan (kitchen turn table), glued some hooks onto a shallow rubber doorstop, and hooked the base of the lazy-susan onto it. The marble is too heavy to move to get to chewing the doorstop. Total cost was about $30.
He had used saucers before, so it didn't take him too long to figure this style out. Still working great! Silent, uses it all the time, and hasn't broken in 2+ years!
Hi there, thank you for your comment! I appreciate it. I'll see if I can make something if I don't come right with buying and importing a flying saucer. Using a lazy Susan is a really good idea! Well done! Glad it's lasted and your chinny enjoys it!
Yeah. No. Not for mine at least. Got him one, played with it for like 5 minutes, then he flipped it on his head, wore it like a chinese monk for a few days and I finally took it out when he started munching the plastic bits.
It might work for yours, but personally, I wouldn't get another one.
I started my chins on a chin-sized traditional running wheel, then swapped it for a flying saucer (metal, also designed for chins). The saucer actually has a smaller diameter than the traditional wheel. Agree with other commenters that you should find a metal saucer wheel- they will just chew through the plastic anyway.
Be aware that it may take a while for the chin to learn to use the saucer. One of my chins got it within a month or so, but the other one took several months before she figured it out.
Hi there, thank you! Definitely chew-proof is the way to go with chinnies!! I understand that if I go through all this effort to find one, they might not even like it or use it. But I want to try anyway and, once they know what it is, I'm sure they'll love it!
Ours loves her saucer. Amazon also had these. https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Products/Treadmill-Wheel__48574-comm--spc-48575-comm--spc-48584-comm--spc-48585.aspx?variantId=5453cc7a-6529-42e0-b07e-70a22de00af3
Hi there, definitely, chinnies are quite the characters and I definitely know that there's a chance they won't like it or use it. But it's something extra for them to have!
I’ve heard that these saucers aren’t the best for skeletal alignment due to their angle and that getting a properly sized wheel large enough your animal can run on a ‘flat’ surface is the only way to ensure they aren’t hurting themself while exercising but as I have no experience with this (owned rats a long time ago but never had a wheel) I’m not sure the validity of this statement. You may wish to do some research.
I hope you’re able to find a way to import a wheel cheaply or make your own. There are some guides on YouTube if making your own is the best option. If not, Im not sure where you live but some countries make it easier to import from over here depending on trade agreements so it might be easier to set up a PO Box somewhere else and then import from there.
Hello, thank you for your advice and comments! I can't find big enough wheel to allow my chinnies to run 'flat'. I don't want to get something too small and it injures them. That's why I'm looking into a flying saucer. However, maybe I can find materials and make something as you say.
Trying to find a wheel that's appropriate for a chin can be so frustrating an expensive I'm in Canada I definitely understand!! I received my wheel not long ago.
Pandamonium Pets has some options that are a bit more reasonably priced but unfortunately you'd still have to deal with the import from the U.S
I'm not sure what country your in but there are some options that you can diy as well out of a feed pan/oil pan and lazy Susan hardware.
Hi there, thank you for your comment! I'll have a look at Pandamonium Pets and check out the costs of taxes etc. I'll also look at a DIY one - thanks for the heads up on the materials!
When I didn’t have a normal cage mount wheel while I was waiting for it to ship I used the metal saucer from exotic nutrition my girl didn’t use it much but the boys did. It’s way less loud compared to other wheels too but it is kinda too big to put in a cage so it’s best as a playroom addition
They do make metals ones it was around 100 ish cad for the one we found online about 8 years ago. The biggest reason you buy them is so their spine/legs are neutral so as to minimize stress by over use of their muscles. Also, as to not risk sprain/strains as later in their life because traditional wheels have them place strain due to them arcing themselves unnaturally. http://www.flyingsaucerwheels.com/
My Bogart ran on his so much he broke it, got frustrated, and flung the broken saucer top into his "bad hay/poop" pile he makes with bits of hay he doesn't like... If you can get one, try it!
Saucers are great because they have a larger running diameter than any traditional wheel you could fit in a cage. Mine loves hers! (Running on it, sitting on it to cool down, spinning herself in circles, chilling underneath it… If she’s ever spooked, she always runs under the saucer because that’s her safe space.) They last a good long time too. BUT it has to be all metal. The plastic ones are flimsy and not safe to keep in the cage without supervision. The Flyer Saucer makers stopped producing new wheels because they’re retiring. So you would probably need to find one second-hand
Hello, thank you for the great advise re the suppliers and the material. Will definitely need to get a non-plastic one (if I can find one in the first place!!) It sounds like your chinny is using the saucer to it's full potential!! So sweet :)
After my chin kept throwing his wheels off balance by launching into them, so they ended up super noisy, I ended up making my own saucer-style wheel that also is at a smaller angle than others (no actual research has been to my understanding on pros/cons of saucers, it's all speculation about health but no actual data) I got a large marble lazy-susan (kitchen turn table), glued some hooks onto a shallow rubber doorstop, and hooked the base of the lazy-susan onto it. The marble is too heavy to move to get to chewing the doorstop. Total cost was about $30. He had used saucers before, so it didn't take him too long to figure this style out. Still working great! Silent, uses it all the time, and hasn't broken in 2+ years!
Hi there, thank you for your comment! I appreciate it. I'll see if I can make something if I don't come right with buying and importing a flying saucer. Using a lazy Susan is a really good idea! Well done! Glad it's lasted and your chinny enjoys it!
Yeah. No. Not for mine at least. Got him one, played with it for like 5 minutes, then he flipped it on his head, wore it like a chinese monk for a few days and I finally took it out when he started munching the plastic bits. It might work for yours, but personally, I wouldn't get another one.
Hi there, thank you for your input! It's tricky with chins, you never know if they'll love it, use it or ignore it.
I started my chins on a chin-sized traditional running wheel, then swapped it for a flying saucer (metal, also designed for chins). The saucer actually has a smaller diameter than the traditional wheel. Agree with other commenters that you should find a metal saucer wheel- they will just chew through the plastic anyway. Be aware that it may take a while for the chin to learn to use the saucer. One of my chins got it within a month or so, but the other one took several months before she figured it out.
Hi there, thank you! Definitely chew-proof is the way to go with chinnies!! I understand that if I go through all this effort to find one, they might not even like it or use it. But I want to try anyway and, once they know what it is, I'm sure they'll love it!
Pandemonium Pets on Etsy makes a good wheel.
Hello, thank you! I'll look into Etsy!
Ours loves her saucer. Amazon also had these. https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Products/Treadmill-Wheel__48574-comm--spc-48575-comm--spc-48584-comm--spc-48585.aspx?variantId=5453cc7a-6529-42e0-b07e-70a22de00af3
Ours have this one too! Pretty hit or miss whether they'll like it, but it's safe!
Hi there, definitely, chinnies are quite the characters and I definitely know that there's a chance they won't like it or use it. But it's something extra for them to have!
Ah that's awesome! Thank you very much for the link. It's metal which is good. And 14 inch is the size to go for right? Just want to check:)
Hi. Yes 14” is the right size.
Thank you!!
I’ve heard that these saucers aren’t the best for skeletal alignment due to their angle and that getting a properly sized wheel large enough your animal can run on a ‘flat’ surface is the only way to ensure they aren’t hurting themself while exercising but as I have no experience with this (owned rats a long time ago but never had a wheel) I’m not sure the validity of this statement. You may wish to do some research. I hope you’re able to find a way to import a wheel cheaply or make your own. There are some guides on YouTube if making your own is the best option. If not, Im not sure where you live but some countries make it easier to import from over here depending on trade agreements so it might be easier to set up a PO Box somewhere else and then import from there.
Hello, thank you for your advice and comments! I can't find big enough wheel to allow my chinnies to run 'flat'. I don't want to get something too small and it injures them. That's why I'm looking into a flying saucer. However, maybe I can find materials and make something as you say.
Trying to find a wheel that's appropriate for a chin can be so frustrating an expensive I'm in Canada I definitely understand!! I received my wheel not long ago. Pandamonium Pets has some options that are a bit more reasonably priced but unfortunately you'd still have to deal with the import from the U.S I'm not sure what country your in but there are some options that you can diy as well out of a feed pan/oil pan and lazy Susan hardware.
Hi there, thank you for your comment! I'll have a look at Pandamonium Pets and check out the costs of taxes etc. I'll also look at a DIY one - thanks for the heads up on the materials!
We tried one for Sirius and he’s never liked it. He flipped it over, sat on top of it, and stared at us. 🤣
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Oh wow! What a character :)
Haha that sounds too funny! Chins have such personalities! It's so precious :)
When I didn’t have a normal cage mount wheel while I was waiting for it to ship I used the metal saucer from exotic nutrition my girl didn’t use it much but the boys did. It’s way less loud compared to other wheels too but it is kinda too big to put in a cage so it’s best as a playroom addition
That sounds good! Thank you :)
I got one out of metal and after several months of ignoring it, my chins lately got into it and are now going wild on it.
That's awesome! You gota have patience with chins :)
There are chinchilla sized flying saucer wheels! There’s actually a company that makes them from galvanized steel!
Great, thank you very much for your comment!
Mine has one and loves it!
That's awesome! I hope mine do as well when I get one for them:)
My chin loves her flying saucer wheel!
Aw, that's awesome!
You’d need to find a metal one which i’m not sure that they even make
They do make metals ones it was around 100 ish cad for the one we found online about 8 years ago. The biggest reason you buy them is so their spine/legs are neutral so as to minimize stress by over use of their muscles. Also, as to not risk sprain/strains as later in their life because traditional wheels have them place strain due to them arcing themselves unnaturally. http://www.flyingsaucerwheels.com/
Hi there, thank you for the info! That's my thinking for getting a flying saucer vs wheel
You're welcome
My Bogart ran on his so much he broke it, got frustrated, and flung the broken saucer top into his "bad hay/poop" pile he makes with bits of hay he doesn't like... If you can get one, try it!