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I thought most rodent type creatures just naturally liked wheels so I was extremely excited when I found a large-ish cage on craigslist for a decent price AND when I went to pick it up the guy threw in this big sturdy wheel, a wooden house and a few other things on the spur of the moment for free. This is the type of wheel in question. It's one of the big ones typically for Chinchillas.
The girls were curious about it. They sniff, get close but then back away without getting in. Neither of the girls are scaredy-rats. They climb and sneak and explor everywhere without a second thought. I actually would be pleased if they were sometimes a little less adventurous and not so ready to fling themselves into the open and just trusting that my hand will be there to catch them if they don't quite make the jump.
Thinking maybe they'd just never seen one before (and it is quite large and intimidating) I talked gently to them as they sniffed and gently tried to coax them in while holding it still. I also tried letting them crawl onto the back of my hand and then sloooowly just placing my hand on the bottom of the wheel but as soon as my hand would settle they back away quickly onto the cage floor as if something was startling. Usually they are content to sit on my hand, arm or shoulders. I don't think it's my movements because normally I could probably do aerobics and they'd still be fine and dandy on my shoulder!
I'm currently putting various yummy tidbits in the wheel every now and then to get them to at least put their front paws in it and see that it won't hurt them. I'm hoping eventually the positive reenforcement of "yummy things=wheel=good" will happen but that's probably wishful thinking on my part. LOL They don't seem terrified but just wary enough that they don't want to risk it...whatever "it" is.
Should I give up? Take it out of the cage and free up the real estate for other things? I washed it when I got it but does it maybe smell wrong and that's what's turning them off? I'm curious. Are other peoples rats inexplicably weirded out by the wheel?

The girls were curious about it. They sniff, get close but then back away without getting in. Neither of the girls are scaredy-rats. They climb and sneak and explor everywhere without a second thought. I actually would be pleased if they were sometimes a little less adventurous and not so ready to fling themselves into the open and just trusting that my hand will be there to catch them if they don't quite make the jump.
Thinking maybe they'd just never seen one before (and it is quite large and intimidating) I talked gently to them as they sniffed and gently tried to coax them in while holding it still. I also tried letting them crawl onto the back of my hand and then sloooowly just placing my hand on the bottom of the wheel but as soon as my hand would settle they back away quickly onto the cage floor as if something was startling. Usually they are content to sit on my hand, arm or shoulders. I don't think it's my movements because normally I could probably do aerobics and they'd still be fine and dandy on my shoulder!
I'm currently putting various yummy tidbits in the wheel every now and then to get them to at least put their front paws in it and see that it won't hurt them. I'm hoping eventually the positive reenforcement of "yummy things=wheel=good" will happen but that's probably wishful thinking on my part. LOL They don't seem terrified but just wary enough that they don't want to risk it...whatever "it" is.
Should I give up? Take it out of the cage and free up the real estate for other things? I washed it when I got it but does it maybe smell wrong and that's what's turning them off? I'm curious. Are other peoples rats inexplicably weirded out by the wheel?