new hedge hog

[dab_20]

me and my dad have decided to get a hedge hog. we would like to know if there are any good sites to help us learn about them before we decide to get one? and if anyone owns a hedge hog, do they seem to be friendly pets?

[tikeyas_mom]

hedgehogs are very scared little creatures.. I had peviously bought one from a breeder, who hand raised them.. and even then, all the hedges were really scared of people and other animals.
Make you sure play with it ALOT, and be patient.. because they are little buggers to tame. they need to have their nails trimmed by weekly, and most i've known like baths.
Feed it a high quality cat food, and crickets/or mealworms are a treat.
Good luck with your research .

[dab_20]

thanks. i know, especially because it came from an auction, that it will be very scared. i heard you cant feed them iams cat food. is that true? i do have a kitten, so can i feed it kitten food?

and, do they like wheels? and if they do, should i get a solid one?? if not, what kind of wheel?

[jesse_3]

I noticed that the link wasn't working just now! Sorry, I don't know what happened..

With the wheel, just make sure that it is one where they can't pinch there feet, and they usually LOVE balls!

I would feed them cat food..I don't know about kitten food though. Same with the Iams, I will come back, I have to go for a couple of hours!

Steph, Jesse, and Splinter

[jesse_3]

Okay, I am back..A good wheel for them would be a Super Pet Comfort wheel. Here is a pick of one:

or you could get this..A Run Around Mesh Wheel:


Also, you NEED a pet igloo, or something for a hedgie to hide in. Here is an article about it, if you are interested: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=347&aid=808

Here is the link on hedgie colors too..http://hedgehogclub.com/colorguide.html

I'm sorry, but Ihave to disagree with Tikeya's Mom, you see, only some hedgies are that way. It really depends on the hedghog too. Splinter is shy around strangers, but loves to be around people (and cats) that she knows. Okay, she doesn't like dogs, but, I can't blaim her. I don't know if you were here when my hedgie Pepper was "set free" and past on (long story) but he was shy with everyone. So it really depends..I'm not trying to get in an argument though, I am just simply stating what Chins-and-Quills members have said, and what I have experienced!

Wow, that was A LOT more than I had intended! lol!
Steph and Splinter (Jesse too!)

[dab_20]

that purple wheel is the exact one i got him! (see 'hedge hog food' thread for info on my new hedgie!)

p.s. oh, and i did find hedgie food at petco.

[equi47]

First off, new member here, but long time owner of hedgies. Here are some great websites: www.hedgehogwelfare.org, www.hedgehogclub.com (go here to register your hedgie in the International Hedgehog Club), and hedgies.com.

There are also quite a few good hedgehog websites. They need a lowfat cat diet (like Blue Buffalo, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul, etc), not Iams, Science Diet, or Purina cat foods. The packages hedge hog foods are not the best for the them and most hedgies really prefer the cat diets. Also, most hedgies aren't big on the whole fruits and greens thing. But most do love the occasional meal/silk worm and a small serving of cottage cheese or yogurt (my Aubrey, a 1.5 year old female Chocolate Chip) LOVES strawberry yogurt.

Best wishes with your new pet. Do plenty of research and remember that you shouldn't use cedar or pine shavings in his/her cage. Aspen or a nice velux cage liner works (and is much healthier) for the hedgehog.

Good luck!
equi

[dab_20]

i got pine shavings because half the websites say your supposed to use pine!

steph, do you mind me asking how your little pepper passed on? you dont have to tell me if you dont want to.

[dab_20]

ok, well we were thinking about getting a chinchilla too. but they are soooo expensive. and our humane societies only rescue guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, etc. chinchillas are very rare. we want to rescue one from an auction, as those are sometimes abused animals and we want to help them. and hedge hogs are really common there. we rescue rabbits there. any ideas where else to get a chinchilla other then a pet store??

[jesse_3]

Well, I don't know why you wouldn't recommend getting one. I have one who is perfectly healthy and happy. She may not be able to be cuddled real welll, but it is possible! They make amzing pets..I wouldn't recommend getting one from a petstore at all though. They tend to have health problems. I am sort of part of another forum that has a special section for hedgies, Hedghog rescue, and I could try to find a hedgie in need of a home close to where you live. That is how we got Splinter..

A good website?-let me look..Just pm me for any information..I'll find the couple of websites I looked at..Hold on!

Steph, Jesse, and Splinter

[jesse_3]

Here are some: http://www.pogstarhedgehogs.com/basiccare.html
http://www.exoticnutrition.com/Hedge-Hog-products.htm

There is just two, but they are awesome!-Just pm me if you need anything!
Steph, Jesse, and Splinter

[dab_20]

ok thanks so much! we aren't sure if we are getting a hedgie or a chinchilla yet. but i will tell you what we end up getting!

[buttercup132]

i think a hedgie would be better to get cuz they are easy to care for and they can have cool treats like worms! and a chinchilla you need to make sure they always have sand ect. and if there are always at auction i would suggest getting one cuz it seems they need lots of help

[Karen]

Hedgehogs are wild animals, they are not pets. I don't recommend getting a hedgehog as you may not be able to give it the proper diet and probably won't be able to get good vet care for it. Hedgehogs are nocturnal wild animals, they aren't like hamsters, they aren't cuddly and fluffy. I haven't got a clue where you'd get one from, I hope you don't get one. Please if you want another pet consider visiting your local rescue centre and seeing what they have there. Read about the animal thoroughly before you get it. Hamsters, mice, rats, chinchillas, rabbits etc can be kept as pets, I really don't think hedgehogs should be kept as pets.

These are not the hedgehogs you in the UK have wild in your garden, they are usually African Pygmy hedgehogs, and are far different critters, as they have been kept as pets for generations (hedgie generations, anyway).

[Flatcoatluver]

We don't have hegies in are area for pets, what do they look like when there domesticated???? they sound like a awsome animal!