Paranoia - it's not just for Sabbath fans......

[Sylverwynde]

Ok, so I'm worried. Should I be?

I brought Sheridan home last night. He quickly adapted to his new home, re-arranging the furniture, getting his kibbles everywhere, and happily pooping (and running) in his wheel.

The one thing I haven't seen him do is drink. He has both a bowl and a bottle, across the cage from each other. But I'm worried that I don't know if he's used either one. Should I be? I mean, they can figure out where the water is and how to get to it, right? The bowl for his water is about the width of my thumb higher than his kibble bowl, maybe it's too big for him? I think the bottle's at the right place, but I don't know........

Someone help, please. :cry2:

[Nancy]

You can show him the water bowl and the bottle. I'm sure he can figure out where the bowl is for sure but showing him wouldn't hurt. :)

[Sylverwynde]

You can show him the water bowl and the bottle. I'm sure he can figure out where the bowl is for sure but showing him wouldn't hurt. :)

OK, stupid question now...... How do I show him? Pick him up and put his nose in it, or what?

[Aduro]

With small critters, I tend to have good luck with some form of moving water dish. Some animals just seem to have a hard time grasping the concept of things that are there but can't be seen. There are several varieties of cash dishes that move the water.

Oh, and just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean someone isn't watching you.

[Nancy]

I'd hold him at the bowl and stick my finger in the water and put some on his mouth. Same with the bottle. :)

[hemi_mygirl]

If he's just a baby, maybe try putting a little step for him to stand on, to give him a height boost. Flat rocks work wonderfully, and they'll also MAYBE wear down his nails a tad.

[Sylverwynde]

*SIGH*......... I tried to answer this ealier, but when I clicked the post button, the site told me I wasn't logged in. Any way I can make the site not time me out when I'm trying to write? It's quite annoying...............

Anyway...............

Last night, I had Sheridan playing in his pen, and I asked one of my roomates to watch him while I helped the other roomate with a computer problem. When I came back to Sheridan, I heard my roomate saying "Drinking, drinking, still drinking......" So, it seems that maybe the original water bowl he had may have been too high for him, but this one was just right! I'm much less worried now! I have since switched to this smaller bowl in his cage, we'll see if he likes it. I will most likely look for a stone to put in his cage as a step, that'll probably help too. I'll still try to show him where the water is tonight, but he's such a wiggler that getting him to hold still for less than a millisecond is next to impossible! :hyper:

Now, I have 2 more questions:

A) I read (on Nancy's site, IIRC) that the cage should never be in direct sunlight. The room Sheridan's cage is in leads onto the back gallery, has big patio doors, and the cage gets less than an hour of direct sunlight a day. Now, should I move the cage to another room, or just turn the cage around so the wheel is facing the doors?

B) He seemed to be scratching a lot last night. Could this be related to quilling? I thought I saw a couple of quills on his liner last night. I'm going to try to scheduel his first vet appointment for this Monday, should I get her to check him for mites, even though the breeder gave Sheridan a mite treatment before I picked him up?

And have I thanked you for all your help? THANK YOU!!!!!!! :hearts:

[Nancy]

Even a few minutes in direct sunlight can heat up the cage to unbearable temperatures. Hedgehogs can also get sunburned. I'd move the cage to another location so there is no chance of direct sunlight ever.

If the breeder treated him for mites I wouldn't bother with a mite check. He is probably just quilling and that can cause itchy skin.

I'm sure you feel better now you know he is drinking. :)

[Sylverwynde]

Even a few minutes in direct sunlight can heat up the cage to unbearable temperatures. Hedgehogs can also get sunburned. I'd move the cage to another location so there is no chance of direct sunlight ever.

If the breeder treated him for mites I wouldn't bother with a mite check. He is probably just quilling and that can cause itchy skin.

I'm sure you feel better now you know he is drinking. :)

Well, he never comes out when there's sun, but if even a few minutes is bad, we'll move him. At least there's no chance of sunburn!

I'll give him an Aveeno bath tonight, that may help with the itchy skin.

Yes, I am relieved! At least I know he's had a bit to drink now!

Thanks a lot!