vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/25 16:14hi all, does anyone have experience using Vickie's "hefty hedgehog whisper wheel"? i want a new wheel for Tank, but i've heard on here that the regular whisper wheels deform easily -- is this corrected in the reinforced model?
Tank isn't overweight, but he is a wild runner, and with the cage in my room i need something sturdy and silent.
vickie's wheels are expensive (especially this one!), but i will gladly pay if the wheel stays functional and quiet for a couple years ...
Get one of those. It is worth the money, will last forever, and if it gets squeeky, you can use cooking spray.
Not sure about the Vicki wheels, but I think you need to be careful not to get the wheel bearings wet when you wash it. Seems a little difficult.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
clutterbuster
User
Posts: 513
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/25 19:39I have one of Vickie's smaller wheels, 9 inch, because it allows me to put the lid on my 12 inch high tank. My Pippi has been ill and lost weight and this size is good for her, and it seems to turn easier than the other one - she runs a lot more on this. Vickie's come on a L shaped platform made out of some high quality plastic. Now, I have a 10-1/2 inch wheel with the home made looking stand and a skateboard wheel on it also runs super quiet but the bucket is not of good quality - vickie's is more substantial. Their supersize one you mentioned I suspect is bigger than their 11 inch size, and may be what you need for a heftier hedgie. HOW I CLEAN without getting the bearings wet: I take a baby wipe and run it under water and lay it on the inside, rewetting and moving the cloth around. Then I wipe babywipe scent off with a sponge. This is what works for me, I do not regret spending the money to get a higher quality wheel for i have two less expensive ones that I've only had a few months and they are wobbling, and I have wasted my money on those.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
RobinLee06
User
Posts: 46
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 09:31Is that wobbly one of Vern's? I have seen a number of people with the new bucket style and did like the idea of Vickie's better. There is nothing more frustrating than having to buy new equipment for our animals when we spend good money and we do not get years of use! Do you think we could get a group discount from her? Thanks, Robin in Billerica< MA
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
RobinLee06
User
Posts: 46
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 09:33Kelly, When you said "get one of those" - Did you mean the QC version? If so, which one? I thought we should not use the open style? Do your hedgies do ok without extra footing? I would think the closed one with the wood would be a problem to get wet? Thanks, Robin
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Stasi
Admin
Posts: 629
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 10:00I've used many different styles of wheels over the years. One thing I've found mandatory - the wheel being 11-12", and never smaller for an adult hedgehog. The smaller wheels can cause spinal issues, as hedgehogs are not running in a natural position, but rather more 'U' shaped.
Wheels can be as simple as a wire wheel with a liner (I used to do this and make them out of craft foam) Bucket wheels are great, they can be made at home pretty easily and are easy to clean.
The quailty cage wheels that Kelly is talking about are fantastic - easy to clean, run well for longer than the others I've mentioned. I have not used Vickie's wheels, but don't like the fact that she offers the smaller wheels for hedgehogs - again, I feel they are totally inappropriate.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
CThogs
Admin
Posts: 1558
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 10:58I have a regular HBV wheel here that came in with a rehome. It is 11", not very sturdy, and the only real use it gets is with baby hedgies who are lightweight.
I would not go any smaller than 11"-even the difference between 11' and 12" is more than you would think. If you get it wet, it can make a godawful squeal-usually at 4am or so
And if you are going to spend $40, you would be better off going with the metal wheel from quality cage rather than a plastic wheel at all. The quality cage wheels have gotten really good reviews from anybody who has used them.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
HamorHollow
Admin
Posts: 2169
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 11:52CThogs wrote: I would not go any smaller than 11"-even the difference between 11' and 12" is more than you would think. If you get it wet, it can make a godawful squeal-usually at 4am or so
I agree with any. Any hedgie past weaning age needs to be in a wheel that is at least 11". The smaller wheels may look big enough for the smaller hedgies, but they really aren't and may eventually do damage to the hedgehog's back.
There are many things Vicki and I disagree on. Her selling those small wheels is definately one of them.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
tankerama
User
Posts: 16
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 18:22thanks for the advice -- i've looked at the quality cage wheels and they look great ... except i really want something with a stand, so it can be used without being attached to the cage wall.
i currently have a 12" silent spinner wheel, which is fine except at high speeds it starts bouncing, which sometimes trips up the hedgie and the thumping ALWAYS wakes me up.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
HamorHollow
Admin
Posts: 2169
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/26 20:23Yes, they have a stand that can be set on the bottom of the cage or hooked to the side of the bars.
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
RobinLee06
User
Posts: 46
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/03/27 09:31Just to be sure - Do you recommend the 15" Exercise Wheel @$30.00 (SMW-15) or the 11" Exercise Wheel @ $25.00 (SMW-11). Are babies able to get up on it? Thanks, Robin
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
PS: Robin: Only hit submit once when you are posting and then wait until you see your post. You are hitting it twice and double posting every time.Kelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
herbiesmom
User
Posts: 488
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/04/15 07:25I have the hefty hedgie wheels from Vickie for my boys. I have had them over a year and they still run ok. My husband had to repack the bearings on Herbies wheel not long ago. They cannot be soaked in water. You have to be careful not to allow water into the bearings. Snow's wheel started to deform somewhat but I figured out that if I positioned it a littler higher on his cage wall that didn't happen. I have thought of getting new wheels but I don't have a lot of choices here so I am using what I have. I will say the wheels are noisier now that they are older but we sleep with the bedroom door shut.Cyn and Hedgie Boys
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
aislinsadia
User
Posts: 507
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/07/01 07:54I've looked at the Quality Cage wheels and wondered this myself. Wouldn't getting the metal wheel and wooden interior wet be a major problem? How would you clean it, and would there be a problem with soft hedginess getting hurt by the metal edge?*~*Steph*~* Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs).
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
clutterbuster
User
Posts: 513
Re:vickie's hefty hedgie wheels - 2007/07/01 10:07the first two wheels I bought were from some guy in arkansas, not the best quality and the second wheel had plaster and rust from nails being stored in it - I don't mind recycled parts but clean them up. Those buckets will warp after awhile.
I just purchased A THIRD WHEEL FROM VICKIE, I love them. I had a small 9 incher for Pippi when she was ill and lost so much weight. Then I specifically bought a hefty hedgie 11 incher for P-k who really runs hard and for hours, definitely worth the extra money. A few weeks ago purchased a regular 11 incher, same fine quality and solid bucket but there is a slight difference in density between the regular and hefty but they had a limited supply of blue and I said 'got to have it'.
I love the bases on vickie's. Now I'm one of the few people who has the time to take care of hedgies in a tank so this base provides another service. When I go away for a couple of days and I have someone watching my hedgie I am always concerned this will be the one time that she will tip over her water dish. On those occasions I will put a bottle in there too, but they are hard to wire to glass tanks. What we've done is drill a hook into the back of Vickie's base and hang the bottle holder on the back so she has both a bottle and bowl.
Recently we were cleaning the cage and the wheel was on the ground and John stepped on the base and broke it. Gary (vickie's husband) was most accommodating and sent us another base, cost me $10 (and he shipped it with that nifty blue wheel I have put aside since I am considering getting another hedgie).
Vickie's wheels can also be detached from the base and put on the cage, but I would prefer not to hear the cage rattle all night... nothing like the sound of little nails going click click on one of vickie's wheels!
| | The administrator has disabled public write access.
Hedgehog Forums 
