Care and info
Size - No more then 2LB
Diet - Here at Little Furry Critters our Hedgehogs get a variety of foods. The main dry food is Royal Canin Indoor Lite 40 cat food. This is mixed with some other varieties of cat food, Vita Exotic's Hedgehog food, Canned crickets, and mealworms. We also like to give treats and snacks. We give things like small amounts of wet cat food ( a small spoonful), or a Gerber baby meat stick (Vienna sausages work as well).
Caging - Our hedgies are all kept in our living room in homemade cages, that are large and spacious. You MUST have a solid bottomed cage or little legs can get broken and stuck in the wire. Also be careful of ramps and ledges, as some hedgies have been known to fall from these and break legs.
Other Supplies
water bottle
two or three small food dishes (one for dry food, one to use for wet food or treats, and one for bugs, or as an extra)
Bedding - yesterdays news, care fresh, or pine pellet bedding is what we use here. You can get away with pine as long as you make sure it is KILN DRIED. Most pine sold in pet stores is properly dried. Some people also use fleece cage liners and wash them a few times a week.
Wheel - Hedgies can run up to 5 miles a night in there wheels. This is very important for every cage to have. Make sure it is solid so no toes get stuck. They poop while running on the wheel so daily cleaning is needed.
Hiding spots - You can use an igloo, hedgie sack, or make your own hiding spot out of something but they must have something to hide in durning the daytime to sleep.
Diet - Here at Little Furry Critters our Hedgehogs get a variety of foods. The main dry food is Royal Canin Indoor Lite 40 cat food. This is mixed with some other varieties of cat food, Vita Exotic's Hedgehog food, Canned crickets, and mealworms. We also like to give treats and snacks. We give things like small amounts of wet cat food ( a small spoonful), or a Gerber baby meat stick (Vienna sausages work as well).
Caging - Our hedgies are all kept in our living room in homemade cages, that are large and spacious. You MUST have a solid bottomed cage or little legs can get broken and stuck in the wire. Also be careful of ramps and ledges, as some hedgies have been known to fall from these and break legs.
Other Supplies
water bottle
two or three small food dishes (one for dry food, one to use for wet food or treats, and one for bugs, or as an extra)
Bedding - yesterdays news, care fresh, or pine pellet bedding is what we use here. You can get away with pine as long as you make sure it is KILN DRIED. Most pine sold in pet stores is properly dried. Some people also use fleece cage liners and wash them a few times a week.
Wheel - Hedgies can run up to 5 miles a night in there wheels. This is very important for every cage to have. Make sure it is solid so no toes get stuck. They poop while running on the wheel so daily cleaning is needed.
Hiding spots - You can use an igloo, hedgie sack, or make your own hiding spot out of something but they must have something to hide in durning the daytime to sleep.
Frequently asked questions
Are they just like porcupines? No. Hedgehogs are not even related to the porcupine. They are more closely related to the Shrew.
Will my hedgehog shoot quils at me? NO. Hedgehogs do not shoot their quills. They go though a few stages when young where they lose their quils, and get a new set, and will lose quils periodically as an adult but they can not shoot them at you.
Do they smell? NO. Hedgehogs do not have any smell to them. If you are smelling odors, clean your cage, or give your hedgie a bath. Remember they do walk around in their cage and can step in their own fecies. Your hedgie may need his feet cleaned. And most like to go for a swim. You can use a soft toothbrush to run it over your hedige's quills, and feet.
Do I have to get my hedgie shots? NO. They do not require any shots. I would find a local exotic's vet and keep the number on hand in case your pet ever becomes sick and needs vet care.
Can my hedgehog go outside? Maybe. Hedgehogs do like to explore, but can be very fast and can escape easily. If you have a hedgie proof outside pen, and you are willing to sit out side and babysit then yes, as long as the weather is nice, you can keep an eye on you pet, and you are extremely
careful. A friend put one of her hedgies out in their pen. She was watching it but ran inside to take a phone call. She came back out 5 min later and her precious Pokey was gone. He was never found. It does not take long for these beloved pets to disappear forever.
Do they make a lot of noise? No. Hedgehogs are very quiet pets. But at two AM the wheel gets annoying and so does the licking of the water bottle. I do not recommend keeping one in your bedroom if you are a light sleeper.
Should I have more then one so they can keep each other company? NO. Hedgehogs are solitary animals and like to be left alone. Males will fight with other males. Males and Females together only leads to breeding, and sometimes you can get two females to live together but you will always be at risk for a fight or other problems. And of course the fights only seem to happen when you are not home, and you could come home to a dead beloved
pet.
Will my hedgehog shoot quils at me? NO. Hedgehogs do not shoot their quills. They go though a few stages when young where they lose their quils, and get a new set, and will lose quils periodically as an adult but they can not shoot them at you.
Do they smell? NO. Hedgehogs do not have any smell to them. If you are smelling odors, clean your cage, or give your hedgie a bath. Remember they do walk around in their cage and can step in their own fecies. Your hedgie may need his feet cleaned. And most like to go for a swim. You can use a soft toothbrush to run it over your hedige's quills, and feet.
Do I have to get my hedgie shots? NO. They do not require any shots. I would find a local exotic's vet and keep the number on hand in case your pet ever becomes sick and needs vet care.
Can my hedgehog go outside? Maybe. Hedgehogs do like to explore, but can be very fast and can escape easily. If you have a hedgie proof outside pen, and you are willing to sit out side and babysit then yes, as long as the weather is nice, you can keep an eye on you pet, and you are extremely
careful. A friend put one of her hedgies out in their pen. She was watching it but ran inside to take a phone call. She came back out 5 min later and her precious Pokey was gone. He was never found. It does not take long for these beloved pets to disappear forever.
Do they make a lot of noise? No. Hedgehogs are very quiet pets. But at two AM the wheel gets annoying and so does the licking of the water bottle. I do not recommend keeping one in your bedroom if you are a light sleeper.
Should I have more then one so they can keep each other company? NO. Hedgehogs are solitary animals and like to be left alone. Males will fight with other males. Males and Females together only leads to breeding, and sometimes you can get two females to live together but you will always be at risk for a fight or other problems. And of course the fights only seem to happen when you are not home, and you could come home to a dead beloved
pet.
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