How Do I Properly Care For My Hedgehog?
Care and Management: When you bring your hedgie home, place him in his new cage and let him have privacy for the day. You may pick him up and hold him once or twice for a few minutes the first day, but remember, it will probably be more like a week before he begins to feel at home. Hedgehogs rely on their sense of smell to compensate for their poor vision. I suggest you take an old t-shirt you have worn and put it in the cage, this will help your new hedgehog get accustomed to your smell. Baby hedgehogs need quite a bit of sleep the first month after they come home with you, don't be too concerned if he sleeps a lot at first.
Housing: Your hedgehog will require a secure home since they are very good climbers. I find sterilite tubs to be the best form of housing and are easy to clean. Place your hedgehog’s new home in a comfortable, warm, well lit area that is free of drafts and direct sunlight. They are most comfortable at temperatures of between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. You may also use a ceramic heat emitter 100-150 watt. See Supplies Page
Examples of cages
Bedding: I recommend Aspen chips, Pine shavings or Fleece liners. Never use Cedar it can be toxic to hedgehogs. Place approximately two inches of bedding material evenly over the floor of the cage. Replace the bedding once a week. See Supplies Page
Food Bowl: The food bowl needs to be fairly wide and heavy to prevent your pet from dumping out its contents and using it as a toy. Small ceramic dishes that are designed for small rodents are perfect food dishes for hedgehogs. The width or diameter of the dish can be 3 to 6 inches and it should be no more than 3 inches high.
Water Bottle: Water bottles are preferred over open dishes. Hedgehogs love to fill open water dishes with shavings and this spoils the water and prevents them from getting enough water to drink, or they dump them. They are also known to poop in their water dishes.
Hiding Place: This can be as simple as a piece of 4 inch PVC pipe, an empty tissue box, or an old shoe box with a hole cut in one end. (this should be replaced every 2 to 3 weeks). They also enjoy igloos large enough to fit them and a snuggie sack.
Food Bowl: The food bowl needs to be fairly wide and heavy to prevent your pet from dumping out its contents and using it as a toy. Small ceramic dishes that are designed for small rodents are perfect food dishes for hedgehogs. The width or diameter of the dish can be 3 to 6 inches and it should be no more than 3 inches high.
Water Bottle: Water bottles are preferred over open dishes. Hedgehogs love to fill open water dishes with shavings and this spoils the water and prevents them from getting enough water to drink, or they dump them. They are also known to poop in their water dishes.
Hiding Place: This can be as simple as a piece of 4 inch PVC pipe, an empty tissue box, or an old shoe box with a hole cut in one end. (this should be replaced every 2 to 3 weeks). They also enjoy igloos large enough to fit them and a snuggie sack.
Litter Box: Your pet may use a litter box if you provide it with one. Offer a shallow pan that they can easily climb in and out. You wan to use a different litter in the pan compared to what is being used in the cage. As an example: if you decide to use fleece liner in your cage, you could use pine shavings or folded paper towels in the litter box. If you choose to use pine shavings as your bedding for the cage, you can used folded paper towels in the litter box. Continue to place their poop in the litter box and they will quickly pick it up.
Toys: If you choose, you can also add a few toys for your hedgehog to play with. An exercise wheel is an excellent addition and will help him to stay healthy and trim. Never use wheels with metal bars, your hedgie can get their legs and toes caught and can cause injuries. They also love cat toys (balls) and toilet/paper towel rolls. You will often see them sleep with their head in the roll.
Feeding: Dry cat food has been found to be the best "staple" food for your hedgehog's nutritional needs. I currently use a mixture of three cat foods: Blue Buffalo ~ Weight Control Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, Diamond~ Natural Indoor Formula, Rachel Ray ~ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe. You will also find more options on this page. Any of these options can be used as your hedgehogs main diet. You may change their food just do it slowly. You are encouraged to supplement your hedgehogs diet with a variety of other foods such as, mealworms, unseasoned cooked meats, baby food (sweet potato is a favorite), apples, carrots, for fruits and veggies always make sure they are acceptable for hedgehogs before offering them. However, none of these should be fed as anything more than a treat 3 or 4 times a week. Hedgehogs will generally eat 1-2 tablespoons of their cat food a day. Obesity can become a problem if over feeding occurs, this can shorten your hedgehogs life cycle. I offer 1 tablespoon in the AM and before bed I make a second round. If they have food, I will not add anymore but if their bowl is empty, I will offer an additional tablespoon. No more than 2 tablespoons a day.
Healthy Weight for an adult hedghog: 9 – 19 oz or 255 – 540 grams.
Anointing: Anointing is a possible response that a hedgehog will exhibit when they encounter a smell that they are unfamiliar with. In such an event the hedgehog will possibly bite or chew at the source of the smell, and then they will froth at mouth to create lather. Next they will deposit their foamy saliva on their quills by contorting their bodies. No one knows why they do it and it is normal behavior.
Bathing: Hedgehogs do a fairly good job of grooming themselves but sometimes, there are things they need help with. I recommend bathing your hedgehog no more than once a month. Run an inch (no more!) of lukewarm water into the bathroom sink. Next, place a small amount of Aveeno Baby Bath into the water. Now, place your hedgehog gently into the water and wet him thoroughly by scooping water from the sink with the cup onto his back. Using a soft bristled toothbrush, gently and slowly scrub his spines from front to back and in small circles, making sure not to get any of the soapy water in his eyes. Once his back is clean, reach underneath and wash his tummy by gently running your fingers over the fur, but do not flip him over. After he has been thoroughly scrubbed, remove him from the sink, drain the dirty water and once again refill the sink with an inch of lukewarm water. Then, place him back in, thoroughly rinse him off, remove him from the sink and then gently towel him dry. You may notice that your hedgehog's feet get messy more often than the once a month bath can handle. Please feel free to clean your hedgehog's feet as often as needed, just do not submerge his whole body in the water. You want to use enough water to get his feet wet and clean with the toothbrush.
Handling: It is never a good idea to pick up a domestic hedgehog with gloves. Although imposing in appearance, the spines are not sharp enough to cause any real injury and, unlike porcupines, the spines do not come out and they are not barbed. It is absolutely essential for your hedgehog to recognize your scent and to recognize it as being harmless. The correct method for picking up a hedgehog is to place your hands, palms up and his head facing away from you, on each side and gently scoop him up from underneath. If you are a bit unsure at first, scoop a little lower and take some of the shavings with him as this will help to protect your hands from his spines. After picking him up, you can drop the shavings as you move him from hand to hand. Then, carefully move him over onto one hand and hold him over the back with the other. Once accustomed to you, he won’t bother to put his spines up and he will be very easy to pick up. If he is rolled-up into a ball, he will, in most cases, soon unroll and put his spines down. If he is stubborn, though, getting him to unroll can sometimes be little bit tricky. The simplest and most effective means to do this is to gently rock him back and forth in your hand. He will soon pop his little head out, but if he doesn't, hold him with his head facing away from you and a little bit higher than the rest of his body. Try to figure where his neck is and, in small circles about the size of a quarter, softly rub his neck. When he peaks out, allow him to lean forward and place his front feet on your other hand. Now, you can slowly move him from hand to hand.
Quilling: Every hedgehog goes through quilling. Quilling is when a hedgehog loses their baby quills and grows in the adult quills. This can be very painful for your hedgehog. Continue to handle your hedgehog during this process, but try not to pet them as often. Allow them to walk from hand to hand or socialize around you. During this time, it is normal for a hedgehog to become more grumpy, not eat, "huff" more than normal and stay balled up. Here is a great resource~http://www.hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/quilling.htm.
Toys: If you choose, you can also add a few toys for your hedgehog to play with. An exercise wheel is an excellent addition and will help him to stay healthy and trim. Never use wheels with metal bars, your hedgie can get their legs and toes caught and can cause injuries. They also love cat toys (balls) and toilet/paper towel rolls. You will often see them sleep with their head in the roll.
Feeding: Dry cat food has been found to be the best "staple" food for your hedgehog's nutritional needs. I currently use a mixture of three cat foods: Blue Buffalo ~ Weight Control Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, Diamond~ Natural Indoor Formula, Rachel Ray ~ Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe. You will also find more options on this page. Any of these options can be used as your hedgehogs main diet. You may change their food just do it slowly. You are encouraged to supplement your hedgehogs diet with a variety of other foods such as, mealworms, unseasoned cooked meats, baby food (sweet potato is a favorite), apples, carrots, for fruits and veggies always make sure they are acceptable for hedgehogs before offering them. However, none of these should be fed as anything more than a treat 3 or 4 times a week. Hedgehogs will generally eat 1-2 tablespoons of their cat food a day. Obesity can become a problem if over feeding occurs, this can shorten your hedgehogs life cycle. I offer 1 tablespoon in the AM and before bed I make a second round. If they have food, I will not add anymore but if their bowl is empty, I will offer an additional tablespoon. No more than 2 tablespoons a day.
Healthy Weight for an adult hedghog: 9 – 19 oz or 255 – 540 grams.
Anointing: Anointing is a possible response that a hedgehog will exhibit when they encounter a smell that they are unfamiliar with. In such an event the hedgehog will possibly bite or chew at the source of the smell, and then they will froth at mouth to create lather. Next they will deposit their foamy saliva on their quills by contorting their bodies. No one knows why they do it and it is normal behavior.
Bathing: Hedgehogs do a fairly good job of grooming themselves but sometimes, there are things they need help with. I recommend bathing your hedgehog no more than once a month. Run an inch (no more!) of lukewarm water into the bathroom sink. Next, place a small amount of Aveeno Baby Bath into the water. Now, place your hedgehog gently into the water and wet him thoroughly by scooping water from the sink with the cup onto his back. Using a soft bristled toothbrush, gently and slowly scrub his spines from front to back and in small circles, making sure not to get any of the soapy water in his eyes. Once his back is clean, reach underneath and wash his tummy by gently running your fingers over the fur, but do not flip him over. After he has been thoroughly scrubbed, remove him from the sink, drain the dirty water and once again refill the sink with an inch of lukewarm water. Then, place him back in, thoroughly rinse him off, remove him from the sink and then gently towel him dry. You may notice that your hedgehog's feet get messy more often than the once a month bath can handle. Please feel free to clean your hedgehog's feet as often as needed, just do not submerge his whole body in the water. You want to use enough water to get his feet wet and clean with the toothbrush.
Handling: It is never a good idea to pick up a domestic hedgehog with gloves. Although imposing in appearance, the spines are not sharp enough to cause any real injury and, unlike porcupines, the spines do not come out and they are not barbed. It is absolutely essential for your hedgehog to recognize your scent and to recognize it as being harmless. The correct method for picking up a hedgehog is to place your hands, palms up and his head facing away from you, on each side and gently scoop him up from underneath. If you are a bit unsure at first, scoop a little lower and take some of the shavings with him as this will help to protect your hands from his spines. After picking him up, you can drop the shavings as you move him from hand to hand. Then, carefully move him over onto one hand and hold him over the back with the other. Once accustomed to you, he won’t bother to put his spines up and he will be very easy to pick up. If he is rolled-up into a ball, he will, in most cases, soon unroll and put his spines down. If he is stubborn, though, getting him to unroll can sometimes be little bit tricky. The simplest and most effective means to do this is to gently rock him back and forth in your hand. He will soon pop his little head out, but if he doesn't, hold him with his head facing away from you and a little bit higher than the rest of his body. Try to figure where his neck is and, in small circles about the size of a quarter, softly rub his neck. When he peaks out, allow him to lean forward and place his front feet on your other hand. Now, you can slowly move him from hand to hand.
Quilling: Every hedgehog goes through quilling. Quilling is when a hedgehog loses their baby quills and grows in the adult quills. This can be very painful for your hedgehog. Continue to handle your hedgehog during this process, but try not to pet them as often. Allow them to walk from hand to hand or socialize around you. During this time, it is normal for a hedgehog to become more grumpy, not eat, "huff" more than normal and stay balled up. Here is a great resource~http://www.hedgehogheadquarters.com/secure/quilling.htm.