[julialeah33]

So I have a Very social hedghog. He doesn't mind being held and played with, but lately that is not the case. I got him a Wheel a while back and now that is all he does. He doesn't play with anything else. I was thinking about taking the wheel out every other day and leaving him with some toys and stuff. I need some good suggestions on some alternatives to the wheel. Another reason for this is he poops all over his wheel and it is tuff to clean! He also gets what we call "poop feet" on a nightly basis and it is getting to the point that everytime he comes out he needs a bath!! So any suggestions would be great (even if it is about the poop thing)!

 

[krbshappy71]

Exercise is really important for them, I don't think you should remove the wheel. A trick that I has been working for me is to shut off the light at night at their normal time. In one hour I go in and flick on the light and they have pottied on their wheel but have not run yet. I quick wash off the wheel (we have the Saucer) and put it back and in the mornings it is about half as dirty as usual. Sometimes its even clean with just small specks that indicate it was used. I don't know what kind of wheel you are using but the saucers are much easier for me to clean than the large wheel I had previously. Link is for saucers at petsmart.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751781&lmdn=Small+Pet

I wake mine around four p.m. at the earliest and play or cuddle with them all evening, their wheel activity doesn't seem to slow them down from interacting with us. Then we put them to bed and I do the "wait one hour then clean wheel" trick. I don't know what time they actually exercise on the wheel but they are able to handle both the wheel exercising and our interaction.
Instead of a full bath you can just put them in very shallow water with a towel to wash their little feet, less production. Or wipe their feet with a wet washcloth, I do that if its not excessive "boots".
If your little one is really slowing down, could he be warm enough? Do you have enough lighting all day? Now that its getting darker during the day I leave a light on all day up until I go to bed at night. HOpe this helps and I'm sure you will get more advice from others. I am still new.

 

[LizardGirl]

Poopy feet and poopy wheel is part of owning a hedgie and can't be avoided. Better get used to it!

 

[Pipkin]

Put the wheel in warm water to soak for a while and it loosens everything on there and then go round the wheel with loo roll and it all comes off so easily.

But yeh as said above that is what comes with owning a hedgie. I dont find it difficult at all to get his poop off, yes it does take about 10 minutes of my time up a day but whats 10 mins of poop cleaning

 

[Hedgie Hugger]

De-pooping is an everyday ritual which makes me happy to know my hedgie gets to have a clean start to his 'day'.

Is it just my experience or do males make a much bigger mess of their wheel and house?

Sarah

 

[hedgielover81]

I need a wheel alternative for a different reason. I have tried everything to keep my baby's wheel from squeaking, but it never fails. Now, it's rattling obnoxiously. I am in earplugs at night, but sometimes, I need to be able to hear an alarm clock.

Is there a quieter alternative to the wheel that I can look at?

 

[susanaproenca]

I need a wheel alternative for a different reason. I have tried everything to keep my baby's wheel from squeaking, but it never fails. Now, it's rattling obnoxiously. I am in earplugs at night, but sometimes, I need to be able to hear an alarm clock.

Is there a quieter alternative to the wheel that I can look at?

what kind of wheel do you have?

The Carolina Storm Wheel is very quiet, one of my hedgie's cage is in our room and it doesn't bother us all. It's also very easy to clean.

You can find it on the For Sale forum.

 

[Puffers315]

*holds his hands over a crystal ball* You have....a Comfort Wheel!

I'm just guessing because I had one and holy crap, that's my only comment. They rattle, they squeak, and it doesn't help if they're in the same room as you (or in my case less than 6 feet from my head). Its worse when you soak them, it takes any lub off the spindal shaft so its just raw plastic on plastic.

Double what susanaproenca said, Carolina Storm Wheel made by LarryT here on the forums, its --very-- easy to clean, most nights I just spray with my 50/50 water-vinegar mix and wipe down within a minute, I sink wash once a week. The only thing you will hear is hedgie feet.

 

[hercsmom]

Ditto on the Carolina Storm wheel...super easy clean up & very quiet. I can't stress enough how important that wheel is to your hedgie though..every single night. We also clean Herc's wheel abbott half an hour after he's gotten up. It really makes for less morning clean up.

 

[Alastrina]

One more vote for the CSW, I have a similar wheel and cleanup is amazingly simple.

Also wanted to toss in letting your hedgie out to potty before your evening play time, I've found this reduces what gets on me and the wheel...it's a win/win!

~Katie

 

[zorropirate]

I second/third/fourth/fifth the carolina storm wheel!! Or atleast a flying saucer, although the CSW is best.

Daisy's house is litteraly 4 feet from my head while I sleep and she runs ALL night long. I purchased the flying saucer to use while my CSW was in transit, it worked well, however Daisy started using her leg to stop the wheel from spinning and it sounded like she was scraping her leg on it, so I am really happy she's not using that anymore, but it was a good temp fix.

 

[hedgielover81]

*holds his hands over a crystal ball* You have....a Comfort Wheel!

I'm just guessing because I had one and holy crap, that's my only comment. They rattle, they squeak, and it doesn't help if they're in the same room as you (or in my case less than 6 feet from my head). Its worse when you soak them, it takes any lub off the spindal shaft so its just raw plastic on plastic.

Double what susanaproenca said, Carolina Storm Wheel made by LarryT here on the forums, its --very-- easy to clean, most nights I just spray with my 50/50 water-vinegar mix and wipe down within a minute, I sink wash once a week. The only thing you will hear is hedgie feet.

Actually, i have a metal wheel.. it's blue. I will look at the CSW to see what I think. I wouldn't dream of taking the wheel out of Sonadow's cage. He LOVES the thing SO much.

Mommy just needs to get better night's sleep!

 

[shaelikestaquitos]

Actually, i have a metal wheel.. it's blue. I will look at the CSW to see what I think. I wouldn't dream of taking the wheel out of Sonadow's cage. He LOVES the thing SO much.

Mommy just needs to get better night's sleep!

Does the metal wheel have a solid running surface? If not, it's not safe for hedgehogs.
I had a blue metal wheel when I first got Kashi. Before my CSW arrived, I didn't want to buy an expensive one so I bought the mesh kind and duct-taped the inside. It was alright as an alternative... Also I added olive oil on the hinges to stop it from squeaking but yeah... Now I have a CSW and I am so glad I purchased it

 

[inthenews]

general wheel question........

my hedgehog is driving my dog crazy with the noise at night.. I have ear plugs and sleep fine but not sure what to do for the dog. Until it gets warm out the hedgehog has to stay in my bedroom. I have a flying saucer wheel - is the CSW a lot quieter? I can hear his feet going and the crunching of food if I wake up and my dog is always sitting up in my bed staring toward the cage and hes becoming less active/depressed. Any ideas?

 

[firephoenixla]

awe! your poor dog, I feel bad for the little guy.. I guess you'll just have to wait for him to get used to it or have him sleep in another room every other night so he can get some sleep or something... I mean it depends how light of a sleeper you are I guess.. unfortunately I am a very light sleeper too and Paprika sleeps about 4 feet from my head in my room too... my CSW wheel is semi-quiet but it does rattle and occasionally it is really loud then gets less loud over the course of the night.. I don't know why.. but now I sleep with ear plugs and a fan that is attached to my headboard right above my head that blows onto me all night.. it helps me to sleep better.. but I still wake up to the sounds of her wheeling/eating occasionally.. *sighs* the joys of hedgehog ownership :roll:

 

[LarryT]

general wheel question........

my hedgehog is driving my dog crazy with the noise at night.. I have ear plugs and sleep fine but not sure what to do for the dog. Until it gets warm out the hedgehog has to stay in my bedroom. I have a flying saucer wheel - is the CSW a lot quieter? I can hear his feet going and the crunching of food if I wake up and my dog is always sitting up in my bed staring toward the cage and hes becoming less active/depressed. Any ideas?

You could try putting a sheet over the cage or something of that sort so maybe the dog and hog can't see each other.

 

[LarryT]

awe! your poor dog, I feel bad for the little guy.. I guess you'll just have to wait for him to get used to it or have him sleep in another room every other night so he can get some sleep or something... I mean it depends how light of a sleeper you are I guess.. unfortunately I am a very light sleeper too and Paprika sleeps about 4 feet from my head in my room too... my CSW wheel is semi-quiet but it does rattle and occasionally it is really loud then gets less loud over the course of the night.. I don't know why.. but now I sleep with ear plugs and a fan that is attached to my headboard right above my head that blows onto me all night.. it helps me to sleep better.. but I still wake up to the sounds of her wheeling/eating occasionally.. *sighs* the joys of hedgehog ownership :roll:

I think your wheel is banging on the cage,you could try securing it to the cage with zipties.

 

[inthenews]

The dog sleeps with me lol.. I adopted him from an animal shelter a few years ago. He sleeps under the covers and hasn't really been away from me at night :roll:, I can see if a blanket will help dampen some of the sound but I can only cover one side because I have the heat lamp deal laying on the top off to one side.

Maybe if I put the hedgehog cage in the bathroom every other night it might be better. I can shut the door and that should help the temp stay consistent if I have everything hooked up. The hedgehog used to live downstairs but its impossible to keep the temp right in such a big space. I'm happy he is running again though - just wish he would do it at a more leisurely pace

 

[thegiggleb0x]

my hedgie's wheel is a little noisy, but it doesn't ever bother me, she is in the living room and usually is up running while i sleep. i did put her wheel in a large cat litter box that i got from wal-mart, i cut a space so that thistle could climb in and out easily, she uses the litter box more often than not, but of course... there is still poo on the wheel! but oh well, she is adorable and i love her! lol

 

[Lokiboy]

Exercise is really important for them, I don't think you should remove the wheel. A trick that I has been working for me is to shut off the light at night at their normal time. In one hour I go in and flick on the light and they have pottied on their wheel but have not run yet. I quick wash off the wheel (we have the Saucer) and put it back and in the mornings it is about half as dirty as usual. Sometimes its even clean with just small specks that indicate it was used. I don't know what kind of wheel you are using but the saucers are much easier for me to clean than the large wheel I had previously. Link is for saucers at petsmart.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2751781&lmdn=Small+Pet

I wake mine around four p.m. at the earliest and play or cuddle with them all evening, their wheel activity doesn't seem to slow them down from interacting with us. Then we put them to bed and I do the "wait one hour then clean wheel" trick. I don't know what time they actually exercise on the wheel but they are able to handle both the wheel exercising and our interaction.
Instead of a full bath you can just put them in very shallow water with a towel to wash their little feet, less production. Or wipe their feet with a wet washcloth, I do that if its not excessive "boots".
If your little one is really slowing down, could he be warm enough? Do you have enough lighting all day? Now that its getting darker during the day I leave a light on all day up until I go to bed at night. HOpe this helps and I'm sure you will get more advice from others. I am still new.

hiii so I recently got a hedgehog for my birthday, and I already bought him a wheel, but it does not come until next week. Is there any exercise alternative that My baby can do until his wheel gets here