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I had a 12" Comfort Wheel from Super Pet, and long story short it was soooooo loud! I wound up dismantling it in the middle of the night....
Anyway, I went to the store to seek out a Silent Spinner, but they were out of 12 inchers. I had read some reviews on the Flying Saucer and was unsure of it - I asked the sales clerk if I could return the product if my ratties refused to run on it. The answer was a yes so it was a go!
I was wary at first, but my younger ladies love it! It is significantly quieter and the construction is much simpler than the silent spinners. I can't imagine how I could possibly break it. I also like that the saucer is all one piece - unlike the silent spinner. It is super easy to clean, just pop the top off and rinse. Nothing to damage. And I just wipe the base off - it doesn't get as yucky as the saucer part.
My first rat Kitty is around 6 months now, and her sisters are about 3 months. Kitty was more used to the standard wheel and I don't think she's run on the saucer yet. I think if you start them with the saucer they will definitely use it though - and you can always check about returns! I will probably invest in a SS as a second wheel in the near future.
The fact that it is open means they have plenty of room for their backs and tails. However, they do kind of run at an angle I'm not sure how that could really effect them, but its something to be aware of.
Even though it takes up more surface area, its not as tall and I was able to put it on the shallower top level of their cage which is kind of their "play area." I read some reviews that made the complaint that it took up too much room - but it seems to me if that is the case than maybe the cage is just too small. I did wind up moving it to the bottom of the cage though because I realized that when they really get going it does wobble a bit, and since I have a Martin's it made the whole cage shake.
IT IS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT! The base is hollow, so I feel like it is very possible to find ways to weight it down. But without any added weight the rats push it around - they love to rearrange. I read some reviews complaining their animals tipped the product over - I don't see how a rat could do it - maybe a chinchilla. Anyway, I made little stacks of pennies taped together and taped them inside the hollow base. It was initially a deterrent, but now I think they team up to push it across the cage wherever they want it! I'm going to add more weight.
There is no way to attach it to the side of the cage. That is my biggest complaint. I'd like to see the manufacturer come up with a weighted base. And as with all products, it is not quite as "silent" as when I first put it in there, but its sooo much better than the comfort wheel.
****Side Note****
I wound up cutting a rectangle out of the old comfort wheel and flipping it over. The girls love it as a new hidey house!
I had a 12" Comfort Wheel from Super Pet, and long story short it was soooooo loud! I wound up dismantling it in the middle of the night....
Anyway, I went to the store to seek out a Silent Spinner, but they were out of 12 inchers. I had read some reviews on the Flying Saucer and was unsure of it - I asked the sales clerk if I could return the product if my ratties refused to run on it. The answer was a yes so it was a go!
I was wary at first, but my younger ladies love it! It is significantly quieter and the construction is much simpler than the silent spinners. I can't imagine how I could possibly break it. I also like that the saucer is all one piece - unlike the silent spinner. It is super easy to clean, just pop the top off and rinse. Nothing to damage. And I just wipe the base off - it doesn't get as yucky as the saucer part.
My first rat Kitty is around 6 months now, and her sisters are about 3 months. Kitty was more used to the standard wheel and I don't think she's run on the saucer yet. I think if you start them with the saucer they will definitely use it though - and you can always check about returns! I will probably invest in a SS as a second wheel in the near future.
The fact that it is open means they have plenty of room for their backs and tails. However, they do kind of run at an angle I'm not sure how that could really effect them, but its something to be aware of.
Even though it takes up more surface area, its not as tall and I was able to put it on the shallower top level of their cage which is kind of their "play area." I read some reviews that made the complaint that it took up too much room - but it seems to me if that is the case than maybe the cage is just too small. I did wind up moving it to the bottom of the cage though because I realized that when they really get going it does wobble a bit, and since I have a Martin's it made the whole cage shake.
IT IS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT! The base is hollow, so I feel like it is very possible to find ways to weight it down. But without any added weight the rats push it around - they love to rearrange. I read some reviews complaining their animals tipped the product over - I don't see how a rat could do it - maybe a chinchilla. Anyway, I made little stacks of pennies taped together and taped them inside the hollow base. It was initially a deterrent, but now I think they team up to push it across the cage wherever they want it! I'm going to add more weight.
There is no way to attach it to the side of the cage. That is my biggest complaint. I'd like to see the manufacturer come up with a weighted base. And as with all products, it is not quite as "silent" as when I first put it in there, but its sooo much better than the comfort wheel.
****Side Note****
I wound up cutting a rectangle out of the old comfort wheel and flipping it over. The girls love it as a new hidey house!
