There are many things you can add to your hedgehog's cage to entertain him. They love toilet paper tubes, sticking their heads inside and running around like crazy (which is absolutely hysterical by the way!!). I cut my tube in half and then slit it down lengthwise to insure my hedgies do not get stuck inside them. I also use those cat balls with the bells inside, white PVC tubes, which are very inexpensive at most hardware stores and come in many different shapes, lengths, and sizes. My hedgies also have a wooden beaded bird toy with a bell on the end which I suspended from the top of their cages. They butt their heads against it all the time to make it ring. Ferret balls are liked by most as well, you put treats in these and as the your hedgehog rolls the ball round, they fall out, 1 or 2 at a time.

These clear plastic Critter Balls allow your hedgehog to roll all over your house without getting lost or into trouble! They can also be used on the Hamtracs, pictured below.**Photo compliments of Hobie.


These Hamtrac's made by SuperPet are great to put your hedgehog on inside one of those Critter Balls. Mine will run forever on their trac, and they are especially useful if you don't want your hedgie rolling all over the house. Great entertainment for kid's too!


Something as simple as a toilet paper tube cut in half, and again cut lengthwise make a wonderful toy that most hedgies enjoy for hours on end! **Photo compliments of Miss Emma.


Ferret balls. You slip the treats inside the opening, and as your hedgehog rolls it around, the treats fall out.


An example of some of the accessories you can use for your hedgie.

A PLACE TO HIDE:

All hedgies need a nice, dark, warm place to hide and to sleep in. There are numerous options for bedding, but what I use is a very small cat bed, to which a PIGLOO (a plastic, domed shaped sleeping hut) will fit into perfectly. They come in numerous colors and cost around $5.00 at places like Pet Smart and other larger pet stores. Inside the pigloo I stuff a warm hedgie bag made of fleece and perhaps a warm blanket as well, especially in the winter. This gives my hedgies a really soft, warm comfy, private place to snuggle. Whatever you use, I do not recommend it being made of wood. Wood is difficult to clean and can harbor germs.




This Pigloo fits perfectly inside a small cat bed. Add a nice soft blanket or hedgie bag and your pet will have a nice soft, warm place to sleep!


In the winter months, the addition of this thick, fleece cover will help keep your hedgies nice and toasty warm. These nifty covers are called the "Marshall Cozy Ferret Igloo" and run about $19.00 each. They have a removable bottom, which I take off so it can be easily slipped over the plastic pigloo. They can be found on-line at:The Ferret Store or
by calling 1-800-440-3356.



Here is Hannah in one of Sherry Songhursts elevated beds. I chose this bed in particular for Hannah because in this picture she was older and a bit fragile. This bed is basically a sandwich-like rubbermaid container inside a soft fleece pocket. It keeps your hedgehog "suspended" as if they were in a hammock, taking all the weight off their joints when laying down.

WHEELS:

These are an absolute must for every hedgehog!! There are a number of brands on the market, but the main thing to look for is safety. Under no circumstances should a wire wheel be used. Small animals have been known to break their legs in those or get injured by the cross bar. I use a bucket-type wheel, which is both durable and safe, and easy to wash....which is a good thing since many hedgies just love to pee and poop all over them! Please make sure to throughly wash your hedgies wheel every day if it is soiled.


Example of a bucket style wheel. Very stable, smooth running, easy to clean and adjustable. Very nice wheel, although you might want to add some of those no-slip bathtub strips for better traction. *Photo compliments of Emma :)
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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Six week old Emma in a Habba Wheel. These wheels will work ok for smaller hedgies, but in my opinion, they are not as well suited for larger, heavier ones. They aren't as well balanced or stable as the bucket style wheels.
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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Some folks love these, but a word of caution is warranted here.
Any wheel with a mesh base can cause injury if your hedgies nails.
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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Introducing the Double Bucket Wheel! No more fighting between 2 caged hedgies for wheel-time with this fancy double wheel. They even make them in triple sizes!!
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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Dawn Wroble's Wheels: Jog-A-Hog Wheels and much more are sold on this site. And Dawns book is probably the best one on the market today.
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

Deborah Kirksey's Wheels.
Home: (828) 262-0804
Work: (828) 963-6400 Ext: 101
Website: A Spiny Place
E-Mail: info@aspinyplace.com (OR)
hedgiemom@yahoo.com

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Melanie Abell's Wheels: Bucket wheels in assorted colors.
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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<
Quality Cage Wheels: Wheels, cages and much more!
Animated running hedgehogs By: Bryan Smith

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This is a perfect example of how most hedgies feet look after a long night of wheeling (hedgies are notorious for pooping and urinateing on their wheels when they run). Please make sure you clean their paws on a regular basis to prevent infection!
WHEELS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR HEDGEHOGS. THEY NEED THE EXERCISE TO KEEP FROM BECOMING BORED AND OBESE.


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LITTER TRAINING:

With luck, you might just be able to litter box train your hedgehog. The main thing to remember is to be patient and not set your expectations too high. I have had hedgies who always used their boxes, others who used them maybe 50% of the time and still others who wouldn't use them at all. The small ferret litter boxes are handy as they are triangular shaped, making them fit snug in a corner easily. For litter, I use a product called CareFresh, which resembles ground up grey cardboard. Beware of cat litters, they can pose many hazards to your hedgies! Start trying to train your hedgie at an early age, if possible. Scoop up their droppings and set them in the litter box to help make them understand where its acceptable to go, and then hope for the best!

Just 2 examples of what you can use as a litter box: The purple one is a ferret litter box filled with Carefresh. The 2nd is actually just a large dish with a vellux liner.




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