Attaching a Wheel to a Cage

Normally I use zip ties for securing the wheel stand to the cage.  For my non-collapsing cages, this is exactly what I do.

For my collapsing cages for my rodents that don't bother the bungee cords, I  use small bungee cords to secure the wheels.

My collapsible cages have 1/2" x 1/2" wire as they are sometimes used for mice.  This means the bungee hooks won't actually fit through the wire.

This is a mini bungee purchased at Home Depot.  Fold the bungee in half.

Slip the loop through the wire on one side of the wheel stand, over the wheel stand and back through the wire on the other side.

Slip the two ends through the loop.

Pull tight on the ends.

Always secure the ties high, preferably behind the wheel.

I need 4 bungees to secure the wheel.  (When I use zip ties, I usually need 6 of those.)

Below is the wheel secured to the cage.  Note there is no bungee on the lower "bend."  My hamsters leave these alone, but no need to tempt fate.  The bungees are pulled so tight, the wheel can be left unsecured on the lower bend.

The reason I like using the bungees over wire and zip ties for the collapsible cages is the zip ties have to be cut and tossed and the wire, I'm not particularly fond of twisting wire.  I also don't like cutting wire and zip ties so close to the cage wire.

My preferred wheel is the Wodent Wheel, although my mice use the 6.5" Silent Spinners and flying saucers.

Bedding and Litter 2014

I've made some changes here to the bedding used in critter cages.

Rats typically get Native Earth Shredded Aspen Bedding.  I purchase this from www.pet360.com.  They have it for a fairly good price and I buy enough to get free shipping.

Gerbils and hamsters get Clean and Cozy that I purchase from drsfostersmith.com.  As of this writing they have the best price.  2 cubic feet for $29.99.  I also use Eco-bedding or strip shredded news paper for their burrows.  Petmountain.com used to carry the eco-bedding for the best price, but they no longer do so we are trying to find a good source for that.  Of course I can always shred newspaper in the papernator.

Mice get good mews with a little Eco Bedding and Clean and Cozy to use as nesting material.

Building a hamster or gerbil burrow at Vermin Village

Building a hamster or gerbil burrow at Vermin Village

In order to provide enrichment for the hamsters and gerbils of Vermin Village, I build “burrows” for them.

Supplies I typically use include:

• a refrigerator soda box (the long 12-pack version), but any box that will fit in your cage will do, however if you use a smaller box, you’ll want to have some cardboard to fold into a type of “tunnel” to get to the chamber.
• some type of hay or grass (today I’m using Kaytee Natural Bermuda Grass)
• Eco-Bedding or strip shredded newspaper
• Tissue, paper towels or a soft paper bedding like Kaytee Clean and Cozy
• Large fiddlesticks, made by SuperPet
• A zip tie

For gerbils, I provide toilet paper and paper towel tubes daily so that they can shred to their hearts content.  If you can’t seem to get enough tubes and you don’t have a lot of friends that can save them for you, buy the cheapest toilet paper rolls with the smallest amount of paper on them, you’ll go through them faster. :D

I have found that gerbils, at least the two boys I have here now, are particularly sensitive to aspen bedding (the only kind of wood shaving bedding appropriate for rodents), so I exclusively use Kaytee Clean and Cozy and Eco-bedding/shredded newspaper for them.

Let’s get started!

I attach my wheel to the cage.   

Then I put a layer of Clean and Cozy down.

Next I prepare the Fiddlesticks so they can be attached to the cage.

I bend the Fiddlesticks in half so they are at a 90 degree angle.  Then halfway through the side that will rest flat against the cage, I work a zip tie around one of the pieces.  This will secure the Fiddlesticks against the cage so it doesn't tip and block the wheel or worse hurt a critter.

Then I secure the Fiddlesticks to the cage with the zip tie.

Then I add a refrigerator box of soda along one end of the cage with the opening towards the front.  I fill the box with Eco Bedding and Clean and Cozy.

Then I go ahead and pile in the Bermuda grass (or other hay), Eco-Bedding.

 Finally I add the food dish and water bottles.

This cage belongs to gerbils Nutella and Reeses.

Silver passes

Sadly Silver passed today.  I found she had passed curled up in her burrow.  :(  Rest in peace little Silver.