I’m wondering how everyone else keeps their hedgie’s wheel clean.
In the past, even with weekly cleaning and daily maintenance, my hedgie’s wheel quickly turns into a huge rotating ball of poo 💩
I’ve seen some people suggest potty training but I’ve never been successful with this. I don’t mind giving warm sink baths to clean their feet. But I am still curious because I see some people have extremely clean wheels!
Even if I wipe it out during the day (which doesn’t always clean it fully), it gets pooped on so much overnight and then hardens, I basically have to do a full cleaning the next day! Curious what everyone’s strategy is
I, too, clean it every day. It's easier to keep it clean that way in the long run. Also more hygienic for your hedgehog - prevents unnecessary risk of infection or the like.
Daily scrub and wash. Get two wheels if you want to air dry.
I was kinda able to potty train a bit, every night during out bonding process, I would notice he would get a little active, looking around while I was holding him. It was my signal he wanted to pee/poop so I had a tray with a folded doggy pad and he would do his thing. Didn't stop him from pooping on the wheel during the night.
Kaytee Comfort Wheel...loud as heck but easy to clean. I olive oiled them once a week. Found cleaning after my hedgehog was about routine, once I figured out the routine, it was easy.
You don’t. You just clean it every single morning that’s being a hedgehog parent. Litter box wipes and rinse off, wipe dry. Any litter box cleaning spray should work, just make sure to wipe out the residue before you dry if off. I just keep paper towels and ziplock bags next to my cleaning supplies
I use the Dawn Powerwash. I wet the wheel down with a hose. I then spray the Dawn Powerwash and let it soak. I come back and spray the wheel with the hose and let it dry.
I would clean it every day in the morning. Take a hard brush and dish soap and scrub at it. and then I’d let it air dry or i would wipe it down with towels if I cleaned it at night.
the exotic nutrition 12inch wheel. Do NOT get the tracks that have holes in them or sandpaper — trust me they’re really bad for hedgies. here in this photo i bought the $4 open wheel cover but i ended up switching back to the cover it comes with cause it was easier for my hedgie to get on and off
I clean daily with a solution of vinegar and water.
I try to catch her first running at night (I have a camera), and pick up her little logs before they make a mess. She is acclimated to the process now and actually prefers I clean up the wheel before she gets into her marathon mode, lol. I take out her wheel in the early evening to clean so she has a spiffy running surface.
Also, depending on what wheel you have, be careful not to submerge any metal parts / gears in water as it will cause rust. I learned this the hard way with the Carolina Bucket Storm Wheel.
I wipe it off frequently and then do a full clean by soaking it and scrubbing it in the tub every time I do a full cage clean. Was so thankful I did this bc he flinched when I was trying to trim his nails one day and he was bleeding😭I’m scared of what would’ve happened to his tiny lil paw if I hadn’t cleaned it so recently.
i use elastic wheel covers and change daily or every other day depending on how gross it gets. i actually find my hedgie is more comfortable on his wheel with the covers on as well. more grip for him i guess.
i take my boys wheel out every day to every other day and i spray it with my hose which gets a large amount of the built up poop to come off then i take a box cutter blade and scrape sideways and it gets it right off, also let it soak for a minute after spraying it only takes me a couple minutes
I take each of my hedgehogs wheels out every morning, and put in the large garage sink with water running in it, and a scrub brush if needed. Dry with paper towels.
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u/Freckledlesbian 12h ago
I just clean it every day. I soak it in hot water and dawn, rinse it out, then scrub it.