Andrea
User
| Posts: 200 |   |
|
is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 12:55
I have ordered a wheel for spikey via the internet and it should come next week. I have felt bad that Spikey does not have a wheel (maybe he is bored in his cage? Do hedgies get bored?). Anyway, the last few days, in the evening, I have been putting Spikey in his very large play pool and I have secured the top via a large window-screen material screen that my husband made for the pool top, so there is no risk for escape. In the pool, I have his food bowl, water bowl, tp tubes, a few toys (i.e. balls), a small igloo with a small fleece cloth to make it snuggly. I have been letting Spikey stay in all night--the room is dark.
Well, Spikey has been going to town--all night I hear him running, tubing, pushing the balls (they jingle a bit). So I know he is active and all of his needs are met in terms of food/drink. Is this ok to do until he gets his wheel? The room is warm; I have a space heater on thermostat so this is not an issue. My gut is telling me that this is ok--he is having fun and is very active--but I also am no expert and dont want to be doing something wrong.
Is it ok to do nightly or should I alternate?
Please advise...thanks.
Andrea
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Hedgehogmadhatter
User
| Posts: 491 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 13:00
My boyfriend say, "How can you tell when a lazy hedgie who hates to move is bored?" LOL 
It sounds like Spikey ISN'T bored because he is active and you are doing fine. Think how much he'll LOVE his wheel!
~Sara
“The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”
Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)
There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Kane123
User
| Posts: 222 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 13:45
Oh, Andrea, you're the one who really care your little friend. I think it would be ok. I think you just take your hedgy out to run on the garden, or let it climb your hands... play with it, that's all the way I do. Many times that my hedgies are too lazy to run (on the wheel) and it not good for their health. So I just play with it and burn my energy on the garden with my hedgies.
You might look forward to see what else you can play with it, so it will make you understand what he wanted.  Enjoy!
Click!!! >>> http://kane123.picturepush.com/
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Andrea
User
| Posts: 200 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 18:14
A lot of times when I take Spikey out to sit on my lap, with the hopes of him "playing", he just stretches out really really long and relaxes. This is in the evening and the lights are low or off (I will be watching tv, though). Very early in the morning he is active but it has been hard to get up extra early. 
That is why I thought it would be ok to have him in the play pool, which is very large and secure, so at night he can have room to run, play with toys, and be more active since he does not have a wheel yet. I have only done it for two days. And he has been super active--tubing, running, playing.
I will try to engage him Kane in more playing with me. But so far he just likes to snuggle or stretch out with me. And yes, I know I overthink things and probably worry way too much.
Andrea
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Aaria
User
| Posts: 323 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 18:42
Peanut will cuddle with the lights on but as soon as they go off and i put her on the floor watch out. She smells and investigates everything. It's amazing how small they can get when they want to squeeze under something. Anyway, even though I am not holding her and she isn't on top of me I consider this playing with her. I know that she knows I am there because she will kind of hang out by me until she gets the courage to move farther into new smells. It's pretty funny. You might want to try just letting Spikey walk around while you sit near him. Peanut espically likes to investigate stacks of books and small dark holes.
Becky
Mother of Peanut the hedgehog |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
omelette
User
| Posts: 419 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 20:36
Andrea you should consider yourself very lucky if Spikey actually cuddles with you! Omelette hardly ever cuddles with me. The moment I take her out all she want to do is run around. Not that I mind, but sometimes I wish she would just sit still. Anyway, I don't see anything wrong with having Spikey in the play pool at night. Especially since he doesn't have a wheel. As long as he has food, water, toys, etc. I think he'll do just fine.
Lisa
My Heart Belongs to:
Teddy, Sugar, Sapphie, Fudge, Archie, Chuckie - The Yorkies
Wendy (Siamese Mix), Echo (Tabby) - Cats
Omelette - Hedgehog
Basil - Guinea Pig
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Maggieb
User
| Posts: 71 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 20:50
I totally agree!
Marjorie, South Carolina
I'm head-over-heels with my hedgehogs!
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
CandJ327
User
| Posts: 453 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 21:45
I love hedgie cuddles! Our Ava is a big cuddler.
Ava's mom!
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Kane123
User
| Posts: 222 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/14 23:46
Umm...understand each other must need to spend time together.... I think hedgehog is the same as our. Many times that we need our own space to stay alone - hedgehog too. But for those who stay alone too much might be sick from other people - hedgehog too. 
in a day time I let them sleep on my lap, in a night time I let them play with their wheel or if it too lazy ,I just let them stay on my table and run around 
I think you didn't over worry but love Spikey really. 
Click!!! >>> http://kane123.picturepush.com/
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
jade
User
| Posts: 56 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 06:26
I think that sound like a great idea andrea. he'll have loads of room to run around and play in a pool.
My milo is a big cuddler and its lovely. on the other hand allie would rather explore.
Jade
England
www.huffpuffhedgies.com |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Andrea
User
| Posts: 200 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 06:33
Thank you all so much for the feedback and reassurance! I put Spikey in the play pool again last night (after an hour of cuddle/snuggle time on my lap with a few small pieces of poached organic chicken treats) and he had a wild time again--running, tubing, pushing his green ball with a jingle bell. He really seems to have fun and I know the exercise is good for him. Once he gets his wheel (which should come next week), I wont put him in the pool as much; maybe just a few times a week for variety.
I am not complaining about Spikey being a snuggler when he is in my lap. That is just how he is....he hunkers down and usually will stretch out really long with his legs kicked back behind him. It is really cute, actually. Every once in awhile he will poke his head up and sniff sniff sniff and then stretch out again. He loves his red blankie. I usually spend at least an hour with him snuggled on my lap.
Andrea
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Aaria
User
| Posts: 323 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 08:11
Honestly I almost wish I had a pool to exercise peanut in. All she does is wheel and then she is exhausted and won't play with me. On the weekends when she doesn't have a wheel I put her on the floor and she explores. Last night even with ALL the lights off she just slept even though she wasn't under anything. But as soon as I put her in her cage she went straight for the wheel and I could hear her wheeling all night. She only stopped to eat some kibbles. I think she has an addiction. Is there a WA for hedgies?
Becky
Mother of Peanut the hedgehog |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Maggieb
User
| Posts: 71 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 10:19
Aaria wrote:
Honestly I almost wish I had a pool to exercise peanut in. All she does is wheel and then she is exhausted and won't play with me. On the weekends when she doesn't have a wheel I put her on the floor and she explores. Last night even with ALL the lights off she just slept even though she wasn't under anything. But as soon as I put her in her cage she went straight for the wheel and I could hear her wheeling all night. She only stopped to eat some kibbles. I think she has an addiction. Is there a WA for hedgies?
Very funny, Becky!
Aren't we all glad they have a way to get their mileage in each night while we keep them in cages for our pleasure. It's such a fantastic combination, and that they know to use them automatically. I actually think it's pretty cool that they are so content with the wheels when we know they aren't even going anywhere! Hedgies are the best!!!
Marjorie, South Carolina
I'm head-over-heels with my hedgehogs!
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Aaria
User
| Posts: 323 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 10:37
Do you think they really know they aren't going anywhere? I've always wondered that.
Becky
Mother of Peanut the hedgehog |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Andrea
User
| Posts: 200 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 10:49
I know from reading here that hedgies love to wheel, so I have felt bad that the different wheels I have tried have not worked out (two broke, one too small). Hopefully this one will work!
In the play pool, he runs and runs and runs--going round and round the perimeter of the pool and then he starts to play like a wild hedgie. Then he starts running again. So I guess this is the same as the compulsive wheeling, but without a wheel
Aria--the pool is very big--it takes up half of the office, really, in terms of floor space. Navigating the room gets tricky since it becomes crowded. Oh well, hopefully this wheel will work. I think I will still alternate once the wheel comes.....a few days a week in the play pool for variety in terms of playing with toys and tubing. He goes crazy with those tubes--very vigerous, really.
Andrea
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Kane123
User
| Posts: 222 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 12:05
A perfect size for hedgehog wheel is 12 inches, but 10 to 15 is OK
Click!!! >>> http://kane123.picturepush.com/
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
Maggieb
User
| Posts: 71 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/15 13:40
Andrea,
Your hedgie has to be as happy as a hedgie can be with your set-up in the pool. I have wheels (which you're about to as well) in each of their cages and a play pen, like your pool, for them to play in from time to time. I think your hedgie is getting plenty of exercise and will love the different environments for variety and will definitely keep him from getting bored.  Sounds wonderful!
Marjorie, South Carolina
I'm head-over-heels with my hedgehogs!
|
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
hedgehogkiwi
User
| Posts: 107 | |
|
Re:is this ok? feedback needed. - 2008/05/18 16:27
that a great idea... my hedgie like to climb over small books and she like hose big tubes tt u can get in petco. pbc pipes are good too i would have never thought of that .. =]
hogs&kisses kiwi ♥ jaime |
|
|
| | The administrator has disabled public write access. |
|
Hedgehog Forums 