Comments | hedgehogs: wheel woes

pandaliese in hedgehogs

wheel woes

Jan 03, 2006 22:14

Do wheels have to be replaced often?? After just a year my silent wheel will no longer stay upright while Spike is running. Thats a bit annoying since it cost about $27. I think the metal legs have bent under the weight, but I'm afraid if I try to bend it back myself, it will just become uneven ( Read more... )

supplies: wheel, supplies: toys, hedgie accessories

Comments 10

girlvinyl January 4 2006, 06:50:35 UTC

Toys: little rubber balls with jingle bells inside. They usually have them in the cat-toy department.

jumpinglegacy January 4 2006, 06:53:40 UTC

The hedgies won't eat the rubber off those or anything? I used to use the cat toys that are a plastic grid with a little jingle bell inside, but I can't remember where I put them...

girlvinyl January 4 2006, 07:37:14 UTC

Everytime we go to buy something new for my hedgehog we first think "but, hrm... might he chew it?" But then realize that we've never seen him chew anything but his food - ever. I keep waiting for it to happen, but he never chews. Nothing. Just food. I don't know if he is unusual in this or not, so definitely use caution, but mine never chews on anything.

I read somewhere in an article about how different hedgehogs are from rodents. Rodents typically chew things because they're not really insectivores, they gnaw on stuff, but hedgehogs don't seem to do that really.

hedgemom January 4 2006, 14:07:47 UTC

If you're talking about the plastic Superpet Comfort wheel, then you're going to have to replace it frequently. They weren't made for the weight of a running hedgehog. A bucket wheel made by Milwaukee Superpogs or sold by Hedgehog Welfare Society will be much sturdier and last better. My bucket wheels are at least 10 years old and still doing full time duty.

As far as toys, Hedgehogs are insectivores, not rodents. They don't chew or gnaw and their teeth do not continually grow. Cat jingle bells are good as are plastic trucks/cars that they can push around. Some like plastic boxes and shapes, some like things they can dig in and scavenge for food, hidden mealies or treats. I have a hedgehog who loves playing with a concrete garden statue of an armadillo... weird hedgehog.

nebula1500 January 4 2006, 14:26:32 UTC

is that hedgie in your icon homemade? its so cute!

nebula1500 January 4 2006, 14:39:28 UTC

mine really seems to like "fighting" with stuffed animals. i don't really like it very much, because i'm a super paranoid mom, and i'm always afraid she'll chew through and start eating the stuffing or something. but she seems to like it.

pandaliese January 4 2006, 18:00:44 UTC

I actually have a dog-toy hedgehog... I'm going to try that tomorrow morning at playtime :)

celticess January 4 2006, 17:50:23 UTC

Mine seems ok so far. Geez your's cost alot. My wheel only cost about $10 and it's meant for chinchillas and the like so I think it will be ok for now though it is a plastic wheel on a metal base.(looks like the wire ones other than the barrel is plastic ( ... )

pandaliese January 5 2006, 16:57:23 UTC

I know this sounds silly but can somoene post a pic of what they mean by plastic cars??? I have spent some time looking at toy cars and none seem to be quite right... I'm guessing theres something I'm not finding thats between matchbox cars and Tonka trucks???

btw I'm going to try a few types of PVC joints for now since I know Spike likes tunnels...

And as for the wheel... I'm just going to continue to be upset with my current wheel until I can find something else. I talked to my buddy at the local exotic pet store and he said there was no reason it should be bowing like it is, and I should bring it in so he can try to fix it. Such a nice boy. :)