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hedgiesrluvd
03-28-2006, 03:22 PM
Hi all,

I have a couple of questions regarding Ci Wei's cage. Awhile back I posted about finding him on top of his wheel in the middle of the night trying to escape, and how I was worried that in his many attempts to climb the cage walls he would get hurt. Some of you suggested using either clear acetate or cloroplast to line the lower rungs of his cage sides. I've checked everywhere I know to check, and none of the stores around here carry either of those things. A guy at Wal-Mart told me Menard's would carry them, but the guy at Menard's said they don't have them, and he'd never heard of them. When I explained to the best of my ability what they were like, he said, "What other uses would they have? I just don't understand why any store would carry something that has very little practical use." :dunno: I also called our other local hardware/home appliance store, and they don't carry it either. I'm out of luck, and I think Ci Wei is still insisting on climbing the sides of his cage at night, as I see poopy prints and little bits of poo hanging from the bars each morning. So my question is this: for those of you who have had similar problems and who bought cloroplast or acetate, where did you get it? Any more suggestions of what types of stores I could check, or other materials that would work equally well? Thanks.

My second question has to do with Ci Wei's wheel. It's a metal wheel (probably for guinea pigs) with a plastic liner so his legs don't get caught, and it also gives him more traction than a solid plastic (e.g. bucket wheel) might do. My problem is that it sqeaks horribly, and when I first get into bed (which is when Ci Wei comes out), I'll hear it screech briefly, then stop, and a little while later, it will screech again. I can't tell if Ci Wei is starting to use it and then stopping due to the noise, or if it stops screeching for the most part once he's on it, and if I come out to check, it's so dark I can barely make him out, and he would most likely stop running anyway the moment he "saw" (or sensed) me in the room. I think he may be using it anyway, as there is usually poop and pee on it (the pee stains the plastic, so I know he's gone), but I'm concerned about the noise, not to mention what would happen if I had guests staying in the same room with him (the living room). Any suggestions on how to "grease the squeaky wheel" without hurting Ci Wei? Thanks!

-Brooke

Melody
03-28-2006, 03:37 PM
I use olive or vegetable oil on my wheels, so it's non-toxic. Works pretty good too! Just put into a syringe or eyedropper and squirt inside the hub or other moving parts.

Nancy
03-28-2006, 03:41 PM
Cereal box cardboard will work to weave in and out of the lower bars to prevent him from climbing. Or go to your dollar store and get some of the plastic placemats and cut to fit. Plastic placemats work great and you can get a nice pattern too.

To stop his wheel from squeeking any vegetable oil will work or vasaline. Both are perfectly hedgehog safe.

HedgieMate
03-28-2006, 05:08 PM
Plastic place mats from a dollar store is a good idea. You probably could find clear plastic report covers in their stationary section as well.

We bought acetate sheets from Staples/Business Depot. I believe they are sold as "photocopier transparency film". You can also use clear plastic report jackets/portfolios. I like using clear plastic or acetate sheets because they let the lights go through and don't obstruct your view into the cage.

You can buy Coroplast at almost any signage store or graphics design studio. Office supply stores may carry smaller sheets too.

hemi_mygirl
03-28-2006, 07:00 PM
I got the coroplast for Hemi's cage from Home Depot... try asking the sales people for "corrugated plastic". That's what the people at Home Depot knew it as.

j4782
03-28-2006, 07:57 PM
hedgieflash.org has a section about creatively escaping hedgehogs. You might want to contact Standing Bear (the owner) about escapee prevention.

razzle
03-30-2006, 02:13 PM
Razzle just started up with the climbing the sides thing. I thought he had "forgotten" how to climb since he had been in a playpen or in his Sterilite condo before this new cage. Nope. He remembers. I actually didn't get any sleep last night because he worried me so much with his climbing and falling. Thanks for the great ideas in this thead! We might even have some of those plastic report covers here at work (shhh! ;) ) that I can try so I can actually rest in peace tonight!

Heimii loves Ma
04-04-2006, 02:50 PM
we bought Heimii's cage at the locale SPCA for $30. It sells reg $140. at Petsmart here in Langley. We found it to be the best type to buy. It's solid plastic bottom and sides with a wire top. The little guys can't get out and we tried 3 types of cages 2 of which he escaped and mom herd him in her room trying to sleep with the dog. Wrong speices! He has never escaped and he seem's to like it. He can not climb the walls and all his toys and wheel fit nicely. It's aprox. 2ftx4ft. We also have a 4ftx6ft wire run for him that he likes during the day. I've never found him to try to escape from these and they didnt cost much and my daughter and I bought from the SPCA which made her fell good. Wish you loads of luck and happy snuggies!!!!!