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Are hedgehogs easy to care for?
Some of the benefits of caring for hedgehogs is they are small and pretty easy to take care of. Unlike some animals, they have no dander to bother those with allergies. Hedgehogs are a ton of fun to play with, and once they are comfortable in their environment, they are quite friendly.
Do hedgehogs make good pets?
Hedgehogs can be a fun and low-maintenance pet for your household, but they do need some special care. They have sharp quills that can make handling difficult. Consistent and proper daily handling will help them relax and feel comfortable with you.
What care do hedgehogs need?
Hedgehogs need environmental temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. Keep your hedgehog’s cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, or cold areas. You may want to provide your hedgehog with a small warm spot in his cage where he can go to get warm but would also be able to get away from if he feels too warm.
Do hedgehogs need daily care?
Fresh food and water should be given daily. Hedgehogs are notorious for becoming obese, so daily exercise is essential. They also need to be provided with mental stimulation when they are in their cages, such as ramps, ledges, tunnels, and other “cage furniture” to climb through or on.
Can hedgehogs bite you?
However, you should try to use gloves when handling a hedgehog for your own health and safety. Hedgehogs can bite you, but very rarely will that happen. This usually happens when they are young and think your fingers are going to feed them (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother).
Do hedgehogs stink?
There are many factors one must consider when buying a new pet and one of those is the smell of the animal. Luckily, hedgehogs are pretty odor-free. If you remove any environmental factors that might cause them to smell, you shouldn’t smell your hedgehog at all.
Why you shouldn’t get a hedgehog?
Some regions have banned the practice of keeping hedgehogs, as some carry the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease. They can also transmit salmonella bacteria as well as viral and fungal diseases, and their sharp spines can puncture skin and cause infections.
Do hedgehogs hurt to hold?
The quills tend to lay down flat along the back and sides of the hedgehog, all pointing towards their rear end, so as long as you don’t push against the sharp tips of the quills (pet them backwards) they pose no problems or chance of being poked.
Should I get a male or female hedgehog?
Cohabitation and Gender Differences Female hedgehogs have a tendency to cohabitate better than males because they do not have the testosterone and risk of aggression during their sexual prime. Males that are raised together and are never exposed to females may also cohabitate nicely.
What do u feed hedgehogs?
What should I feed hedgehogs? Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food, as these are high in the protein that they need. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary.
How big do pet hedgehogs get?
The most common breed of hedgehogs is the African pygmy hedgehog, also called the four-toed hedgehog or the white bellied hedgehog. They are usually between 6” – 8” long, making them a great pet for a small household. Other popular pet breeds are the European hedgehog and the long-eared hedgehog.
What do pet hedgehogs eat?
As pets, hedgehogs should mainly be fed high quality hedgehog food. Small amounts of gut loaded insects (i.e. insects fed nutritious food that is then passed on to the lizard), such as worms and crickets and a small amount of fresh vegetables and fruits can also be offered.
Can you potty train hedgehogs?
In short, litter training consists of placing your hedgehog in their litter box when they’re about to potty. The hope is that over time they’ll start to do this on their own. Try to be nearby at these times so you can place them in their litter box if you see signs that they’re about to go.
Do hedgehogs poop a lot?
Hedgehogs poop a lot. They poop all the time. Young hedgies are quite fond of pooping while doing their chores like while roaming around or playing on their wheel. But, as they grow older, they tend to hold much better and can be trained to litter in the right areas.
How much does it cost to care for a hedgehog?
Expect to spend at least $200 to get things set up for your new hedgehog and don’t be surprised if your hedgehog costs you $100 or more. Being prepared for over $200 per year spent on the care and maintenance of your hedgehog is a low-end starting point.
Do hedgehogs play with toys?
Hedgehogs typically like toys that allow them to behave naturally. In the wild, hedgehogs do a lot of foraging and digging. Therefore, they will like toys that allow them to do these things. This is why hedgehogs like dig boxes so much.
Is it OK to feed hedgehogs cat food?
Feeding hedgehogs Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. If the hedgehog is very young – roughly apple-sized – you’ll need to soak the biscuits in water first. You can also get good quality, meaty hedgehog food from wildlife food suppliers.
Do hedgehogs have fleas?
Hedgehogs can acquire external parasites; however flea infestation is not a common problem. Fleas are a small insect parasite that may take up residence on your hedgehog, especially if exposed to fleas outdoors or in a house with dogs, cats or other animals who themselves have fleas.
