Housing

Hedgehogs can make wonderful family pets with the proper care. You will find that every website will say something different. On my ''Hedgehog Care'' I will explain on what I have found through my own research and experiences. You can contact me with any question on issues that I have not approached yet.

Storage containers: These are cost effective and very easy to clean and keep sanitized. I use Rubbermaid 90qt clear bin from Wal-mart. These are used a lot in the hedgehog community.

Wire Cages: In most case I would not recommend any wire cage. If you are getting a wire cage make sure it has a solid plastic bottom. I would go with the “My first Home Extra Large”. Wire cages have some dangers because the baby in most case only know how to climb up so the only way down is to fall which could cause injury or be fatal.

Accessories: Your hedgehog will need something to hide under. Any of the following will work great: Pet Igloo, hand made hiding hat or pouch. Hedgehogs need plenty of excises so he/she will need a wheel and some toys. Store bought wheels are not very safe and can be easily tipped over and could cause injury. The best wheels to use that are safe and silent are bucket wheels. They can be bought online. I would also put a couple jingle balls with bells in them and they will play with those also. To keep your hedgehog from hibernation you will need to keep the temperature between 72oF to 82oF. For information on where to get any of these items please email me.

Bedding: I have used both cage liners and pine bedding. If you plan on using liners specially made then they will need to be washed every 2 days but between washing you will want to spot clean. To make it easier on you I would have 3 or 4 extra liners to switch them out when needed.

If you are planning on using bedding then I would go with unscented pine shavings that you can find at almost any pet store. You will need to clean and change bedding at least 1 to 2 times a week but this may very on the hedgehog, babies tend to be messier then adults. When shopping for bedding NEVER use Cedar. Cedar can cause upper respiratory problems.

When your baby leaves here she/he will be eating Royal Canine Babycat 34. I suggest they stay on the Babycat until they are either 4 months or are 350 grams which ever comes first. Once the baby has reached this requirement, then I would slowly start to change him over to adult food. My adults eat a mixture of Special Kitty and Meow Mix. I also use Chicken Soup for the Cat lovers Soul in my mix a lot of the time. I leave food in the cage at all times. They need fresh water daily. For treats you can feed them Mealworms, crickets and a few other insects. Some also like fruit and veggies but stay away from chocolate, grapes, tea tree oil, or avocados as these are toxic. Treats should be use only a few times a week because some contain high fat.

Hedgehogs will need to be bathed once every 1 to 2 weeks or when he/she looks dirty. Fill your sink with warm water so your hedgehog can’t touch the bottom. Keep your hand under him to be sure he is safe. Use your other hand and pour water over the quills to get them wet. I put a small amount of Baby Aveeno Oatmeal on a tooth brush and brush down with the quills, not up. Try not to get water in your hedgies eyes and ears. Rinse away all the soap and clean the feet. When you’re done I would place the hedgehog in a warm towel and snuggle until completely dry. This is a good time to bond with your baby. Hedgehogs will also need there nails trimmed regularly.

You will need to scoop your hedgehog up from underneath and take him out of the cage. To help wake your hedgehog up place him in your hand and tickle the top of his back until he opens up. While standing up, place him on your tummy face down to the floor and gently start petting his quills down but petting upward toward your head with one hand at a time. This is usually really helpful for me. Your hedgehog will need to be held at least once a day for 45 minutes to an hour to ensure good temperament. The more you hold your hedgie the more social he will be. Hoglets will go though quilling as a baby and up to 6 months. Quilling is when hedgehogs lose there baby quills and new stronger adult quills are coming through the skin. So it isn't uncommon for your hedgehog to get grumpy off and on until he is completely though quilling. Hedgehogs that are quilling will have some quill loss, you will see a few here and there but you shouldn't see any bold spots. If you look closely at his skin during this time you can see quills coming though the skin. His back will be tender and this is what causes him to be huffier then normal. You will still need to give him plenty of holding time, just be sure to play with him gently so you don't irritate his skin. Bathing your hedgehog in warm water can help with some of the discomfort.