-
Forum/Server Upgrade If you are reading this you have made it to the upgraded forum. Posts made on the old forum after 26th October 2023 have not been transfered. Everything else should be here. If you find any issues please let us know.
Hedgehog pics
- Thread starter thistle
- Start date
Hmm I'm not sure really about the grass, I would think so cause they'd need to dig for worms.
I think you supplement their food in the winter, but the idea is you are just providing them with a safe haven so they are left to their own devices...so for that reason also fleas shouldn't be a problem as you wouldn't touch them, but I guess you'd have to be careful they didn't get on the bunns.
There were lots in the wildlife hosptial that hadn't put on enough weight to make it through hibernation (spotted by members of the public looking a bit skinny), so they were kept in for the winter and fattened up.
carasblanco
Mama Doe
What if you have birds of prey like Heron or osprey & owls that visit your garden, wouldn't that be an unsafe environment? I can't tell, but they look really small and vulnerable.
Yeah, they'd obviously assess you and the area. These are UK wild ones I'm talking about by the way, not the pet pygmy ones in the photos, they'd be kept indoors.
carasblanco
Mama Doe
Oh I see, yes I made the mistake thinking of the African/South American pygmy ones.
Oh wow ! They are gorgeous !
thistle
Mama Doe
Thanks everyone!
I keep mine in indoor rabbit cages, but I know some people prefer zoozone 2 cages or even vivariums. They are nocturnal and, like hamsters, run on wheels at night, although their wheels need to have a 12" diameter.:shock: They can also be litter trained, although they usually go to the toilet while running on their wheels, which is why I have the trays underneath these. This is the setups I have for them....
As they an African species they need it to be fairly warm ( 70 degrees +) and so must be kept indoors. They eat mainly dry cat food, but can be supplemented with cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, chicken or vegetable baby foods, etc, but their favorite treat is usually mealworms. You shouldn't give them slugs, worms and so on, from the garden because of the risks of poisons.
African pygmy hedgehogs haven't been kept as pets for that long, so they are not truely 'domesticated' as such. But, as long as you get them from a good breeder that will have socialised them, they make great pets. A friendly hedgehog will rarely ball up and will keep their quills down while you are handling them, so they are not spikey at all (feels a little like stoking a wire haired terrier). Both of mine puff up slightly if I wake them up from a sleep (wouldn't you?:lol, but as soon as I pick them up they put their quills down and are quite happy. They love to snuggle up in the crook of my neck and go to sleep, while I'm lying on my bed watching tv. Neither of them mind being visited or even held by the neighbours children, but the kids are well warned that they need to be quiet and very gentle with them, or they could quickly end up holding a ball of very sharp spines (which can draw blood). With that and them being nocturnal, it means that they are really not suited as a 'family' pet.
Although they are getting more and more popular, they still are quite rare, so it's very unlikely you would find any in a rescue. Unfortunately, you may see the occassional one in a pet shop, but really the best place to get one is from a breeder. They usually cost around £150.
I hope that i've answered everyones questions.
I keep mine in indoor rabbit cages, but I know some people prefer zoozone 2 cages or even vivariums. They are nocturnal and, like hamsters, run on wheels at night, although their wheels need to have a 12" diameter.:shock: They can also be litter trained, although they usually go to the toilet while running on their wheels, which is why I have the trays underneath these. This is the setups I have for them....
As they an African species they need it to be fairly warm ( 70 degrees +) and so must be kept indoors. They eat mainly dry cat food, but can be supplemented with cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, chicken or vegetable baby foods, etc, but their favorite treat is usually mealworms. You shouldn't give them slugs, worms and so on, from the garden because of the risks of poisons.
African pygmy hedgehogs haven't been kept as pets for that long, so they are not truely 'domesticated' as such. But, as long as you get them from a good breeder that will have socialised them, they make great pets. A friendly hedgehog will rarely ball up and will keep their quills down while you are handling them, so they are not spikey at all (feels a little like stoking a wire haired terrier). Both of mine puff up slightly if I wake them up from a sleep (wouldn't you?:lol
, but as soon as I pick them up they put their quills down and are quite happy. They love to snuggle up in the crook of my neck and go to sleep, while I'm lying on my bed watching tv. Neither of them mind being visited or even held by the neighbours children, but the kids are well warned that they need to be quiet and very gentle with them, or they could quickly end up holding a ball of very sharp spines (which can draw blood). With that and them being nocturnal, it means that they are really not suited as a 'family' pet.Although they are getting more and more popular, they still are quite rare, so it's very unlikely you would find any in a rescue. Unfortunately, you may see the occassional one in a pet shop
, but really the best place to get one is from a breeder. They usually cost around £150.I hope that i've answered everyones questions.
thistle
Mama Doe
The hedgehogs themselves don't have any smell. Their pee doesn't either, but when they first do a poo it can be a bit smelly (if you have a sniff right next to the cage), though it only lasts a few minutes and the poo very quickly dries out (lovely!:lol.
The first night I got Hector the whole room was absolutely stinking, I thought that there was no way he could stay in my bedroom. However, he obviously just had a bit of a jippy tummy because of the stress of moving house and, thankfully, there has been no repeat performance since.
. The first night I got Hector the whole room was absolutely stinking, I thought that there was no way he could stay in my bedroom. However, he obviously just had a bit of a jippy tummy because of the stress of moving house and, thankfully, there has been no repeat performance since.
Lauralou
Warren Veteran
i quite often like to fit a whole sock in my mouth if i like the smell... haha! imagine if humans did there funny things that animals do. that photo of him licking his quills is so funny. a local pet shop here sells them for £250, which i think is good because you can't impulse buy them like people sometimes do with animals. they recently had a mother and baby (obviously you couldn't buy them) and you had to be so quiet in the shop, they were so sweet, they were very knowledgeable about them and spend so long telling people about them. Let's hope a certain chain of "pet shop" don't get wind of the idea. *ahem*
I cant stop looking at them
Fifibutton
Wise Old Thumper
Awww how sweet. I fostered a Eurasion one once, he was a dear! I'd definatly consider these ones as pets too
when I win the lottery.:lol:
when I win the lottery.:lol:
I remember looking at all the different colours a while back, here:
http://hedgehogcentral.com/colorguide.shtml
http://hedgehogcentral.com/colorguide.shtml
madysmummy
Mama Doe
stunning. i never knew you could have them as pets. do they need japs and things yearly - bet vets don't get to see hedgehogs very often