uninterested in wheel!

[scotyluv]

Hi
This is my first post!! I have had Dozzer for about 9 months now and I think he has never used his wheel. Is this normal for a hedgie not to be interested in it? He is not overweight though! I am really careful on how much I feed him.

[Vincent]

How long has the wheel been in his cage and available for him? What kind of wheel is it? What food are you feeding him, and how much? What kind of cage is he in, and how big is it? (People might be able to suggest different things if we know specifics. :))

Wheeling isn't the only option to get a hedgehog to lose weight, although it's mighty helpful. Try looking for chloroplast cubes and setting up a playpen area for him. This website might give you some ideas:
http://imageevent.com/cavyspirit/cavycagesopencubecoroplastcages
If you have a playpen like that, try putting in a few toys (toilet paper tubes, kitty balls with the bells inside, PCV pipe, etc.) and let him run around for an hour or two. It took my guys a little while to warm up to their playpen, but now they love it, and run around tons.
I hope someone around here can help you!

[LunaMidnight]

Maybe he doesn't know what to do with it. Luna took a month or so to learn how to use hers. Nine months is quite awhile though, maybe he's just not interested. I guess it could be a lot of things.

[freznow]

If the wheel is too small (smaller than 12 inches) he probably won't use it. If it is too high up, he might not use it. When you say you are careful about how much you feed him, does that mean you are limiting the amount? Hedgies need to be fed as much as they will eat. They will only eat when they are hungry. But you can hide a few pieces around the cage to make him work for his food. Otherwise, I don't know...

[herbiesmom]

When you say he does not use the wheel, is that because you never see him use the wheel? Or is it because he never poops in the wheel? I would check to see if the wheel wobbles when you turn it. I left mine to loose once and Snow would not wheel in it because he kept falling out. Herbie will not use his if I don't have it low enough in the cage.

[freznow]

Also, if the wheel is at the wrong angle he may not use it...

[Jeanette]

Is it a solid wheel or is it one for hamsters and such??

Hedgehog's feet aren't like rodents feet, so they need a wheel where there are no 'slits'.

If you aren't using a solid wheel, maybe your hh's just nervous about having a wheel that he can't run in.

[scotyluv]

thanks everyone for your input. It is a solid wheel and it is not secured it just sits on the bottom of his cage . I put the pine shavings around the base so it dosen't move around. I have never found poop in it . i have the comfort wheel in size large, maybe this is not big enough. I admit I have not stayed up all night and watched him.

[Jeanette]

Um, someone once told me that they had a hh and that they could never get him/her to use the wheel.... but then they found out that the hh was very sensitive to the light (moonlight, city lights, etc.).
Try throwing a towel over his house to block any light that he might be getting.
Some hh's just point their bum over the side of the wheel to do their business then go on wheeling... although, that's rare!

[LunaMidnight]

Some hh's just point their bum over the side of the wheel to do their business then go on wheeling... although, that's rare!

I was so surprised yesterday when I saw Luna do it! :eek: That's when I woke her up to clean her stuff and I put her in and she got mad and started wheeling right in front of me. Then she just sat there for a minute with her butt over the edge and the litter pan and did it!