Fancy Rats Forum

Hi I've been looking at getting a flying saucer for my girls, they've got large wheel in there cage,and wondered if a saucer is a good
idea for playtime.

As I understand it, the design of a flying saucer doesn't work for rats, or if it did it would need to be about 2' in diameter.

A large solid wheel is really nice though - at least 12", but for adults a 14" or 16" is more likely to get used.

https://www.tictacwheels.co.uk/ is the best place to buy a metal wheel - they are expensive but well worth it, especially given that plastic wheels are more than half the price anyway and likely to break.

Thanks,I thought i read somewhere they were a bad idea.my wheel is 12" my girls are Dumbos will I need to upgrade when they are fully grown.

It doesn't matter what ear type they have, it will depend on how big they grow which is completely unrelated. Some adult girls are fine with 12", but some need bigger to be comfortable.

Thank you , how will i know if my wheel is getting too small, what are the signs to look for, they are only 11,10,8weeks old now .so got some time before i possibly need to look for new wheel.you can probably tell were new to this

When they stop using it.

Ask a silly question!

Hi Yorkie,

Welcome to the forum!

I have seen a Youtube video of a baby girl ratty using a trixie flying saucer at roughly the speed of light It looked very fun!

Based on that and how cheap it was I bought my massive boys one to see if they would take to it before investing in a massive expensive one that would be good enough for regular use. I did find one of mine was reasonably interested in a short trundle, but would get off after a minute or two each time. The problem I had was that the base of the Trixie one was so lightweight that I had to hold it down the entire time or it'd tip under their weight! They were very over-weight when we first adopted them though, both over 700g.

So yeah, mine weren't too fussed but it can be a hit with young girlys.

cyber ratty wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 11, 2020 2:13 pm

When they stop using it.

I am SO glad you said that!! I kept reading stuff about how wheels that were too small would damage their spines so I was really worried that they would carry on using it even if it was too small.

Think I'll just stick to wheel, don't want any unessesary injuries, they've got wheel which all three play on. Maybe I'll design one they can't fall off . flying saucer with sides,I feel a dragons den moment coming on

Yorkie mark 69 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 17, 2020 12:50 pm

Think I'll just stick to wheel, don't want any unessesary injuries, they've got wheel which all three play on. Maybe I'll design one they can't fall off . flying saucer with sides,I feel a dragons den moment coming on

Love it!

You have your 1st customer

I'm out!