Keller also says that exercise wheels should never have a wire bottom, because this design leads to fractured limbs. Hedgehogs are very solitary animals and should be housed separately. In the wild, they are only social during the breeding season. Their solitary nature can make it difficult for these pets to warm up to you. Keller says with time and patience, you can learn to work with your pet and earn their trust.
When you first get your hedgehog, you should allow time for your pet to settle into her new enclosure. Once she is more settled in, start doing some handling at night when she is awake. Handling should be focused on getting the animal used to the scents of the hands.
Be careful: hedgehogs bite when startled, so going slow and socializing the animal gradually is very important. Just like any other pet, hedgehogs should see a veterinarian every year to identify any potential health issues early. You should be aware that hedgehogs may acquire a variety of cancerous and cardiac conditions. With annual veterinary visits and early detection, a hedgehog can still have a good quality and length of life.
Keller also recommends that all female hedgehogs be spayed. This unusual hedgehog behavior involves licking vigorously to build up smelly froth, then contorting like an uncoordinated kitten to spread the foamy spit all over their quills.
Weird, but cute. With the former, he dyes his quills bright orange. With the latter, I suddenly have a smug prickly ball who worked hard to reek of dusty wood, nickel, and the faintest trace of oil. Hedgehog bath time involves using a toothbrush to gently scrub his quills.
Exotic pets come with complications beyond adapting toothbrushes to off-label use. Domestic hybrids from an irregular mix of African hedgehog species are only a few generations separated from their wild kin and not entirely tame.
They also have stringent environmental demands. Hedgehogs are nocturnal — and it's important to respect that, and not force them to be active during the day. We only get a few hours of overlap to visit between when he wakes up and I go to sleep. His eyes are sensitive, so I keep the lights dim or borrow a trick from astronomy by swapping in red light bulbs.
Late at night after I go to sleep is when my hedgehog really gets out his energy. Food and water dishes are emptied, betraying midnight breaks from the runs to rest and refuel. His jingly ball, reset to the same place at the start of each night, gets shoved and pushed into the strangest places. But the most fun is when he takes his plush dinosaur toy on an adventure. Product Reviews. Home Ideas. Buy an open-sided, solid-surface wheel that's large enough preferably bigger than 10 inches to allow room for your hedgehog to run in place.
In the wild, hedgehogs are insect-eating mammals. High-quality cat food—supplemented with mealworms, crickets, and other treats—used to be the go-to food choice for pet hedgehogs. Nowadays, the pet industry sells high-quality hedgehog food that provides the exact nutrients your prickly pet needs.
If you choose to feed it cat food, make sure it is a grain-free variety. Being that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, you will need to feed it at night when it is most active. Scheduled evening feedings are your best bet, once or twice a night.
Give it food in the early evening and again in the late evening, if you are still awake. Although most hedgehogs are fine with one feeding per day. African pygmy hedgehogs love mealworms. When using them as a food item, make sure you gut-load or feed the insects a quality diet fruit, vegetables, and dog food before feeding it to your hedgehog. Hedgehogs also like chasing and eating crickets which should also be gut-loaded.
This action mimics their foraging efforts in the wild and provides mental stimulation for captive hedgehogs. Provide small amounts of hard-boiled egg, baby food, or fruit as occasional treats. Supply water in either a water bottle with a metal tip for drinking or in a small bowl. Some young pets may need both until they get used to using the bottle.
Whatever you choose, make sure to change your hedgehog's water daily and check that the bottle tip is working. Obesity is a common problem in pet hedgehogs usually resulting from too many treats.
You can avoid skin problems, ear mites, and respiratory conditions if you regularly clean your pet's enclosure. Hedgehogs are susceptible to a genetic condition called wobbly hedgehog syndrome, which causes progressive paralysis. It can occur at any age and may make your hedgehog appear to have wobbly hindquarters.
Since African pygmies have protruding eyes, these creatures are more prone to eye injuries or irritation. If you see your pet pawing at its eyes or holding an eyelid closed, plan a trip to the vet.
Hedgehogs are legal in most of the United States. New Jersey and Wisconsin require a permit or a certificate of health to own one. These restrictions were likely enacted due to the ability of some hedgehog species to carry foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious condition of cloven-hooved animals.
Also, they ca n become invasive pests if introduced into the wild where they don't naturally occur. Instead of buying your spiny pet from a store, look for a reputable breeder.
Look for someone who breeds for sound temperament and handles their young regularly. Young hedgehogs are easier to hand tame if you can get one at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Look for an animal with bright eyes, clear nostrils, and healthy skin , quills, and fur.
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