[SquishyHelium]

I do have a question as it happens! Is it absolutely essential that chinchillas are provided with a wheel? I've been trying to find one for Jacob, but I know they should be a. metal and b. have a diameter greater than 14", which I'm struggling to find without buying one that costs a bomb. I am also looking into the possibility of making one but again struggling to find a suitable size metal bowl. Jacob has a large cage and I am giving him time out to run round, so is it really important for him to have a wheel or will he be getting enough exercise just from being in his cage and running outside it?