Top Document: Hedgehog FAQ [4/7] - Hedgehogs as pets Previous Document: <5.5> I'm having problems litter-training my hedgehog. What should I be doing? Next Document: <5.7> Making your own wheel See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Most hedgehogs dearly love to run, and a hedgehog wheel provide the opportunity for plenty of important exercise. Although there are problems associated with using improper wheels, the positive effects of having and using a wheel are virtually enough to make one a necessity (unless your hedgie has free run of an entire room). One of the most tragic maladies found in hedgehogs these days is Fatty Liver Disease, though for all the cases I have heard of, none have occurred in hedgehogs that have and use wheels. This includes cases where siblings have each had the same diet, but one has not used a wheel, and the other has. Exercise is very critical to our little friends, and for almost all of them, the only option available to get them enough exercise is to give them a wheel. Here are a few thoughts on hedgehogs and wheels from Nathan Tenny: They adore exercise wheels, and will run upwards of five miles a night (at a top speed of 12 mph!); their feet get stuck in the regular wire wheels, though, and screen is hard to clean (they seem to like defecating while on the move, which makes sense, I guess). All is not wonderful with hedgehog wheels -- there are a few serious problems that need to be considered. (1) It is necessary that the wheel have a solid surface. A hedgehog wheel should not just have a set of wires running across it as on most wheels for hamsters, gerbils, etc. Without a solid surface, your hedgehog will get his legs caught in the wheel, and/or develop sores, or worse problems. There are a number of ways to adapt wire wheels, so that they have smooth surfaces, from liners to duct tape, just use your imagination. Having a solid wheel leads us to the next problem. (2) Hedgehogs tend to leave their droppings all over their wheels: There's still one pending problem with the hedgehog wheels I've seen: Hedgehogs tend to defecate on the run (reasonable enough), and the wheel eventually gets pretty icky. If you don't clean it, so does the hedgehog. Unfortunately, hedgehog feces stick to wood fairly effectively (that's quite the understatement -- I'm thinking of marketing it as a new extra strong glue -- ed.). A heavy coat of enamel paint makes them easier to clean off, but I'd sure like to find a surface that they'll just wipe away from. Teflon wheels? Here's my fiancee's suggestion: If you live near a glass supply store, you'll find that they sell sheets of a sort of sticky vinyl---intended as masking for people who sandblast glass. Anyway, we have one wheel that has strips of this stuff along it, for traction, and she says that the strips are noticeably easier to clean than the plain wheel. Just a thought. -- Nathan Tenny Velcro's wheel was lined with some cheap vinyl placemats (the smooth, shiny, padded kind) that were cut into strips and stuck together with anti-slip strips (sort of like self adhesive sandpaper to put on stairs and things to keep people from sliding away). The anti-slip strips were there as a vain attempt to help Velcro keep his nails worn down a little. It wasn't too slippery, and definitely passed the Velcro approval test (by that, I mean it needed a thorough cleaning most mornings)! (3) Pad any spokes you have on your wheel. Hedgehogs have a tendency to suddenly look around to the sides and behind while they are running -- to see how far they've gone. This almost always results in getting hit in the face with a spoke from the wheel. Unfortunately I know of at least one hedgehog who has lost an eye because of this (the hedgehog is fine -- it was properly treated by a vet). The only sensible solution I can see is to pad the spokes so that they don't cause injuries when they hit, or if you are really inventive, maybe design a spokeless wheel, maybe suspended on a roller from the top of the cage? I received a reminder recently, from Teresa, that to help cure a squeaky wheel, you can use petroleum jelly, and not have to worry about any harmful consequences from it being licked at by a curious hedgehog. I know from experience what happens to your nerves when a wheel (or two, or three, or...) is squeaking, when you're trying to get to sleep. ;-} I've also found that both Linatone and vegetable oil will work, but they do tend to become sticky over time, while petroleum jelly usually will not, and tends to last longer. For those of you who do not feel up to tackling the job of constructing your own (see section [5.7], if you are up to it), there are a number of sources of ready made wheels for hedgehogs and suitable for them. Unfortunately, few pet stores carry wheels that can be used for hedgehogs, even with adaptation, so it is usually necessary to revert to mail-order, or to building your own. Probably the most common wheels are the RoundAbout wheels by Balanced Innovations. Balanced Innovations is now owned by Ain't No Creek Ranch [2.8], so they are probably one of the best sources for these wheels. Ain't No Creek Ranch 2553 W Offner Road Beecher, IL USA 60401-3347 email: SunSpikeREMOVE_TO_SEND@aol.com www: http://www.aintnocreek.com/ Phone: (708) 946-9750 Fax: (708) 534-3277 RoundAbout wheels are also available from Brisky Pet Products: Brisky Pet Products South Main Street P.O. Box 186 Franklinville, NY 14737 USA www: http://www.brisky.com/ email: AccuFeedREMOVE_TO_SEND@Brisky.Com phone: 1-800-462-2464 (toll free, US only) or: (716) 557-2464 fax: (716) 557-2336 Other sources for hedgehog safe wheels are places such as Transoniq Wodent Wheels (my thanks here to John Masinter for the info). These wheels are enclosed with round openings. The larger wheels are big enough for hedgies, but you may need to enlarge the openings for many hedgies -- especially if the reason for the wheel is to trim down a plump hedgehog. You can contact them through email at wodent-webersREMOVE_TO_SEND@transoniq.com or via: Transoniq 1402 SW Upland Drive Portland, OR 97221 USA 503-227-6848 toll-free hotline: 1-800-548-8925. This line is automated, so be ready with your charge number, name and address, and order items. www: http://www.teleport.com/%7Etrnsoniq/wodent.html Haba Exotics also make an innovative, and very safe wheel, which avoids both the problems of spokes and non-solid running surface. Haba Exotic Animals and Enclosures 17650 1st Ave. South Suite 525 Seattle, WA 98148 USA phone: (206) 244-0285 fax: (206) 248-7205 www: http://www.habaexotic.com/ User Contributions:Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:Top Document: Hedgehog FAQ [4/7] - Hedgehogs as pets Previous Document: <5.5> I'm having problems litter-training my hedgehog. What should I be doing? Next Document: <5.7> Making your own wheel Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Part5 - Part6 - Part7 - Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: macnamara@bastet.hedgehoghollow.com (Brian MacNamara)
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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