Hi all.

I'm picking up my first APH this weekend. I've taken a lot of time to make sure everything is perfect for the little guy. He's got a large cage (3x2ft), lots of food stored up already (Mealies, spikes dinner, iams etc) House, wheel (arrives tomorrow), bowls. You name it he has it.

I bought all of this on the recommendation of a couple of care sheets.
However, browsing through today I found a care sheet with some ... intersting material.

First off, it said that you can keep a hedgie in a 2ft (that's 2ft squared!) cage (I keep gerbils in tanks larger than that!), That they should be fed on a diet of 99% meal worms, and the occasional piece of fruit. And that a APH will NEVER drink from a water bowl, and would need a bottle.

Now, I'm pretty sure they need bigger (mine has 6ft of floor space, and I'd still like to offer him more). and he's got a far better selection for diet than that.
The thing I'd like to know is about the whole water bottle thing.
Is it true that AHPs will only drink from water bottles, or would a water bowl be ok? I only ask this as the cage I have would be awkward to fit a water bottle to (which is why i had planned on water bowls). However, with some "modifications..." I could get a water bottle to fit.

So, is a bowl ok, or do I have to get the bolt cutters and super glue out??

__________________

~*~The Clan~*~0.2-Green Tree Python1.1.1-Emerald Tree Boas2.1-Reticulated Pythons3.1-Boa Constrictors19.32-Royal Pythons2.3-Corn Snakes1.2-Garter Snake0.1-Eggeater1.0-False Water Cobra0.1-Bosc Monitor1.0-B&W Tegu0.0.1-Amazon Milk Frog0.2-Alaskan Malamutes0.1-GSD x Husky0.1-Siberian Husky3.5-Ferrets1.2-Skunks
Specialising In Royal Python Morphs, Tree Snakes and Sled Dogs.

They will drink from a bowl but it'll be messy and need to be changed twice a day or so as the substrate will end up in it.. that's the reason I use water bottles, just for ease really!

__________________

I'm interested in the answer for this, cos how would they drink in the wild, certainly not from a water bottle

__________________
My pets Royal Python - Monty 0.1.0Albino Burmese Python - Snowy 0.1.0Boxer - Molly 0.1.0

Wasn't the care sheet I sent you any good?

It covered everything you just listed

__________________

I was goin to direct you to this thread

Ours are housed in plastic cages (to prevent the APH climbing up metal bars, mesh etc and falling at causing an injury) identical to this....



They have a double sided trough (yellow object on the right), in which food is put into one and water into the other. No use of a water bottle, however this may change in the future. They are fed a variety of different foods.

A bit of habitat enrichment involves a tub of soil and some mealworms. They love routing around for them. Roaches also provide good 'huntability' as they run away.

I wouldnt recommend using a wheel as APHs are known to develop spinal injuries from these.

Try tellin my sis that she has read that they can have wheels and doesn't seem to understand that not all caresheets are good ones

We actually have the same cage for ours. I mean, exactly the same.

Thanks for the advice on the wheel (gives it to the gerbils to chew!)


Young_gun. I have sent you a PM in regards to the situation. It's all a little.... well, you'll see.

__________________

~*~The Clan~*~0.2-Green Tree Python1.1.1-Emerald Tree Boas2.1-Reticulated Pythons3.1-Boa Constrictors19.32-Royal Pythons2.3-Corn Snakes1.2-Garter Snake0.1-Eggeater1.0-False Water Cobra0.1-Bosc Monitor1.0-B&W Tegu0.0.1-Amazon Milk Frog0.2-Alaskan Malamutes0.1-GSD x Husky0.1-Siberian Husky3.5-Ferrets1.2-Skunks
Specialising In Royal Python Morphs, Tree Snakes and Sled Dogs.

Yup totally agree, don't supply a wheel, time free roaming or in a run is the best method of exercise.

Also, the PM is nothing to do with my caresheet for zee nosey people

__________________

And we both know who you meant by that and I'll get her to rethink the wheel mate, dw