The Best Rat Wheels in 2021: Choosing the Best One

Last Updated on 07/05/2021 by Veronica Jones

There has been a lot of confusion surrounding rats in general as they can be divided into different sub-categories.

Well, most people think that rats are those that cause destruction in your house, but the truth is that there are pet rats that are pretty sophisticated and smart.

Having a pet rat in your house means a lot as they are very smart and they form deep bonds to humans.

They are sociable and compassionate and they are very caring and loving much like dogs and cats.

Not all of you want a pet rat and we can all understand that. However, if you plan to have your own pet rat, you should know the items that you need to have.

Rat wheel is one of the most important items that you should have if you have a pet rat.

Since they love playing around, having a rat wheel on their cage is a good idea. But, there are a lot of concerns with regard to this.

We will look at the reasons why rat wheels are important, how to choose the best one and the best rat wheels available in the market.

Top Wheels for Rat

Choosing a rat wheel should always be done with care because the safety of your pet rat depends on it.

We are not saying that some wheels are dangerous, but just to be safe, you need to be very careful.

There are certain features that you would want to have in a rat wheel so we will just give you a list of products that are deemed safe and high quality.

Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel

The Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel is one of the best in the market simply because it is one of the simplest that you can find right now.

When it comes to exercise wheels for rats, you don’t need to look for fancy wheels as they usually cause injuries.

If there are too many accessories on the exercise wheel, your rat may not actually enjoy using it.

The Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel is made for quiet spinning so your pet rats will be able to enjoy the wheel without the noise coming from it.

This wheel also encourages healthy exercise and your pet rat will surely benefit greatly from this.

The exercise wheel has a diameter of 12 inches so your pet rat would fit perfectly inside it.

It also comes in different colors, but it seems that you won’t be able to choose the color yourself. The manufacturer will send random color to you.

Nail-O-Matic Insert PLUS Wodent Wheel Senior & Tail Shield

The Nail-O-Matic Insert PLUS Wodent Wheel Senior & Tail Shield is one of the most popular in the market today and a lot of pet rat owners are using this because of its amazing and unique features.

The Nail-O-Matic Insert PLUS Wodent Wheel Senior & Tail Shield has dimensions of 7 x 12.4 x 7.8 inches and it has a diameter of 11 inches, weighing about one pound.

It is not too heavy and the diameter is just right for your pet rats.

Although 11 inches is on the smaller side, this is pretty much the standard for rat wheels.

This product is actually a combination of the Wodent Wheel Senior and Nail-o-Matic and it has been extremely successful.

The Nail-o-Matic is actually a removal trimmer and it has an abrasive surface that would help you trim the nails of your rat efficiently.

The product also features a wall-to-wall inner plastic track that covers the axle.

Due to this, the axle and tail contact will actually be minimized and prevent injuries.

There are also five entry holes in this rat wheel and it will surely attract your pet rats.

You have to know that these rats love to climb in and start gliding for hours.

It is an amazing piece of equipment for your pet rats, but make sure that you clean it regularly.

Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel Senior

In terms of appearance and functionality, the Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel Senior is one of the best in the market.

It is made specifically for small pets and your pet rats will surely fit perfectly on this wheel with its 11-inch diameter.

The Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel Senior has a closed wheel design that would guarantee that your rats will stay inside and won’t stumble while using the wheels.

Although it is a closed design, they can easily go in and out anytime they want.

The product includes a tail shield as well as a Nail-O-Matic nail trimmer that would help in trimming down the nails of your pets while it is running on the wheel.

This is pretty amazing because you won’t have to manually trim their nails. As long as they play inside it, their nails will always stay trimmed.

The nail trimmer, as well as the wheels, can be washed easily so you can just remove it and wash it on your faucet.

It comes with a wall-to-wall plastic inner track that would hide the axle so tail-axle injuries can be prevented completely.

You don’t need to worry about the safety of your pets because this exercise while got you covered.

Rodent – Semi-Enclosed Exercise Wodent Wheel

The Rodent – Semi-Enclosed Exercise Wodent Wheel is also a popular choice because it is very easy to clean and you can easily install it.

This product has dimensions of 21 x 13 x 7 inches and it weighs around 2 pounds.

The diameter is 12 inches so it is the perfect size for your pet rats to exercise freely.

Most people are having a hard time choosing a wheel for their male rats because they are often bigger.

Well, most wheels are made for smaller pets so most male rats experience injuries.

However, this wheel is definitely the best because it is big enough to make sure that even bigger pet rats can enjoy it without being injured. This product was made specifically for larger rats.

The Rodent – Semi-Enclosed Exercise Wodent Wheel currently has a very simple enclosed design along with three entry holes.

Because of these holes, your pet rats will surely be interested to try it over and over again.

Also, many people love this wheel because you can assemble and disassemble it with ease.

It is made from strong and safe plastic that was recycled so it is environment-friendly as well.

The base was made from heavy gauge steel to help provide better support and stability.

Quality Cage Crafters 15″ Chin Spin Chinchilla Wheel

When it comes to quality and spinning wheels, Quality Cage Crafters is definitely the best choice.

This is an American brand that provides amazing handmade wheels for your pets.

This wheel is actually made for Chinchillas, but it is also a good choice for pet rats and hamsters.

Most of you are probably wondering how this wheel made it to the list if it is not made for pet rats specifically. It is because of its features.

This spinning wheel actually has a 15-inch diameter.

This is the biggest wheel on this list and it is also one of the most popular as it is big enough for different pets.

Its flexibility is the main reason why it is highly sought after.

The back part of the wheel is made from the best quality wood and it is placed on a thick metal sheet.

This will guarantee that the wheel would be steady and it would be sturdy enough to support the weight of the rat.

The surface also has a coating of silver vein power and you can expect that the edges are not sharp so they won’t harm your pet rats.

The wheel can also be placed to wire cages with the use of the hardware supply that is already included.

Safety Concerns

There have been a lot of issues with safety when it comes to rat wheels.

Some owners think that it is better to just let the rat roam around their cages, while some people think that they should have a rat wheel to provide entertainment to the rats.

This is mainly because some people had a bad experience when it comes to using a rat wheel.

The question is do rats actually need the wheels to exercise?

The simple answer is no. Rat wheels are not required when taking care of a pet rat, but this is something that every owner should consider.

The main reason why you want to buy a rat wheel is because of exercise.

You want your rats to exercise and stay healthy so you think of buying a rat wheel to make this possible.

Actually, rats can have their exercise as long as they have a large and spacious cage. As long as they walk around the cage, it can already be considered as a form of exercise.

However, rat wheels provide a unique experience for your rats and they would prefer to try something different instead of just walking around the cage, which is pretty dull.

Rat wheels are safe to use, but there are instances where the rats experience accidents while using the rat wheels.

How to Choose the Best Rat Wheel

Choosing a rat wheel can be a bit time consuming if you don’t have any idea what to look for.

We will help you make the right choice by giving you some ideas on what type of rat wheel to buy.

The rat-running wheel is one of the best in the market and it has already come a really long way when it was being used as a running wheel for hamsters.

Well, if you see the hamsters using them, you won’t even think that they are made for rats.

Today, most of the rat running wheels can provide a different option that would make it so that your rat can use them safely.

Here are some of the wheel options available that are made specifically for rats.

Large Wheel

Larger wheels are more beneficial to rats as they are usually bigger than normal.

By getting a bigger wheel, you can provide them with more room and it won’t hurt their back while they are running inside the wheel.

Getting a larger wheel can provide more safety to your rats so if you are concerned about this, you can get a large wheel.

Non-Metal

There are rat wheels that are made without any type of metal. As you all know, metal would rust pretty fast and there are also mesh or wires that can trap the tail of your rat.

Because of this non-metallic choice, you can definitely guarantee that your rats won’t have any issues using it.

Solid Running Track

A solid running track can provide a solid surface that would protect the sensitive food pads of your rat.

You have to remember that their delicate footpads won’t be able to handle the mesh or harsh metal so it is better to give them a more solid surface.

Open-top Wheel

This is usually called saucer wheels and they are made to prevent your rat from being trap inside the wheel.

As the name implies, the top of the wheel is open so the rat can safely go in and out any time he wants.

Conclusion

This list only implies that you need to be very careful on the exercise wheel that you will buy for your pet rats.

One mistake can actually cause harm to your pet rats. You just have to know the best rat wheels including the features that you need to look for.

It is also better to buy a known brand because they can make sure that the product would have the best quality.

Don’t hesitate to buy the best one for your pet rats if you want them to stay healthy and strong.