This week I would like to follow up on my last post, which was kind of a condensed, comprehensive look at what you need to know before owning a hedgie. Today I am going to touch on the subject of wheels for hedgehogs, and what I consider to be a "good wheel," where to buy them, and their pros and cons. Please click on the name of each wheel for a picture!
1. The Silent Spinner
This wheel is probably one of the most widely available wheels on the market. You can find the Silent Spinner wheels at local pet stores, chain pet stores, and online. However, hedgehogs need a 11-12inch wheel, and sometimes the wheels of that size are easier to find online. In any case, you should have no problem finding them, which means they will be fairly affordable wheels. True to its name, the Silent Spinner is pretty quiet. My hedgehog Relm ran on hers religiously and I never once heard any squeaking or rattling! A minor problem with this wheel is that it has ridges. Ridges + poop = very tough to clean. It can be done, trust me, since I did it every day that I used this wheel, but it sure does make it harder. Some owners dislike the ridges purely because they believe they are hard on the hedgehog's feet over time. To me, the true problem with this wheel lies in the construction. It is made out of two separate parts which come together in the middle of the wheel, leaving a very small slit. This slit has been known to catch the nails of a running hedgehog and RIP THEM out, causing major damage and pain. I am going to give you a link to what this looks like, but be warned, it is a lot of blood. =[ This happened (or at the time I believed this was what was happening, it turned out she had a cyst in her uterus) to my hedgehog Relm, and once I found out about the dangers of this wheel I promptly removed it from her cage.
My Overall Rating: 1 out of 5
Pros: Quiet, Easy to find, Affordable, Cute
Cons: Difficult to clean, Dangerous
2. The Comfort Wheel
This wheel is also widely available in pet stores and online, and it is typically cheaper and even easier to find the 12 inch model in stock. These wheels, much like the Silent Spinner, have ridges. They also come in various colors, such as pinks, purples, and blues. However, they are made of only ONE complete piece of plastic as opposed to two, which eliminates the danger of catching a little hedgie nail. My hamster uses this type of wheel, and while he loves it, I cannot say I particularly do. It is far more prone to squeaking, even after I put a dab of olive oil on it. It also has a long protruding piece of plastic that, depending on the size of your hedgehog, can cause your hedgie's back to arch. After long periods of time, this can cause back problems. However, I will say that most hedgehogs would not have this problem, especially since a 12 inch wheel is a perfect size for the majority of hedges. Another thing an owner may not like is that this wheel does not feel as sturdy as other wheels. It is a pretty lightweight wheel, which means your hedgie might have an easier time pushing the wheel around/over, and that there could be a visible sag to the wheel when your hedgehog is in it.
My Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Pros: Easy to find, Affordable, Cute
Cons: Difficult to clean, Lightweight, Can be squeaky
3. The Flying Saucer Wheel
This wheel is widely available in pet stores and online as well. I do not own one of these wheels personally, so take what I say with a grain of salt. =] I have seen videos on Youtube and such of hedgehogs using these wheels, and while they seem to be as excited to be running as they usually do, it just seems...awkward. This wheel is at an angle and is mostly flat, much like a flying saucer. This is attractive to some owners, since it means the wheel will not take up near as much space in the cage. Due to the odd angle of this wheel, some people say that Flying Saucer wheels are bad for hedgies since it requires them to run at an unnatural angle. In any case, I will let you be the judge about the "awkwardness" of this wheel by sending you to watch this video as a reference. See what I mean? This wheel also has ridges, which as I have said above, are annoying to clean and are generally thought of as bad for a hedgehog's feet.
My Overall Rating: N/A
Pros: Easy to find, Affordable, Cute, Compact
Cons: Awkward angle, Difficult to clean
4. The Wodent Wheel (Wobust)
This wheel is typically only found online, and is a bit more expensive than the wheels I mentioned above. Once again, this is a wheel I have never owned, so take that for what you will. What is attractive about the Wodent Wheel to some owners, is the fact that it has a shield-like plastic case with multiple holes over the opening of the wheel. That way, small animals are far less likely to run too fast and get flung out of their wheels. Wodent Wheels are also alluring because you can buy a sandpaper-type of bottom for them, which will trim the hedgehog's nails as they run. However, as you may imagine, running on sandpaper doesn't sound very appealing! Especially when hedgehogs can run an average of seven miles per night! However, the nail-trimming paper is just an option, and does not have to be inserted in the wheel. The real problem most hedgehog owners have with this wheel is the multiple holes. Hedgehogs LOVE to stop in the middle of running and look out of the wheel. I don't know why, they are just cute like that. Obviously, since there are only three openings/exits to this wheel, when they stop to look out....some hedgehogs get their faces and noses stuck in the hole just as it stops turning, causing injuries to their sweet little faces. =[ Imagine sticking your face into some ceiling fan blades. Yeah, owch! The Wodent Wheel may be great for other animals, such as sugar gliders, hamsters, or rats, but for hedgehogs it is generally not a good idea.
My Overall Rating: N/A
Pros: xxx
Cons: Dangerous, Expensive, Harder to find
5. Mesh/Wire Wheels (Ware Wheels)
This wheel is extremely easy to find, probably the most affordable, and it comes in many different colors. This wheel can be found at pretty much any pet store/online store you can find. The biggest size is generally 11 inches, which is the minimum size requirement for a full-grown hedge. Despite these qualities, most owners of small pets that need to use wheels already know about the dangers of this type of wheel. Toes get caught in the large mesh gaps, foot pads become damaged, tails get entangled, plus the wheel is squeaky! Now, some people have made fleece coverings to combat the first few problems above, but my thought is: why should I have to modify it to be safe? I would rather buy something that is safe off the bat, but if you are strapped for cash and have sewing knowledge, making a fleece covering for one of these wheels is a must. Sad story time: my husband's family had a very unfortunate experience with this type of wheel, wherein a pet hamster was trapped underneath the mesh wheel whilst the other one continued to run, mangling the poor little thing to death. It was a very horrifying and traumatic experience for all of them, which is why I tend to shy away from the metal mesh wheels altogether.
My Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Pros: Very easy to find, Cheap, Cute
Cons: Dangerous, Must take time to modify
6. Bucket Wheels
This wheel is typically found only online, is a bit more expensive, but has the best pros I could possibly give. This wheel is my absolute favorite of all time! I truly cannot say enough about the Bucket Wheel. They are completely smooth, which makes cleaning a breeze and means that your hedgie will not irritate their feet on ridges. They are so quiet - the only thing I ever hear is a small pattering of hedgie paws. They are durable and adjustable, so that you can angle your wheel to allow the urine/poop drain easier. Bucket wheels can also be made by you, which can make them more affordable. (Here is a tutorial on how to make your very own bucket wheel!) Bucket wheels are made of (drum roll please) a bucket (who knew?!), PVC pipe, a roller blade wheel, screws, and a few zip ties. You can also buy them from several places online, such as Carolina Storm Hedgehogs or Volcano View (which is where I got mine) on Etsy. The Bucket Wheel is almost universally accepted as the BEST kind of wheel for a hedgehog. Some people believe that the smooth surface of a bucket wheel will cause the hedgehog to slip and slide around, but I honestly have seen neither of my hedgehogs have a problem with the surface. Even my little baby Basch, who weighed barely more than 4 oz took to it immediately, just like a duck to water. =] Some cons to this wheel are that it does require some tightening maintenance from time to time, and there is a possiblity a zip tie may break off after awhile. However, most sellers of bucket wheels provide instructions with how to deal with these issues, and often times provide extra zip ties with the wheel. The Bucket Wheel also fits perfectly under plastic litter pans, which you can often buy at the same time you are ordering your wheel, so cleaning up after the hedgehog everyday becomes sooo much simpler!
My Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Pros: Quiet, Easy to clean, Cute, Adjustable, DIY-able, Safe
Cons: Expensive, Maintenance
Phew! I hope this post was helpful to you if you are researching wheel options, or if you wanted to upgrade your hedgehog's wheel. Please keep in mind that some of these wheels are perfectly fine to use with other small animals, and that this post is only geared towards hedgehogs. =]
Things to keep in mind: Wheel size must be 11-12 inches for adult hedgehogs. Wheels must be cleaned daily. Some good cleaners for wheels: 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar in a spray bottle (use paper towel or old rag to scrub off.) A sponge wand and some Dawn dish detergent also works great for scrubbing down wheels. Make sure to sanitize your sink/tub after cleaning!
xoxo,
Jo and Basch
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