A hedgehog can run up to 13 kilometers a day, just for fun. Hedgehogs love to exercise. In the wild, hedgehogs are always skittering around, foraging through the forest. A pet hedgehog doesn’t have the same opportunity, but they have the same instinctive desire to run. A hedgehog wheel is the best way to make sure that your hedgie can get the exercise that they want while staying safe and cozy within your home.
We’ve looked at the most popular hedgehog wheels on the market today, research reviews, tested products, and we present to you our conclusions in the hopes that it makes purchasing a hedgehog wheel a simple task for you.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Bestmemories Wooden Exercise Wheel |
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Best Value
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Kaytee Comfort Wheel |
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Premium Choice
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Quality Cage Crafters Hedgehog Wheel |
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Check Price |
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Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner |
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Mojetto Comfort Wheel |
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Check Price |
The 9 Best Hedgehog Wheels
1. Bestmemories Wooden Exercise Wheel – Best Overall
This wooden exercise wheel looks very natural and rustic. It’s pretty heavy compared to most of the other wheels we’ve looked at. Your hedgehog is going to have to put in some effort to keep this thing spinning. The Bestmemories Wooden Exercise Wheel can have some trouble with splinters because of its natural construction. It’ll surprise you with how quiet it is, considering its heft.
This wheel is available in a few different sizes. For a hedgehog, we would recommend the largest to make sure your hedgie has enough space to stretch out while he runs.
2. Kaytee Comfort Wheel – Best Value
The Kaytee Comfort wheel is our pick for value. We think it’s the best hedgehog wheel for the money because It offers everything that you really need from a hedgehog wheel. It’s 12 inches in diameter, so your hedgehog will have plenty of space to run. It can be pretty quiet, although like with many wheels, you’ll want to use a little bit of vegetable oil on the wheel hub to keep it from squeaking.
This wheel is available in two different sizes depending on how much room you have. The Kaytee Comfort Wheel is exactly what it claims to be:      a basic hedgehog wheel. It won’t      surprise you in any way.
3. Quality Cage Crafters Hedgehog Wheel – Premium Choice
The Quality Cage Crafters is an expensive wheel, but it’s definitely a case where you’re getting what you pay for. Since this wheel is designed for chinchillas, it’s larger than most wheels and built to last. At 15 inches in diameter, it’ll give your hedgie plenty of room to stretch out while they run. The solid wood construction means there are no holes for delicate paws to get stuck in. This hedgehog wheel is an investment, but we can see it being a standard in our hedgehog habitat for years to come.
4. Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner
The Silent Runner by exotic nutrition is an interesting take on your average hedgehog wheel. It doesn’t look like most wheels, since it has specific entry and exit holes along the track. This wheel uses ball bearings instead of an axle so that almost entirely eliminates noise.      You’ll find this wheel very easy to take apart and clean    , but it isn’t a good choice for hedgehogs who like to chew, because they’ll easily destroy the plastic.
The Silent Runner is a little bit more expensive than some other      wheels, but that’s to be expected considering how different it is from the others.
5. Mojetto Comfort Wheel
The Mojetto Comfort Wheel is another very basic running wheel for your hedgehog. It’s made of plastic with a spinning axle in the center. It’s a middle-of-the-road choice in terms of both price and quality. You can find wheels that are more affordable and wheels that have more features very easily. This one doesn’t come apart for cleaning very well. The spinning mechanism doesn’t seem as smooth as some of the other models we’ve tried. This one tends to be a little loud, and the usual trick of lubricating it with vegetable oil hasn’t made it much better.
6. Zacro Hedgehog Exercise Wheel
The Zacro Exercise Wheel Is designed for hamsters, but it will definitely work well for your hedgehog. It’s fully transparent so you can tell easily when it needs to be cleaned. This 8.7-inch wheel doesn’t have a center spoke pointing into the middle of the running surface like many other wheels do, and our hedgehog seems to prefer that. This wheel is acrylic Instead of the plastic that many other wheels are made out of, so it does tend to scratch a little more easily. We love how quiet it is. A little vegetable oil on the spinning parts keeps it silent all night long, which is when our hedgehog usually uses it.
7. Suncoast Sugar Gliders Wodent Wheel
We love the closed design of the Suncoast Sugar Glider Wheel. This is a high-quality wheel that spins quietly and will look good in your hedgehog habitat. While this is a very attractive wheel to look at, cleaning it is an absolute pain. Pulling the pieces apart requires a fair bit of force, and it seems like there are more pieces then a wheel should have. As long as you’re up for the hassle of this wheel, your hedgehog will love it.
8. Ware Flying Saucer Exercise Wheel
This Flying Saucer exercise wheel is the only one of this style to make our list. It’s 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep, so it has plenty of room for your hedgehog. The weight limit on this wheel is a little on the low side, so it may not be suitable for an adult hedgehog. This would be a great wheel for hedgehogs if it were reinforced a little bit more. You should consider this model if you’re not sure if your hedgehog will like the Flying Saucer style wheel. The cost is low enough to justify it being nearly disposable.
9. Petzilla Quiet Hedgehog Exercise Wheel
The Petzilla Quiet Hedgehog Wheel is the cutest wheel to be included in our roundup. It’s made out of wood, but it doesn’t really feel like wood. Setting it up is a little difficult. There are some spaces between the panels of the wood running surface, so it can be a      hassle to clean. The base isn’t very stable,      so an enthusiastic hedgehog could probably knock this over without trying.      For all of its difficulties, it is a very quiet wheel, so it has that going for it.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing a Wheel For Your Hedgehog
A hedgehog wheel is a very important part of any hedgehog living space. Wheels promote physical activity and keep your hedgehog from getting bored. Enrichment is a very important part of making sure your hedgehog is leading a happy, healthy life. Hedgehogs also have a natural desire to run. They can run several miles a day, just for the joy of running.
Avoid wire mesh wheels
There are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a hedgehog wheel. While many of these wheels are sold as generic wheels for rodents, what works for mice, rats, or chinchillas may not work well for hedgehogs. It’s smart to avoid wheels made out of mesh or that have uneven running surfaces. You want to make sure that your hedgehog can’t get their toes or paws caught in their wheel as they’re running.
How big of a wheel does my hedgehog need?
In terms of size, bigger is usually better. Most hedgehogs are happy with a wheel that is around 12 inches in diameter. Smaller wheels can be cramped and less comfortable to run on. Imagine trying to run on a really short treadmill; you certainly wouldn’t enjoy that. Bigger wheels allow your Hedgehog to fully stretch his legs as he runs, so he can use a much more natural gait.
Is durability a factor?
Hedgehogs can be a little heavier than other critters who enjoy riding on wheels, so you need to make sure a wheel is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of your hedgehog. When you consider how fast they can run,      you’ll see that they can put out a lot of force that can easily flip over a flimsy wheel. You may consider a wheel that snaps to the side of a cage to help reinforce its stability and make sure the real can’t go anywhere.
Keep the cleanup simple
It’s also very important to find a wheel that won’t be too difficult to clean. Hedgehogs are fastidious creatures, but cleaning their toys Falls on your lap. Some of these wheels require quite a bit of disassembly in order to keep them sanitized properly. make sure that the wheel you choose matches your level of interest in cleaning it.Most wheels can be cleaned with a stiff brush and some warm water with a mild detergent. Sometimes you may need to soak the wheel if it is heavily soiled. Consider how many pieces will need to be cleaned when you make your purchase
Noise pollution
Noise is a huge factor in choosing a wheel. Every hedgehog wheel claims to be silent, but not all of them are. You can usually minimize the noise by applying a little bit of vegetable or coconut oil to the moving parts. Some of these wheels use unique designs that involve ball bearings to help cut down on the sound. Remember that hedgehogs are typically nocturnal creatures. A wheel that seems pretty quiet during the day will sound a thousand times louder when you can’t sleep in the middle of the night.
Conclusion
The best hedgehog wheel is the one that keeps your hedgehog physically active. The Bestmemories Wooden Exercise Wheel is our pick for the best possible hedgehog wheel. We feel that it gives you a great balance of utility and style at a great price. The Kaytee Comfort Wheel Does exactly what it says on the label. We think you’ll like it because it’s relatively sturdy and a very simple construction. The Quality Cage Crafters hedgehog wheel is an investment in your hedgehog’s future. It’s the type of wheel that you buy for life.
With so many conflicting opinions and reviews out there, it’s tough to be sure you’ve made the right choice for your pet. We hope our detailed analysis of the pros and cons of the most popular hedgehog wheels makes this decision easier for you.
- Related Read: Things You Can Feed a Hedgehog (and What to Avoid)
