Help.

[tikeyas_mom]

I need help looking for a hedgehog, I have found a breeder kinda near me, not really, about 2 hours away, but They charge SOOO much. $175.00 for a baby hedgehog.. That is rediculas. I need help bad, I have looked on petfinder but it is no help, I have also looked in like 1,000,000 different classifieds in my area and NOTHING!!!! please if you can help I will be soo thankful.

[NoahsMommy]

I think there is a reason they cost that much...its the same reason dogs and other animals cost a lot. If you can't afford to buy the animal, you most likely will not be able to afford to take care of it....

Besides, I thought you were staying with the ones you already had.

[kingrattus]

I don't get it.. we live in the same country & here they cost $60.00 unless its albino...

NoahsMommy statement is the reason why animals cost so much

[wolfsoul]

They don't cost 60 dollars at the petshop! :eek: Here they cost almost as much as the breeder charges!

[kingrattus]

thats almost insane, & most of them don't even come with anything (no vet attention)

[CathyBogart]

I very much do not think that that is ridiculous, especially for a breeder who really cares about their animals. Of course, hedgies are illegal in CA so I don't know the average price range, but $175 doesn't sound that bad.

[popcornbird]

Its not insane. That's how much pets cost, and that's just the first payment. If you can't afford the price of the pet, how will you afford to care for it? I believe hedgies are exotic and not the most common of pets, so they should have a high cost. I don't know why you think all animals are expensive. Don't you think they are worth that much? They are animals, living things, family members, friends you care for and need money for. If you can't afford them, get one later in life when you can.

[kingrattus]

popcornbird" I believe hedgies are exotic and not the most common of pets, so they should have a high cost.
----------------
ok there could be the reason why they r cheaper here... they r fairly common around here. back in HS 50% of ppl I knew had a hedgehog living in their home...

[CathyBogart]

Thank you very much for posting that popcornbird. I see so many customers at work who "can't afford" a $50 bird cage, and I can never help but wonder what will ever happen if the bird gets sick. One man called the store and told me that his rabbit drank antifreeze. I told him to take the rabbit to a vet right away and he said he cuoldn't afford it! WHY would ANYONE bring a LIVING BEING into their home if they couldn't take responsibility for its LIFE!!!

I'm sure luckies4me can relate, as rats can rake in vet bills like no other pet I've ever had!! Yet most people won't take them to the vet since they can 'replace' them for $11.99.

GRRRRRRRRRRR............I HATE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *explodes*

[Jessica12345]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Its not insane. That's how much pets cost, and that's just the first payment. If you can't afford the price of the pet, how will you afford to care for it? I believe hedgies are exotic and not the most common of pets, so they should have a high cost. I don't know why you think all animals are expensive. Don't you think they are worth that much? They are animals, living things, family members, friends you care for and need money for. If you can't afford them, get one later in life when you can.

THANK YOU popcornbird for posting that:)

[Jessica12345]

Originally posted by WolfChan
Thank you very much for posting that popcornbird. I see so many customers at work who "can't afford" a $50 bird cage, and I can never help but wonder what will ever happen if the bird gets sick. One man called the store and told me that his rabbit drank antifreeze. I told him to take the rabbit to a vet right away and he said he cuoldn't afford it! WHY would ANYONE bring a LIVING BEING into their home if they couldn't take responsibility for its LIFE!!!


:( :( :( so sad.... :( :( :(

BTW... if the breeder is charging that (if not more) ... she is probibly a good breeder.

[RogueFerret]

They don't sell hedgies around here, but a ferret costs $175. So that price on a hedgehog doesn't really sound that high for an exotic pet.

[luckies4me]

Like I said before, I purchased my hedgie for I think $65 dollars, plus his cage and all the supplies were around 200 bucks.


I have never heard them go for as high as $175 dollars unless it's a snowflake or cinnacot or some other hard to find color.


Some of my rats sell for as much as $50 dollars for certain types. But they also come with a printed pedigree, a contract, sample food and a health guarantee. If you could find a good breeder I would swing that way. I am sure there is a reason why she is charging so much. Remember that most likely all that money will go back into her breeding program. That's how it works with my rats anyway.

WolfChan, YES RATS are very expensive lol! Just not vet bills but everything. Last time I went shopping for them I spent 200 bucks, jeez! :rolleyes:


Vet bills always come with ratties. My newest rescue just came back from the vet a few days ago, it was $26 for an exam and then $30 dollars for his Baytril....and I hated the vet BTW. This boy is still young so he shouldn't be on Baytril but she wouldn't give me anything else! Grr:mad: I would have taken him to my regular vet if they had an appointment open. I love my vets, they are just awesome! :D

[tikeyas_mom]

I will be taking my hedgeie to the vet when I get it.

I wish they were onlt $65.00.. At this rate I'll never be able to afford one. :(..

I called the breeder last night and asked what their lowest price for a hedgehog was and she laughed and said that they start at $175.00 .. I think that is rediculas. I will never be able to afford that. :(..

I found one that is $80.00 and inclused cage, wheel, ball to run in, cave, food, bedding, hedgehog and EVERYTHINF for only $80.00 .. I would but it but they are 4 hours away from me.

It seems hopeless. :eek:

[tikeyas_mom]

I also called my Exotics vet *5 min away* and they said it coast $15.00 for one vet visit and checkup. That is a good price I Think.. I have a vet lined up and EVERYTHING. I really am ready to own a hedgehog, I dont care if you guys dont think I amresponsibe, I am the most responsible person I know with pets. :) I can definitly afford vet visits, cage, food, and everything. I just cant afford the hog witch really blows. :(

[popcornbird]

Lucky, animals are different prices in different regions. Tikeya said that cockatiels in her area cost $40, which sounds totall ridiculous for our area, because its hard to find a tiel less than $100 around here.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by popcornbird
Lucky, animals are different prices in different regions. Tikeya said that cockatiels in her area cost $40, which sounds totall ridiculous for our area, because its hard to find a tiel less than $100 around here.


I know a lot of different hedgie breeders througout the states and none of them charge that much for a regular hedgie.


Here you can find tiels between $25 and $125 dollars, different breeders charge differently. But for hedgies, I have never ever seen one sell for that much if it's a regular color. Just my experience.

[popcornbird]

I have no clue of the price of hedgies, but anyway, Tikeya's mom, this is for you.

http://www.toolady.com/cgi-bin/talkback.cgi?article=cheap&action=view&matchview=99

[luckies4me]

That's a good link PCB. Deffenately something all prospective owners should be aware of. But some birdie breeders just breed as a hobby and don't charge as much, like we did. We sold our tiels for $45 dollars and they were always happy and healthy. ;)


One thing I want to mention though is ask to see where the birds are kept, what they are being fed etc, possiby the parents. If they don't let you inside that is a red alert in my opinion, especially when dealing with exotics. Just make sure your drill the breeder! I hear it all the time, and then I drill back, hehe. :p But like I said, if you can visit the aviary before deciding to purchase, that's a good idea. Goes for any animal. :)

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by luckies4me
That's a good link PCB. Deffenately something all prospective owners should be aware of. But some birdie breeders just breed as a hobby and don't charge as much, like we did. We sold our tiels for $45 dollars and they were always happy and healthy. ;)


One thing I want to mention though is ask to see where the birds are kept, what they are being fed etc, possiby the parents. If they don't let you inside that is a red alert in my opinion, especially when dealing with exotics. Just make sure your drill the breeder! I hear it all the time, and then I drill back, hehe. :p But like I said, if you can visit the aviary before deciding to purchase, that's a good idea. Goes for any animal. :)

I'm sure there are good breeders that sell for low prices, just because they don't do it for money, but the reason I posted that article is that Tikeya's mom has said in the past that macaws are supposed to cost $300 in her area. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of because macaws are supposed to be priced in the thousands and a macaw selling for $300 or $400 is insane and highly suspicious. I want her to get the idea that animals selling THAT cheap are most often stolen or something's wrong with them.

Good tips btw!

[CathyBogart]

A Hyacinth macaw for....Wow. The owner of my store has two breeding pairs of Hyacinth macaws, and the babies start at $8000. We hand feed them at the store and they are always darling, but we don't usutally sell them at the store just because the average pet owner should not have a Macaw. I dread to think what would happen if the average person could get a macaw for $300. Those poor birds.

It is never a good diea to call a breeder and have the first question out of your mouth be "How much?". They are going to think that you care more about money than the animal, and I personally would never let an animal go to a person wh seemed more concerned with money than anything else.

Luckies: My last bottle of Baytril ran me $86!!!!! Plus a $42 exam!! -_- I feel ripped off. LoL

[tikeyas_mom]

maybe money isnt everything, If I was a millionare I would buy a hedgehog in a second, But I'm not, r u ? .. :rolleyes: .. they coast 300-400 $ for a macaw in my area and cockaitels coast $30.00 from a breeder near me, @ pet stores they coast like $200 almost, I'd never pay that much for a bird, or any animal. Budgys coast $14.00 usually, but this week only they coast $8.00 because they are on sale.. if you dont believe me, then whatever..

I dont know what you are getting at. I cant run away from these prices, they are just dum. I think the budgys on sale is a good price. But cockaitels are way over priced and if I EVER seen a perrot for $1000.00 I would laugh because that is soo expensive.

My dog didnt even coast $150.00, and she is pure bred...

I think hedgehogs should coast $65.00-$80.00, I wish.

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
maybe money isnt everything, If I was a millionare I would buy a hedgehog in a second, But I'm not, r u ? .. :rolleyes: .. they coast 300-400 $ for a macaw in my area and cockaitels coast $30.00 from a breeder near me, @ pet stores they coast like $200 almost, I'd never pay that much for a bird, or any animal. Budgys coast $14.00 usually, but this week only they coast $8.00 because they are on sale.. if you dont believe me, then whatever..

I dont know what you are getting at. I cant run away from these prices, they are just dum. I think the budgys on sale is a good price. But cockaitels are way over priced and if I EVER seen a perrot for $1000.00 I would laugh because that is soo expensive.

My dog didnt even coast $150.00, and she is pure bred...

I think hedgehogs should coast $65.00-$80.00, I wish.

I'm not a millionaire or even rich. I'm a "normal" person who knows how much animals cost and knows the price that goes along with a pet.

Macaws cost from $2000 - $10,000 or more depending on the breed. If the macaws you saw were $300, they were most definitely stolen birds or extremely old with something wrong with them. Either that, or your home town only has stolen animals. :rolleyes:

Macaws are exotics, expensive and VERY valuable birds. They have the mind of a 5-6 year old child. They don't cost pennies. They cost as much as they are worth. They are not for the average person who can only afford a $10 pet.

The only "normal" price you listed was the price of budgies. $15 is normal for parakeets. $300 for a macaw? HAHAHAHA! I can't even stop laughing. :rolleyes:

[tikeyas_mom]

it isnt me who made the prices, I dont even want a macaw so I dont even know why you mentioned it, it was a pointless idea.

[CathyBogart]

Show me some proof of these $300 macaws and I'll believe you. Our last Hahn's Macaw at work went for $1200 and that was considered a good price.

I am not a millionaire, but I'm planning to spend about $450 this summer on a Chihuahua puppy, and this doesn't even include a spay/neuter.

All I'm saying is that I don't believe you when you say that you have seen macaws for these prices.

If you'd never pay that much for any animal, then you obviously don't want the animal in your life that much. The snake I'm buying for my boyfriend is going to run me $500, and the setup I'm getting him is probably going to cost me more. (http://www.easternindigo.com/pricing.htm The second snake down....beautiful, neh?)

I'm a broke college student who works three days a week at $8 an hour, and I manage to pay for college, not to mention food for myself and my animals, plus I bought myself a Corvette and I always have money for vet bills. I'm still going to have enough money by next breeding season to get Brian the snake he wants. I don't think the price is ridiculous, because Indigo snakes are "exotic" even where the herp world is concerned.

[wolf_Q]

Originally posted by WolfChan

I'm a broke college student who works three days a week at $8 an hour, and I manage to pay for college, not to mention food for myself and my animals, plus I bought myself a Corvette and I always have money for vet bills. I'm still going to have enough money by next breeding season to get Brian the snake he wants. I don't think the price is ridiculous, because Indigo snakes are "exotic" even where the herp world is concerned.

I make $6 an hour, yet I managed to pay $300 for my dog, and about twice that for other things such as shots, neuter, sickness, as well as about $200 in training and who knows how much in toys, treats, crate, igloo, etc. etc. etc. plus dog food that costs over $20 a bag. Oh yes, and I'm a millionaire too...:rolleyes:

The point here is *not* to compare prices, the point is, the original price of the animal is nothing compared to the price of giving that animal a good home. You are OBVIOUSLY not willing to provide ALL the care that any pet of yours needs. You are so worried about the purchase price, I can just imagine what would happen when you find out the cost of maintaining and caring for that animal all by yourself. Even I did not realize quite how much it costs to care for an animal entirely on your own. And even if you *were* a millionaire, I don't think you are responsible enough to care for another pet.

[NoahsMommy]

I think that once you get into the real world Tikeyas_mom, you'll understand what we are talking about.

Things cost money, and quite frankly, you get what you pay for.

[Kfamr]

$15 ?? Maybe the first visit? Like they have a 1$ first visit at our vet. What happens if it gets sick?? What if it gets hurt by another one of your animals like your bunny did? How are you going to pay for that?

[tikeyas_mom]

$15 ?? Maybe the first visit? Like they have a 1$ first visit at our vet. What happens if it gets sick?? What if it gets hurt by another one of your animals like your bunny did? How are you going to pay for that? '

easy, I get paid every week $60.00...

my dog wont hurt my hedgehog because it'll be in cage.

she hasnt killed any of my hamsters yet, has she? NO she hasnt :rolleyes:...

I have had Spur for 4 years and he is still alive. As long as it isnt a cat or a rabbit then it'll be ok :). I learned that the hard way, trust me.