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Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part1 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 1 of 7) -- ABOUT THE HEDGEHOG FAQ Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THE HEDGEHOG FAQ FILES
Part I: ABOUT THE HEDGEHOG FAQ (this file)
0. *** About this FAQ ***
<0.1> Notes on formatting <0.2> Where to get the Hedgehog FAQ <0.3> Goal of this FAQ <0.4> Credits and editor's notes <0.5> Information I would like to track down and add -- please help! <0.6> Copyright and redistribution information
1. *** Revision history of this file ***
Part II: FINDING MORE INFORMATION
2. *** Where to get more information ***
<2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs? <2.2> Is there any other information available on-line? <2.3> International Hedgehog Registry <2.4> Hedgehogs Welfare Society <2.5> International Hedgehog Association <2.6> Canadian Hedgehog Association <2.7> Other hedgehog organizations <2.8> Miscellaneous hedgehog stuff and sources
Part III: INTRO TO HEDGEHOGS AS PETS
3. *** Introduction to pet hedgehogs ***
<3.1> What are hedgehogs? Should I get one? What's good and bad about them as pets? <3.2> Where are pet hedgehogs illegal? <3.3> Are hedgehogs wild animals? <3.4> What's the average hedgehog lifespan? <3.5> I'm allergic to cats. Will I be allergic to hedgehogs? <3.6> Do hedgehogs smell? <3.7> Do hedgehogs have tails? <3.8> Hedgehog monikers -- what do I call a hedgehog? <3.9> Her-hog or Him-hog? What sex is Prickles?
4. *** Getting a pet hedgehog ***
<4.1> Which types/colours are there? Male or female? What age? <4.2> How many should I get? <4.3> What to look for in a hedgehog / How to choose a hedgehog <4.4> How can I find a hedgehog breeder/contact in my area? <4.5> When Hedgie comes home <4.6> Hedgehog handling / socializing <4.7> How can I introduce my hedgehog to my (dog/cat/bird/fish/ rabbit/etc.) with the least trouble?
Part IV: HEDGEHOGS AS PETS
5. *** Things you'll need ***
<5.1> What will I need to take care of my new hedgehog? <5.2> Do I need a cage? How should I set it up? <5.3> The pet store uses wood shavings as bedding. Should I? <5.4> Litter boxes and what kind of litter should I use? <5.5> I'm having problems litter-training my hedgehog. What should I be doing? <5.6> Hedgehogs and wheels <5.7> Making your own wheel <5.8> Any suggestions on toys?
6. *** Basic hedgehog care and training ***
<6.1> How can I best hedgehogproof my home? <6.2> What should I feed my hedgehog? <6.3> Commercial hedgehog foods and nutrition <6.4> What are good treats? <6.5> Any suggestions on bathing, cleaning ears, and clipping nails? <6.6> Biting and nipping <6.7> HELP, my hedgehog is LOST! (or Hedgehog Hide-and-Seek)
Part V: HEDGEHOG CARE AND UNDERSTANDING
7. *** Things hedgehogs say and do ***
<7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it? <7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal? <7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating? <7.4> My hedgehog sneezes. What should I do? <7.5> My hedgehog's gone ballistic? Is this normal? <7.6> Basic hedgehog repertoire
8. *** Basic health care ***
<8.1> What health risks should I worry about? <8.2> Mites (or mites, not?) <8.3> Tattered or ragged ears <8.4> Hedgehog first-aid kit <8.5> Do I need to spay/neuter my pet? <8.6> Vaccinations, etc.
9. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***
<9.1> Various hedgehog health issues <9.2> My hedgehog's had funny-looking stools for a couple of days. What's wrong? <9.3> My hedgehog's not eating. What should I do? <9.4> How did I get fleas in my home? How can I get rid of them? <9.5> Wobbly hedgehogs
Part VI: ADVANCED TOPICS IN HEDGEHOGGERY
10. *** Breeding, babies, and advanced issues ***
<10.1> Breeding <10.2> General care for babies <10.3> Hand feeding baby hedgehogs <10.4> Colours, types, and species
Part VII: WILD HEDGEHOGS
11. *** Finding Information ***
<11.1> Intro to wild hedgehogs <11.2> What hedgehog books are there? <11.3> Is there information available on-line? <11.4> Wild Hedgehog Organizations <11.5> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources
12. *** Care and Helping ***
<12.1> The hedgehog calendar <12.2> Caring for visiting hedgehogs <12.3> Feeding and caring for orphan baby hedgehogs <12.4> Hedgehog housing <12.5> Hedgehogizing your garden <12.6> Wild hedgehog health <12.7> Dangers to wild hedgehogs <12.8> Watching out for hibernating hedgehogs
The answers in these files are given in a ``digest format,'' which should make it easier for you to scan through them for the information you want. Each question begins with a line of hyphens, followed by its number and the question itself, as given in the Table of Contents above. In many newsreaders, including rn, trn, and strn, you can jump from one question to the next by hitting CONTROL-G. You can also look for a particular answer by searching for its number or for words from the question.
There are also some formatting aspects which may appear odd at first, such as indents and combinations of tabs and spaces. These are used to automatically convert the FAQ into HTML format, using a utility program I created for this. Unfortunately, it's not very adaptable to other FAQs as it was written in some haste, but it does do a reasonable job on the Hedgehog FAQ.
Cross-references to other questions are in square brackets; for example, [2.2] means that more information may be found in section 2.2.
Anti-SPAM measures. Unfortuantely, email addresses within the FAQ appear to be favorite targets for SPAMmers. As a result, I've added "REMOVE_TO_SEND" to each email address in the text based (posted) FAQ.
For example, if an email address is hedgehog at burrow.com, it would show as being hedgehogREMOVE_TO_SEND at burrow.com.
Also, I've changed the web based version to display correctly (visually), but uses another anti-SPAM machanism to prevent the addresses from being searched.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.2> Where to get the Hedgehog FAQ
This FAQ is posted once a month (usually on or around the 20th) to the rec.pets, rec.answers, and news.answers newsgroups. It is also available by anonymous FTP from the main news.answers repository:
Please note that the address, above, is new (Oct, 1999), and Dr. Tetsuro Oka informs me that he is working on an updated translation of the FAQ.
If you cannot ftp and have no WWW access, send me email (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) and I'll be glad to email you a copy.
------------------------------
Subject: <0.3> Goal of this FAQ
This FAQ is intended to cover many of the basic questions about hedgehogs. It's somewhat unusual in that it deals both with pet (African Pigmy) hedgehogs, and with wild hedgehogs (primarily European, but also African). Most of the FAQ is aimed primarily at pet hedgehogs, largely because that is the information I have to draw on. I hope to continue to extend the coverage of the FAQ to address both groups reasonably, and since there is considerable crossover in how the information applies, much of what is said about one group is applicable to the other, with a little common sense used in the interpretation.
The number of books and other sources for information is finally expanding to a reasonable quantity, however, there is still relatively little information available on caring for and understanding hedgehogs, at least compared to most animals. While this FAQ does not intend to be an in-depth dissertation on hedgehogs, it is expected to provide some
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part2 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 2 of 7) -- FINDING MORE INFORMATION Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given in part I.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
2. *** Where to get more information ***
<2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs? <2.2> Is there any other information available on-line? <2.3> International Hedgehog Registry <2.4> Hedgehogs Welfare Society <2.5> International Hedgehog Association <2.6> Canadian Hedgehog Association <2.7> Other hedgehog organizations <2.8> Miscellaneous hedgehog stuff and sources
Subject: <2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?
For a long time there was only a single tome available on our prickly little friends, which was often referred to as ``The Hedgehog Book.'' With the increasing popularity of hedgehogs, a number of books are now available. There still seems to be little information on hedgehogs in print, especially compared to most other animals, but this, fortunately, appears to be rapidly changing. Also, many, but not all, of the books that are commonly available contain outdated information.
As of spring 1997 there are two new complementary books now out that have virtually made all the previous offerings obsolete.
The first of these additions, is _The Hedgehog: An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet_ by Dawn Wrobel and Dr. Susan Brown, DVM. It is published by the Howell Book House, and is available in pet stores that carry their Happy, Healthy Pet series. It is also available through the Spike and Friends Catalog [2.8]. For those of you who want to order it, the ISBN number is 0-87605-501-3, and it is listed as having a price of $12.95 USD, or $17.95 CDN.
Having had the luxury of seeing some of the preliminary text (thanks Dawn!), I had high expectations for the book, and when I got to see it, I was quite amazed at how far it exceeded my imagination. Simply put, this is a great book, and one that no hedgehog owner should be without. It is full of great tips, ideas and great knowledge, accompanied by some fantastic pictures. The medical chapter by Dr. Susan Brown is more than worth the price in itself, not that the rest of the book wouldn't be a bargain even without it.
Dawn's book is targeted at the pet owner, rather than the breeder, as has been the case all too often in the past, and in this respect it succeeds brilliantly.
The other great tome that was published about the same time as the one above, is _The Pygmy Hedgehog a Perfect Pet_ by Sharon Massena with Bryan Smith. Having now had the chance to see this book, I can attest that it is more than worthwhile as well. The best part about it, is that rather than being another great hedgehog book, it is complementary to books like Dawn Wrobel's, by addressing many different areas. Here is the information I have on it:
The ISBN # is 0-9655629-1-3 The list price is $16.00 US and $19.00 CDN + post.
80 pages, soft cover, gloss pages with b/w and full colour photos. Contains limited standard info and full colour pics many of the standardized colours. Also has club and show information. -- Bryan Smith
I should probably add a disclaimer here -- I have had numerous conversations with Dawn and Bryan, and a bias in favour of either book could easily be assigned to this. In the case of Dawn's book, I read the advance text she sent with the intent to essentially critique it -- expecting it to already be dated in many ways (as most books have been by the time they get to print) or just a rehash of what has gone before, and I came away honestly impressed. Having now seen Sharon's and Bryan's book, the same feelings apply. I'm sure that I could nit-pick in minor places, but at most that's what it would be, nit-picking about things that don't matter. We finally have very good, up-to-date books that can go a very long ways towards giving people the information they need about keeping hedgehogs as pets, and providing them happy healthy lives.
Going back a bit now, the book, often called ``The Hedgehog Book,'' is actually titled _Everything You Wanted to Know About Hedgehogs But you didn't know who to ask_ by Pat Storer. This was one of the first books available on pet hedgehogs.
Pat Storer has two books available on hedgehogs, and while there is considerable crossover between the two, her newer book _Hedgehogs As Pets_ (my thanks to John Ofner for my copy) is targeted more at pet owners, while the original ``Everything...'' is more oriented towards breeders. These books are, for all intents and purposes, the original formal tomes on pet hedgehogs, and having one or the other was virtually a must for any hedgehog keeper (keepee?). While they don't cover absolutely everything, and they are becoming a bit dated, now, they do provide a lot of very good information. Both books cover areas of the other to some extent, so a pet owner looking for basics on breeding will find it in _Hedgehogs As Pets_, while a breeder can also find pet level information in ``Everything...''
Probably the most essential thing both offer is a reference section on hedgehog health, body chemistry norms, and drugs (including quantities) that have been safely used to treat hedgehog maladies. Given that relatively few veterinarians in North America have even heard of hedgehogs as pets, let alone ever treated them, taking one of these books with you to a vet in time of emergency could easily be a life saving act.
That's the good news; the problem is that these books are generally only available directly from Pat Storer herself, although the Ain't No Creek Ranch [2.8] also carries them. In any case, here are the details:
Everything You Wanted to Know About Hedgehogs But you didn't know who to ask Third Edition
Written and Compiled by Pat Storer Country Storer Enterprises, Publisher P.O. Box 160 Columbus, Texas 78934 USA
Single Copies (In U.S.): $22.00 US dollars + shipping by 4th Class Mail
Pat Storer now takes credit cards, but money orders are fine too. The prices and info above is up to date as of July 1997, thanks to Pat Storer herself.
There is one minor correction to ``Everything...'' that should be noted:
The correct number for Rainbow Mealworms (mentioned in Storer's book) is 310-635-1494. -- Katherine Long
Other books on pet hedgehogs are also available and can be found at some book stores, or by contacting the publishers directly. I've listed the information I have on them below. The first is with thanks to Elizabeth Jane Monroe and Znofyl.
African Pygmy Hedgehogs as your New Pet Dennis Kelsey-Wood, pics. by Ralph Lermayer copyright 1995 distributed by T.F.H. Publications, Inc., One T.F.H. Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753
or National Book Network, Inc. 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
or in Canada, H & L Pet Supplies Inc., 27 Kingston Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario N2B 2T6
and other places. ISBN # is 079380192-3
Abstract: ``This book represents the culmination of years of research by dedicated hedgehog breeders. Dennis Kelsey-Wood has compiled, through intense research, interviews, and study, what I feel is the finest, most accurate, and complete gathering of hedgehog facts on husbandry, breeding, and care that has ever been assembled in one book. From its accurate text to its superb photos, it is destined to become a classic and will no doubt be the standard for anyone interested in these fascinating animals. Enjoy it and Happy Hedgehoggin!''
Ralph M. Lermayer, [former - ed.] President, North American Hedgehog Association [now defunct - ed.]
For anyone having a hard time finding it, you can call TFH directly
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part3 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 3 of 7) -- INTRO TO HEDGEHOGS AS PETS Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given in part I.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
3. *** Introduction to pet hedgehogs ***
<3.1> What are hedgehogs? Should I get one? What's good and bad about them as pets? <3.2> Where are pet hedgehogs illegal? <3.3> Are hedgehogs wild animals? <3.4> What's the average hedgehog lifespan? <3.5> I'm allergic to cats. Will I be allergic to hedgehogs? <3.6> Do hedgehogs smell? <3.7> Do hedgehogs have tails? <3.8> Hedgehog monikers -- what do I call a hedgehog? <3.9> Her-hog or Him-hog? What sex is Prickles?
4. *** Getting a pet hedgehog ***
<4.1> Which types/colours are there? Male or female? What age? <4.2> How many should I get? <4.3> What to look for in a hedgehog / How to choose a hedgehog <4.4> How can I find a hedgehog breeder/contact in my area? <4.5> When Hedgie comes home <4.6> Hedgehog handling / socializing <4.7> How can I introduce my hedgehog to my (dog/cat/bird/fish/ rabbit/etc.) with the least trouble?
Subject: <3.1> What are hedgehogs? Should I get one? What's good and bad about them as pets?
Hedgehogs are small insectivores, looking much like an upside-down oval bowl, that is covered with sharp quills, which feel much like a bristly brush, with an adorable little face and ears peeking out from one end. Neither legs nor tail are very visible during normal movement. Hedgehogs roll into a ball of interlocking spines when threatened, leaving themselves all but invulnerable to any natural predator.
Hedgehogs do have soft fur on their faces and bellies, and so are not entirely prickly. Their spines or quills have no barbs on them, and feel much like a stiff brush, rather than bunch of needles, unless the hedgehog is very upset.
Some hedgehogs have what appears to be a narrow reverse Mohawk hairdo (a narrow furrow that runs lengthwise), though this is not present in all species (e.g., the Egyptian hedgehog doesn't have this).
It isn't a scar, they haven't lost quills. It is natural and helps the quills point forward without getting crossed when they bristle. -- Katherine Long
Ranging in size from approximately 4 to 9 inches, or 10 to 22 cm, in length, mature African Pigmy hedgehogs look for all the world to be little armoured tanks being led around by one of the busiest noses in the animal kingdom.
Hedgehogs tend to be quite nervous in their temperament, and will generally duck their head down, accompanied by rapid snuffling or snorting. This presents a very prickly forehead to any possible enemies. The more used to you (and awake) a hedgehog is, the less they will duck down and snuffle, and the more their quills will be flat.
The hedgehogs that we keep as pets, throughout North and South America [4.1], and I believe many other parts of the world, have managed to muddy the already very clouded waters of hedgehog taxonomy. What we call ``African Pigmy'' hedgehogs, are actually a hybrid of a couple of species from northern and central Africa. Specifically, they are a combination of the Algerian (Atelerix algirus) and the White-bellied (A. albiventris). The Southern African or Cape hedgehog (A. frontalis) is not really part of the mixture, although they do seem to be sporatically kept as pets in their native regions. The status or categorization of the Pruner's hedgehog (A. pruneri) is up in the air, and this may actually be an alternate name for the Cape hedgehog (A. frontalis).
Just to add to the mess, there is more than a little uncertainty which species actually makes up what we call the long-eared, or Egyptian hedgehog, in the pet world. You see, there are Long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus), and there are Egyptian hedgehogs (not an official name from what I can tell, most likely these being Ethiopian hedgehogs) (Paraechinus aethiopicus). Both of these, as you can tell by their taxonomic names, are of quite different genera let alone species.
So, as you can see, things are a more than a bit muddled when it comes to deciding which hedgehog is what. I must extend my regards to Nigel Reeve, whose research helped provide some sense of consistency to all of this, at last.
To add to the fray, here are some comments from Nathan Tenny:
Hedgehog taxonomy is kind of a mess, and they have multiple Latin names; the leader now seems to be Erinaceus albiventris, but one also sees Atelerix albiventris and Atelerix pruneri. (I think that Pruner's hedgehog is now considered to be a separate species, but it hasn't always been.) [this remains pretty uncertain and iffy in most research that I've found - ed.] There may be some overlap with Erinaceus frontalis [Atelerix does seem to have become the accepted genus name for A. frontalis - ed.] as well, and just to complicate matters, older works refer to the genus Atelerix as Aethechinus.
Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia says that they weigh about 200-220 grams (about seven ounces); this is for wild animals. Captives seem to be much larger; the smallest of our three hedgehogs is 250 g and growing, and our large male weighs about 400-450 g when he isn't overweight. (However, all our animals have come from exceptionally large bloodlines.) Adults are about six to eight inches long, depending on how far they're stretching when you measure.
Hedgehogs are basically nocturnal; they may wake up a couple of times during the day to wander around their enclosures, get a snack or a drink of water, and so on, but they really get active late at night (ours wake up between 10 PM and midnight, but that may be because that's when we turn the lights off).
Whether they have wonderful personalities depends on your taste. Your prospective hedgehog will sleep all day, and, while it may well become quite sociable when awake, it probably will not let you pick it up when it wants to sleep. (Can you blame it? More to the point, can you argue with it?) We've never met an African hedgehog that would bite aggressively, though there are rumours of such. (Note that all the Africans we've known have been not only captive-bred but hand-raised from infancy; we make no guarantees about imports or non-socialized animals.) They do explore with their mouths, so if you smell interesting, you may get licked or nipped; they have fairly sharp teeth (a row of short pegs with points, but nothing drastic).
As pets go, hedgehogs are generally not cuddly lap-fungus type pets, but if you want something that's a little different, not too big, and definitely adorable, then maybe a hedgehog is for you. If, however, you have been fascinated by hedgehogs for about twenty years, like I have, there is just no question.
Among their pros and cons, you should keep in mind the nocturnal nature of hedgehogs. If you are a night-owl, or often find yourself up and around during the dark hours, a hedgehog can be a very welcome companion. On the other hand, if you jump out of bed early in the morning and fade with the sun, you and your hedgehog may never see one another.
Although most hedgehogs rarely, if ever, bite or nip, it does happen, as can occur with any animal. For information on biting see section [6.6]
Hedgehogs are also relatively low maintenance (though not ``no maintenance''). There's no need to take them out for a walk around the block in the middle of a raging blizzard, or head off to the park, pooper-scooper in hand, during a heat wave, with a hedgehog. Their small, but not too small, size also makes for a good compromise. They do prefer regular attention, but it doesn't need to be long at a time.
Then there's always the one really effective decision factor: hedgehogs are irresistibly CUTE!
------------------------------
Subject: <3.2> Where are hedgehogs illegal?
Unfortunately, there are some locations that do not yet allow pet hedgehogs. The IHA [2.5] can possibly help provide guidance on how you can enlighten any backward bureaucracies you run into. The list below started as a very stripped down version of the last list published by the N.A.H.A. to which I have also included additional notes thanks to people sending me information.
At the moment hedgehogs are not permitted in the U.S. in the states of Alabama, California, Georgia, Hawaii and Utah, although I've been told that
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part5 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 5 of 7) -- HEDGEHOG HEALTH CARE AND UNDERSTANDING Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
7. *** Things hedgehogs say and do ***
<7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it? <7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal? <7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating? <7.4> My hedgehog sneezes. What should I do? <7.5> My hedgehog's gone ballistic? Is this normal? <7.6> Basic hedgehog repertoire
8. *** Basic health care ***
<8.1> What health risks should I worry about? <8.2> Mites (or mites, not?) <8.3> Tattered or ragged ears <8.4> Hedgehog first-aid kit <8.5> Do I need to spay/neuter my pet? <8.6> Vaccinations, etc.
9. *** Problems to watch for and related information ***
<9.1> Various hedgehog health issues <9.2> My hedgehog's had funny-looking stools for a couple of days. What's wrong? <9.3> My hedgehog's not eating. What should I do? <9.4> How did I get fleas in my home? How can I get rid of them? <9.5> Wobbly hedgehogs
Subject: <7.1> Self-anointing. What is it? Why do hedgehogs do it?
I have mentioned self-anointing (or self-lathering, as it is sometime called, in at least the U.K.) repeatedly throughout the FAQ, so now it is time to explore the hedgehog's one truly unique trait. Nathan Tenny provided a good description of this interesting and perplexing hedgehog habit:
If you smell *really* interesting, your hedgehog will lick or nibble on you, back off, and suddenly contort itself, start foaming at the mouth, and lick the foam onto its spines. This ``self-anointing'' has to be seen to be believed, but it's perfectly normal. It's not known for sure why they do it, but it probably has something to do with self-defence; hedgehogs are *highly* resistant to most toxins, and when they encounter something that might be toxic, they get it in their mouths, foam, and cover themselves with the toxic mixture. The result is a toxic hedgehog, which is really something to reckon with. (Incidentally, the toxin resistance of hedgehogs is truly prodigious and has been the subject of some research; they are one of the few animals that can safely eat giant toads (_Bufo marinus_), for instance.)
One more last note: We don't know why this happens, but even without the benefit of self-anointing, their spines seem to have a mild toxic/irritant effect; when you prick yourself on one, even slightly, it hurts more than it should, and for a little bit longer. No big deal, just sort of strange.
One of the most effective ways to provoke a session of self-anointing is to pick up your hedgehog when you have sweaty hands, or after having used hand lotion, or a different type of soap.
In any case, once you have witnessed this entertaining act, and you have calmed down enough to understand your little friend doesn't have rabies after all, you will likely be convinced that hedgehogs do not have backbones. It's really hard to believe something as round as a hedgehog can twist itself into that contorted a position. It's also a bit disconcerting to learn just how long that tongue is!
------------------------------
Subject: <7.2> My hedgehog snuffles and hides a lot. Is that normal?
Yep. If he doesn't, are you sure you have a hedgehog? The snuffling or snorting (or snurfling, as my wife calls it), while having the head tucked down, is part of the defence mechanism that has kept hedgehogs around for a very long time. It basically leaves them with their quills protecting every bit of visible surface, but still allows the hedgehog to move. The snuffling and snorting is usually accompanied by sudden lurches in the direction the hedgehog believes its potential enemy is in, to try and give it a good warning prickle.
The more your hedgehog comes to know you, the less you will get the sharp shoulder treatment. One exception to this is if your hedgehog is sleepy. A sleepy hedgehog can be very insistent about not being disturbed [3.1].
Getting your hedgehog to become familiar with you takes a lot of patience, but it is worth it. If your hedgehog tends to be somewhat shy or unfriendly towards you, try spending more time holding him -- chances are he just doesn't associate your smell with being a friend, yet. For more information on getting your hedgie used to you, see section [4.6].
------------------------------
Subject: <7.3> Is he just asleep or hibernating?
A quick note here: this section applies to African Pigmy hedgehogs, rather than European hedgehogs (which do hibernate, primarily between January and March).
A common concern is whether or not pet hedgehogs can, or should hibernate -- especially as winter starts to arrive. The answer to the first part -- can they? -- is yes. The answer to the second part -- should they? -- is NO!
Our pet hedgehogs are African in origin. They have adapted to the much warmer climate, and have generally lost the ability to tolerate hibernation. While they can still go into hibernation, when they get too cold, and they do have the ability to Aestivate (similar to hibernation, but to survive very hot, dry periods), their chances of surviving either for more than a brief period are virtually nonexistant. In effect the hibernation ability is almost vestigal, and aestivation is almost as dangerous for an animal which is not prepared for it.
As pets, hedgehogs do not stock up on food, nor put on the necessary extra body fat (at least in the right manner) needed to get through hibernation. A pet that is allowed to even suffer semi-hibernation extensively can suffer long term effects (becomming very weak and sick), and those that do end up in full hibernation will rarely survive beyond 1-2 days in this state, if at all.
Now that we've made it clear that they shouldn't be allowed to hibernate (or even go into semi-hibernation, what are the signs to look for, and how do you prevent it from happening? The good news is that if caught in time, the effects are reversable. If the temperature where they are kept drops too low (below about 20 degrees C or 68 degrees F), they can start preparing for hibernation and will certainly go into hibernation for brief periods, if the temperature drops much below this -- at least until the temperature returns to a comfortable level.
If your hedgehog seems to be sleeping too soundly, and you are worried, any kind of movement to his or her bed will usually earn you at least a brief spate of unhappy snuffling. If this happens, then you can probably assume you've just disturbed a sleepy hedgehog, or at least he's not in full hibernation. If this and nudging at him don't have any effect, and he's been in quite a cool (for a hedgehog) temperature, he may have slipped into the beginnings of hibernation, and should be gently (and slowly) warmed up, which should let him awaken, and come back to full activity.
Hedgehogs will also tend to slow down and get somewhat grumpy if they are kept at a temperature that's too cool for their liking. If you're finding that your previously energetic hedgehog is acting a bit slow and grumpy, and cool weather has started to arrive, then you may want to take steps to warm up your hedgehog [5.2], [7.3].
One of the most common signs of a hedgehog being too cold (semi-hibernation), is being very unsteady on its feet. Wobbly hedgehogs, or ones showing signs of problems in their hindquarters are almost always due to being too cold. There are some other causes for this type of symptom, as well (see [9.5] on Wobbly Hedgehogs), but of the cases I've heard of over 99% are from being cold.
Another sign that a hedgehog that is too cool is its going off its food. If your hedgehog isn't eating, and is walking a bit funny, it may be because he is a bit cool.
The first thing to do is to check to see if the animal is warm enough. Feel its legs and belly. If these feel chilled the animal needs to be immediately warmed up. A chilled hedgehog will walk as if it is drunk. A variety of methods can be used to warm them. The one that I use is to put the animal in the cut off sleeve of a sweatshirt. I then put it in a box (I actually have an 8 litre cooler that I use) with a jar of hot water. Close the lid of the box (or put the lid on loosely to allow for air in the cooler). They usually warm up in about an hour or so.
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part6 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 6 of 7) -- ADVANCED TOPICS IN HEDGEHOGGERY Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
10. *** Breeding, babies, and advanced issues ***
<10.1> Breeding <10.2> General care for babies <10.3> Hand feeding baby hedgehogs <10.4> Colours, types, and species
Breeding hedgehogs can be both the most rewarding, and the most heart-wrenching of endeavors. Few activities can come close to matching the wonders and pleasures of having babies, but at the same time the dangers involved, and problems that can arise are very great.
I'm not going to try and cover all the basics of animal husbandry, here -- that's a topic better left to many books on the subject. I'm only going to address hedgehog issues. Besides, if you don't know the basics of husbandry and breeding, you should not be considering it -- at least not yet.
Baby hedgehogs are nothing short of addictively cute. If you think an adult can steal your heart, beware that a mother being followed by a litter of adorable little hoglets is many levels of magnitude cuter. The reason for this warning is that it can be very easy to fall into the trap of breeding just to enjoy the babies. There is an immense responsibility that goes with breeding, and it should not be undertaken lightly -- these are living, feeling animals, and that thought must always be at the forefront of your mind.
If you are going to breed, make very very sure of the following, first:
(1) That you are willing to risk losing the mother, due to complications!
(2) That you can find good, caring homes for ALL the babies. This can certainly include you, but remember, you may need as many as 8 new cages or enclosures to keep the results of one litter!
(3) If there are complications with the birth, or problems with the babies, it might entail some not inconsiderable veterinary bills.
(4) If mom rejects the babies, you might have to take care of them (a very considerable effort), or have them put to sleep.
Okay, you've considered the points, above, and you want to breed your hedgehog(s). The following will cover various points of breeding. For actual caring for the babies (with or without mom), please see sections [10.2] and [10.3]
[Credit for much of what follows is largely thanks to various breeder friends that I've met over the past few years, and some of my own, minor experiences. I hope you will forgive me for not listing you by name, as the points are `mostly' a blend of all your wisdom! -Ed.]
I would strongly recommend that you seek out an experienced hedgehog breeder and spend some time talking with him/her. I don't have the experience or the space to cover all the information that you really should know. Also, having someone you can turn to with questions will prove more than invaluable.
First, a few guidelines for deciding who, of prickly nature, to put together for the romantic event. To breed hedgehogs, obviously, the minimum you need is a male and a female, but there are many other points to consider. Breeding of ill tempered hedgehogs is not a good idea, breeding of related hedgehogs can also be a bad idea. Choose the hedgehogs to be bred with some care. This can be for colour, temperament, or other values, but don't be indiscriminant.
Females should not be bred before at least 5 months of age, as they have not finished growing and maturing themselves. Once bred, the hormonal changes will basically stop further maturation, and the drain on their metabolisms caused by having babies while still trying to grow themselves, can have permanent adverse affects on their health.
Males, too, should not be bred before about 4-5 months, although the side effects are not as problematic for them. The biggest problem is that they just may not be up to the task, at least as well as they should be.
Also, don't breed a female for the first time, if she is beyond 1.5 years old. If you do, there is a very good chance that the bones in her pelvic area will have fused, such that she will not be able to have the babies. If you are not sure how old she is, but suspect she may be beyond 1.5, don't risk it!
There is also a point at about 3.5 years of age, when many females become menopausal. Breeders will often note that litter sizes may taper off as this age is approached.
Finally, after each litter, it is important to give your female a break to recover from the effort. I would not recommend any more than 3 litters per year. Beyond that is going to place an unnecessary drain on the female, and affect her health (and her ability to produce and care for ongoing litters). More than this number of litters per year really suggests that you are not breeding hedgehogs, but trying to run a production line.
Breeding hedgehogs is not difficult, but it does come with a wide variety of problems. Probably most notable is that mother hedgehogs will tend to eat the babies if disturbed at all for a few days prior to, and for up to about 10 days after the birth. This can be heartbreaking and very frustrating to would be breeders.
By our (human) standards, this sort of thing is unthinkable, and very hard to accept. Before you think too badly of hedgehogs for this, take a look at their natural environment. In the wild, any kind of disturbance is all but certainly a predator that WILL eat the babies (mom can and will try to defend them, but in a burrow, there's only so much she can hope to do). Because finding enough food and energy to develop the babies is a very difficult thing in the rather harsh conditions in which our little friends are native, mother hedgehogs cannot afford to lose all of that. In the end, it's a matter of survival to ``reabsorb'' the babies, in this way, then to lose all of that to a passing predator. If all are lost, try again in 3 months. If losing litters continues to happen, it might be that the female is just not cut out to be a mom, and it would be better not to breed her.
So, for the actual amourous encounter, what is needed? Actually, not that much. Simply put the two loverhogs together, sit back, and watch the fun. Male hedgehogs know what to do (females do as well, but will often play hard to get). Males will usually squeak very loudly and plaintively when they encounter a female -- and the actual courtship antics are usually VERY entertaining.
There are opinions both ways on whose cage (hers or his) to use, but most breeders seem to prefer to use the male's cage, under the assumption that the female will be more receptive, and the male will feel less out of place and more inclined to do his `duty.' It is wise to remove as many items from the cage as is reasonable, while they are together, such as wheels, extra dens, and items that make good hiding places for a female who wants to defend her honour. Even so, you can pretty much count on the entire cage being severely `redecorated' frequently and often!
Hedgehogs DO have a `heat,' or estrus cycle, and are not entirely induced ovulators, as had been previously thought. The cycle is typically about 9 days on, followed by 7 days off, but is not absolute.
In order to catch the cycle, many breeders will put the male and female together for about 4-5 days, separate them for 4 days, then put them back together for another 4-5 days. Others breeders have suggested using a single 10-day period, while others still will use only a single 3-day get together, observing the female to see if she is responsive. Experience and trial and error will likely be your best guides here. If you have spoken to a breeder with experience, try the schedule that they use, or one of the schedules mentioned here. In most cases, the pair will get along quite well, but do watch out as sometimes fights will occur.
Once the romance has passed, it is now time to separate the pair. Now that mating is over, the father to be, can drop out of the picture, as he plays no further role in what follows. Keeping the male in with the female when the babies arrive is virtually guaranteed to have them both eat the babies.
Is your female pregnant? Well, this is another place that I can only offer theory. Personally, I have gotten it wrong (both ways) far more often than right! As you might guess, it can be quite difficult to tell if a hedgehog is pregnant, but there are some clues to look for. Probably one of the best methods is to weigh her every few
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part7 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 7 of 7) -- WILD HEDGEHOGS Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given below.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
11. *** Finding Information ***
<11.1> Intro to wild hedgehogs <11.2> What hedgehog books are there? <11.3> Is there information available on-line? <11.4> Wild Hedgehog Organizations <11.5> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources
12. *** Care and Helping ***
<12.1> The hedgehog calendar <12.2> Caring for visiting hedgehogs <12.3> Feeding and caring for orphan baby hedgehogs <12.4> Hedgehog housing <12.5> Hedgehogizing your garden <12.6> Wild hedgehog health <12.7> Dangers to wild hedgehogs <12.8> Watching out for hibernating hedgehogs
This FAQ originally started out (and is still largely oriented at) pet hedgehogs. So why the emphasis on their wild cousins? Hedgehogs enjoy a very unique niche in that they seem to inspire people to like them (or in many cases, fall head over heels in love with them) and want to help them out, or at least want to enjoy the company of hedgehogs in and around them.
Our views of hedgehogs in the wild transcend what we normally feel for most `wild' animals that we encounter. How many animals do we go to such great lengths to encourage to come into our gardens and backyards for a visit? How many wild animals get the same level of helping hand, with food being put out specifically for them? And how many animals have hospitals named just for them? (I realize these kind hospitals do not limit themselves to treating just hedgehogs).
How many of us can resist the cute little face of hedgehog -- something that just reaches out to our hearts for help. One only has to look at the number and variety of organizations that are trying to help out hedgehogs in need to see how great the interest is. This makes it all the more amazing that hedgehogs were hunted and persecuted only a few decades ago, as being pests.
Why hedgehogs inspire so much human compassion is often very hard to pin down. The fact that they do, and that this desire to help seems to be so very widespread, is nothing short of impressive. Even so, our prickly little friends face what is still often a losing battle, in the face of human encroachment, and the dangers it often brings with it.
Fortunately, everyone who lives where wild hedgehogs can be found, can take part in helping out our little friends. This can vary from simply making some of the everyday throwaway items a bit safer before being tossed out, to adapting a garden area to be attractive to hedgehogs, or even helping out with one of the hedgehog help/rescue organizations. No special skills are needed to help out -- just a love of hedgehogs.
Of course, there are those who simply collect hedgehog memorabilia (hedgehogabilia) as their way of showing their interest in hedgehogs. This is how I came by my love (well, addiction is probably more accurate) for hedgehogs, and usually expands to well beyond the simple act of collecting.
This part of the FAQ is intended to cover as much as I can add on where to get involved and how to help out with wild hedgehogs. The number of people I've heard from who are trying to help out these little friends in need is truly amazing and encouraging. I hope that the tips and suggestions here, will help others who find themselves in the position of helping a hedgehog.
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Subject: <11.2> What hedgehog books are there?
Hedgehog popularity throughout much of Europe has exploded, and continues to grow. Even so, the number of good books is still relatively limited, and the extent of research is also much less than one might expect. The good news is that there are excellent books out there, and that more do keep appearing.
One of the best books I've found, for a true scientific view of all types of hedgehogs is:
Hedgehogs by Nigel Reeve ISBN 0-85661-081-X T & A D Poyser Ltd. 24-28 Oval Road London NW1 7DX
In published form, this book is probably the best source of true, scientific information on all types of hedgehogs. Beyond this you probably need to read scientific papers (30 pages of references to which are at the back of this book, which gives you some idea as to Dr. Reeve's efforts at research). While this book does focus primarily on hedgehogs in the wild, it does provide some very useful insights into what makes our little friends tick. I find myself turning more and more to this book, all the time -- especially when someone asks me a detailed question. Unlike many scientific books, this one shows the author had a real interest and excitement in his chosen topic of research, rather than limiting himself to dry phrasing, an entertaining sense of humour and wit shows through.
The book can be hard to come by in North America (the publisher does not import it to N.A.), but it is available through the Exclusively Hedgehogs catalog [2.8], and the Spike and Friends Catalog [2.8]. In Europe, your local bookseller can likely order it for you from the information, above.
For those looking for an excellent all round book on caring for hedgehogs, and one with an absolute wealth of medical information, including homeopathic treatments, most of which can apply to both European and African Pigmy hedgehogs, the following book is available:
The Natural Hedgehog by Lenni Sykes with Jane Durrant ISBN 1-85675-042-6 Gaia Books Ltd. 66 Charlotte St. London W1P 1LR
Produced by the folks at the Welsh Hedgehog Hospital (WHH) [11.4], this book is now available in a softcover form, directly from them for a reasonable fee (see [11.4] for contact information), and provides an excellent source for anyone wanting to give hedgehogs a helping hand.
Katherine Long has passed along word of another book that is full of interesting hedgehog information, although it can be somewhat hard to get in North America. Here is the bibliographic info:
Stocker, Les. The Complete Hedgehog. (Illus.) 128 p. 09/1994. Paper. $19.95. ISBN 0-7011-3272-8, Chatto & Windus UK). Trafalgar Square.
[The price, above, was valid as of 1997 -- Ed.]
This book concentrates on European hedgehogs, but certainly contains relevant information on hedgehogs in general.
As a point of interest, Les Stocker is the founder of St. Tiggywinkle's Hospital [11.4].
Another book, this time suggested by Bill Corner, is:
Hedgehogs, by Pat Morris. Published by: Whittet Books. 1983. ISBN: 0-905483-28-6
[This] is a book by a researcher who has spent his post-doctorate research studying Hedgehog behavior. Not as comprehensive as [the above one -- Les Stocker's], but a good read. -- Bill Corner
One more for good measure. This one is a manual, likely intended for use primarily by veterinarians, and likely refers primarily to European hedgehogs, and is therefore almost certainly very technical in nature.
In looking for chinchilla information, I ran across a book that has hedgehog health information. Manual of Exotic Pets, written by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Kingsley House, Church Lane, Shurdington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 5TQ. -- Chingur
Peter Captijn, has sent along the following (seemingly endless) list of books on hedgehogs: [Note: prices were valid as of approx. 1996 -- Ed.]
all EUROPEAN (Erinaceaous europaeus), never pet-owners books:
- The hedgehog and friends, more tales from St. Tiggywinkles by Les Stocker, Chatto & Windus, London, 1990, ISBN 0 7011 3655 3, 8.99 UK pounds.
I name this because it is NOT a hedgehog book. It's a book relating the work Les Stocker does in his animal care center. Although it has a few pages about hedgehogs, nice photos and nice pencil drawings, I think you should leave it unless you have money to burn.
In the literature list of Shire Natural History's book on hedgehogs (see below) the following books are mentioned:
- The hedgehog by M. Burton Andre Deutsch 1969. Reprinted as a Corgi `Survival' paperback. Now out of print but often available through local libraries.
- Hedgehogs by K. Herter, Phoenix House 1969. Now out of print but often available through local libraries.
Various leaflets, books, hedgehog toys and other items are available from the British Hedgehog Preservation
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part4 Posting-Frequency: monthly Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs
Last-modified: 24 April 2008 Version: 3.109
HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 4 of 7) -- HEDGEHOGS AS PETS Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara (macnam...@hedgehoghollow.com) Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.
This document is copyright 2008 by Brian MacNamara. See section [0.6] for authorship information and redistribution rights. In short, you can give it away, but you can't charge for it.
The basic Hedgehog FAQ has seven parts, all of which should be available from wherever you obtained this one. A complete table of contents for all seven parts is given in part I.
Please note: While my knowledge of hedgehogs has grown (far beyond my wildest expectations when I began the FAQ), my knowledge is still quite limited, especially in areas of health care. I did not write, or verify, all the information in this FAQ. I have done my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way. For advice from an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who is familiar with hedgehogs.
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE
5. *** Things you'll need ***
<5.1> What will I need to take care of my new hedgehog? <5.2> Do I need a cage? How should I set it up? <5.3> The pet store uses wood shavings as bedding. Should I? <5.4> Litter boxes and what kind of litter should I use? <5.5> I'm having problems litter-training my hedgehog. What should I be doing? <5.6> Hedgehogs and wheels <5.7> Making your own wheel <5.8> Any suggestions on toys?
6. *** Basic hedgehog care and training ***
<6.1> How can I best hedgehogproof my home? <6.2> What should I feed my hedgehog? <6.3> Commercial hedgehog foods and nutrition <6.4> What are good treats? <6.5> Any suggestions on bathing, cleaning ears, and clipping nails? <6.6> Biting and nipping <6.7> HELP, my hedgehog is LOST! (or Hedgehog Hide-and-Seek)
Subject: <5.1> What will I need to take care of my new hedgehog?
A brief list of things needed right away is covered in section [4.5], and is meant as a getting started list. This section, and the ones that follow, are meant to provide information in greater detail.
There are only a few things that are essential to keep a pet hedgehog. Basically a warm place to live (either a large cage/pen/aquarium, or a room -- if you want to let your hedgehog run free), a food dish (preferably one that is not easy to tip over), a water bottle, such as for Guinea pigs, (water dishes can tend to become soiled and baby hedgehogs can easily drown in them, but adults often like them), and last but not least, something big enough for your hedgehog to hide in as a den. Of course food, water and other treats are a given!
It is also a good idea to have a shallow litter box or pan (although not all hedgehogs seem inclined to use them), and some type of bedding (aspen shavings, clean straw, etc., but NOT cedar [5.3]).
An exercise wheel [5.6] and [5.7] (big enough for a hedgehog) is also strongly recommended -- especially for hedgehogs that don't have the run of the house. Hedgehogs tend to be surprisingly energetic, and need the chance to use up some of this energy. In addition, it appears more and more that hedgehogs who have and use wheels live much longer and generally seem not to come down with some of the more common serious ailments, such as Fatty Liver Disease. Because of this, I am quickly reaching the opinion that a proper wheel is more of a necessity than a luxury. Given how easy (and even fun) it is to make a wheel, there really is no excuse for not having one.
------------------------------
Subject: <5.2> Do I need a cage? How should I set it up?
This is largely a matter of choice, yours and theirs. Some hedgehog owners wouldn't dream of caging their prickly little friends, while some breeders use large cat carriers to keep their hoards in (one hedgehog, one carrier).
I personally use large wire cages that were intended for medium to large dogs as homes for my hedgehogs. These cages measure about 2' wide x 3' deep x 2.5' high (frankly I wouldn't put a dog bigger than a Chihuahua in something this size, but the labels claim they were designed for collies and similar sized dogs!).
I should point out that organizations, such as VEZ [2.7], recommend ``one square meter (approximately 1 sq. yard) of floorspace for [each] hedgehog.'' This is a good rule of thumb, since hedgies are not as small as hamsters or gerbils, and do need space to roam in. The alternative is to give them a good play time, each night, to roam about a larger area under supervision.
You should be careful to make sure the grating in the cage you use leaves narrow enough holes that your hedgehog can't get out, or even get his head wedged in between the wires. Chicken wire is probably not a very safe choice. Hedgehogs will often attempt to escape with an astounding amount of vigor and can be quite single minded about doing so. Younger hedgehogs can easily get out of cages with openings between the wires as small as 1/2'' (1.5 cm) -- trust me on this, Sprocket earned the middle name Houdini for just this achievement, while Pocus would gleefully climb to the top of the cage looking for even the smallest niche to squeeze through.
Probably the most cost effective cage system I'm aware of is to use the large clear plastic bins (with lids) that look like giant Tupperware containers, and are available inexpensively from most hardware and department stores these days. Drill plenty of holes in the top (small enough that a hedgehog won't fit through, but large enough to provide lots of air), or even along the sides, towards the top, and you have a very easy to clean cage, that is also easy to get at to get your hedgie out.
The best part of the plastic bin idea is that, if you find ones that are not big enough, just use two, or three, or create a whole complex of them. Using inexpensive plastic plumbing pipes and fittings, you can create a hedgehog palace in a short time. Just beware to make sure tunnels slope at an angle that hedgehogs can manage comfortably.
Skewer lives in one such plastic bin that was far too low to give clearance for his wheel. Since leaving the top off was a guaranteed escape in the making, we solved the problem by cutting out a section of the lid, and putting another small, but deep, plastic bin over it, glued to the larger lid. This dome roof covers his wheel nicely, and ensures he only wanders (escapes from the cage) when it's intended (i.e., gets out for playtime).
Bedding, such as aspen shavings [5.3], is recommended in any cage, and most importantly, some sort of place to hide is needed. Alternately, you can use astroturf, or something like non-clumping cat litter [5.4] (make sure it's not dusty), or even epoxy coated aquarium stones (some sort of soft bed area is recommended, though). Do watch out for the pieces of litter or bedding getting caught in sensitive places as mentioned in sections [5.4] and [9.1].
The most frequently recommended den is a section of 4'' (or 6'' for larger hedgehogs) diameter PVC (plastic) plumbing pipe. You can get this at almost any hardware or plumbing store for a couple of dollars.
For a home, or den, I have used a variety of items. For Velcro I used two wicker bread baskets (about 4'' x 6'' and 2-3'' deep) tied securely together with a door cut towards one end (about 3'' x 3''). Velcro preferred this over either the PVC pipe home, or a hollow log, however, Popeye, who inherited Velcro's cage and den won't have anything to do with it, preferring to sleep under a hedgebag (a cloth bag with no seams). Pocus, however, preferred the PVC pipe or especially a hollow log, and wouldn't have anything to do with the basket (except as a toy -- Pocus tossed it like a seal with a ball). Hedgehogs *can* be fickle! For Quibble, Quiver and Pepper, who live together, we use a stackable plastic bin, turned upside down, which provides (almost) enough space for three plump hedgebutts to snuggle together at naptime.
A word of caution about using old socks or cloth with a loose weave to it:
Don't use anything fabric for them to hide in. I did have an old sock... Koosh liked to climb inside it, but the vet told me of an instance where a hedgehog got his leg caught in a thread, tried to get out, only made it worse, and the thread ended up slicing through her flesh to the bone. He said he was able to save the leg, though. -- Kathleen Close
If you're going to use an aquarium, I would not recommend anything less that a 20 gallon size, and preferably larger, as a basic home for a hedgehog -- they are much too active for anything less, and small enclosures will quickly lead to an overweight and unhealthy hedgehog.
Cages at the large end of being suitable for Guinea pigs or rabbits are likely fine. Keep in mind that hedgehogs like to explore, and they are great escape artists. They can climb anything they can get their claws hooked into, and by rolling into a ball and leaning forward, they can manage to get down quite safely from virtually any height that didn't need a long ladder to get them up to.
Tammy Baer sent in the following, interesting twist on the pet carrier home. I think this has some real merit for people who currently use a carrier, and want to give their little friends a better quantity of space to live in.
Each hedgie has a large dog kennel as a cage, but not in the
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