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Title: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: Rmv1983 on September 13, 2008, 10:34:50 AM
My girls have had their Martins cage about 4 weeks now, and I just noticed how bad the urine build up was on the shelves. Bleck! I wipe the tiles down once/twice a day, and wipe the wire shelves down with a paper towel.  I had not noticed the dry and crusty bits hanging to the bottom of the shelves. I took a scrub brush with plain water to it today to get away the build up. I didn't realize my girls were so gross  :BlueDumboSmileTongue: how do you guys go about cleaning the shelves in martins cages? Lets just say the girls made it a game of who could chew my fingers first, since I scrubbed the cage with them in it :P.

And wheels:

My girls have a super pet wheel, but I find myself scrubbing it once a week, if not more. They get urine and feces built up so bad on it, its nasty O-o. Are silent spinners any better?


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: Pink on September 13, 2008, 11:00:38 AM
For the wheel, is it the comfort wheel (solid plastic) or the wire wheel?  If its the wire wheel, get the plastic one, its not tail safe, and gets nasty fast.  If you have the plastic one, mount it on the side of the cage.  That causes it to tip out slightly, so the poop falls onto the ground below (I put a litter box there).  I used to have the same problem, where it needed near daily cleanings, but when I clean it once a week now its not that dirty.  I wouldn't recommend a silent spinner for your case (they like to poop when they run) as it cannot be easily tilted out like the super pet wheel.


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: Rmv1983 on September 13, 2008, 11:18:08 AM
My girls have a plastic wheel. But I can't figure out how to attach it to the side of the cage. The openings in the F470 are not wide enough to accommodate the wheel.


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: julztoni97 on September 13, 2008, 11:21:21 AM
My girls have a plastic wheel. But I can't figure out how to attach it to the side of the cage. The openings in the F470 are not wide enough to accommodate the wheel.

The Silent Spinner fits a cage like that.  I have a F435 and it fits perfect!  I like the Silent Spinner.  The poops do fall right out as they run.  Mine run constantly between the 6 of them and it isn't that bad to clean.  I wipe it out every couple days.


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: Pepper on September 13, 2008, 02:22:50 PM
My girls have a plastic wheel. But I can't figure out how to attach it to the side of the cage. The openings in the F470 are not wide enough to accommodate the wheel.
I have an XL silent spinner in a R670 and had to go in from the bottom after taking it off the pan of course- not through a door.  Is that what you are asking? 


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: Rmv1983 on September 13, 2008, 04:55:46 PM
Ah no, it won't fit on the side of the cage. I just got them a silent spinner, and it attaches  ^_^


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: caleppert on September 14, 2008, 08:04:24 PM
I have this wheel but large for rats. 
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753360

I used zipties through my Martin's to hold it in place and keep it from bouncing around.  I just use the loops to latch it in place on the sides of the connection part near where the wheel attaches to the base.


Title: Re: Cleaning Martins cages + Best wheels?
Post by: phoenix2007 on September 15, 2008, 11:27:26 AM
As for the wheel I ended up getting the stealth wheel (http://atticworx.com/atticworxproducts.htm) and the girls really love that. Its 12", so its large enough and its got a very small spaced plastic mesh on the inside so poops fall out and pee doesn't smell if you clean it reasonably regularly. Its also virtually silent so when they run all night long I can still sleep! Its a bit on the pricey side, but I don't see having to replace it anytime soon either. Good luck with your choices!