Re: My new baby, But i'm having issues...
Don't worry that she didn't take the mealies. Hedgies sometimes need to be introduced and re-introduced to a new food a number of times before they realize "hey, this is food" and get up the courage to try it... much less admit they like it.
Mallasfamily's suggestion about counting or weighing the kibble is a very good one. Another good idea is to weigh your hedgie (in grams) to make sure she isn't losing weight. A good kitchen scale will do the trick.
Consider using a water bowl instead of a water bottle. Give her both for awhile until she catches on to the idea of drinking out of a bowl.
Glad you're not using cedar
Down the road, you might want to consider using cage liners. Often, they're made from fleece and have several benefits; eg, less wood shavings around your home, less respiratory issues for hedgies, you'll be able to see any signs of distress more quickly and easily (eg, green poop or bloody urine can hide in shavings, but not on a liner)...
From here, I'll just echo what others mentioned - making sure she's at the right temperature, has a wheel with solid running surface, etc...
Enjoy your little girl
My little one did this with a certain brand of kibble. I think this is her way of saying "Hey, this food is [email protected]" Under normal circumstances, switching food over slowly is the way to go. But since the pet store had her on Vitakraft, it is important to change much sooner. Go ahead and find some Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, Felidae, Wellness, Innova or other cat kibbles on Reaper's list and give that to her instead.CT-Zoom-Zoom said:
Don't worry that she didn't take the mealies. Hedgies sometimes need to be introduced and re-introduced to a new food a number of times before they realize "hey, this is food" and get up the courage to try it... much less admit they like it.
Mallasfamily's suggestion about counting or weighing the kibble is a very good one. Another good idea is to weigh your hedgie (in grams) to make sure she isn't losing weight. A good kitchen scale will do the trick.
Consider using a water bowl instead of a water bottle. Give her both for awhile until she catches on to the idea of drinking out of a bowl.
Glad you're not using cedar
Down the road, you might want to consider using cage liners. Often, they're made from fleece and have several benefits; eg, less wood shavings around your home, less respiratory issues for hedgies, you'll be able to see any signs of distress more quickly and easily (eg, green poop or bloody urine can hide in shavings, but not on a liner)...From here, I'll just echo what others mentioned - making sure she's at the right temperature, has a wheel with solid running surface, etc...
Enjoy your little girl
