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Hedgehog Basics
Home sweet home
The first thing any new hedgehog owner will need is a habitat for their pet. Always provide the largest possible living space for your hedgehog that your space and budget will allow. In the wild, a hedgehog can cover a territory of a couple of square miles hunting for food nightly, so exercise is a definite factor in choosing the habitat. Multi-level ferret cages, plastic storage bins or the larger style guinea pig cages can make a good home for a hedgehog.
Accessories for the Home
Supplying an exercise wheel is a must for these active animals. The wheel should have a solid running surface, we recommend the Carolina Storm Wheel or the Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel but you could also use a Giant Comfort Wheel / Silent spinner or a homemade Bucket Wheel. Your hedgehog, as a nocturnal animal, will probably spend most of the day asleep. Provide a place where your pet can feel secure, such as a sleeping bag or a nest box, even a cardboard one however cardboard does get dirty quick if u have the time to waste you could line the inside of it with a good sticky tape to make it a plastic surface (easy clean up!). Although hedgehogs can often be taught to use a litter box, most owners choose to use some variety of bedding in their habitat. We recommend fleece liners or aspen shavings. Do not use cedar or colored bedding for your pet! The aromatic oils in cedar have been known to cause respiratory distress and may prove fatal. When you introduce any new loose litter to your hedgehog, keep an eye on him/her to ensure that he/she is not eating it. They can develop bowel impactions from eating litter.
Litter Training
Hedgehogs can frequently be taught to use a litter box if training is begun young enough. Begin by selecting a litter box, which can be any container that the hedgehog can easily climb into and that is large enough for him to turn around in. Corner ferret litter boxes, available at most pet stores, work very well. Fill the litter box with some sort of litter such as aspen shavings or recycled newsprint cat litter. Avoid cedar as the aromatic oils can cause respiratory problems and also avoid clumping type cat litter as they may clump on or in the hedgehog's genitals. Once you have your litter box set up, "seed" it with a few poops. If your hedgehog misses the litter box, move the refuse into the litter box. Most hedgehogs prefer to use a litter box rather than to soil their homes, although many will also use their wheel as a second litter box. If your hedgehog does this, you might also place a small pan containing litter under the base of the wheel and just clean the wheel frequently.
Diet
Diet plays an important role serious consideration should be given to proper diet for hedgehog, since they are prone to a variety of diet-related illnesses, usually related to an excess of fat in the diet. Unfortunately, some products labeled as "hedgehog food" are not nutritionally sound. Make sure that whatever food you choose to offer your pet is low in fat and iron and high in protein. Low-fat or "light" cat foods are preferable to a high-fat hedgehog food. 1-2 tablespoon full daily of this staple food may be supplemented with treats, including 1-2 canned or fresh mealworms and crickets, lean cooked chicken, salmon, or tuna, boiled egg whites, rice cooked in broth, fruits and veggies. Avoid treats or staple foods containing whole or large pieces of nuts or dried fruits as they can cause dental problems or choking. Changes in eating habits may signal health problems, so monitor your pet’s intake (and output!) regularly. Hedgehogs may be resistant to sudden changes in diet. Even if you want to stop feeding a particular food to your pet, you will probably want to do it gradually, mixing a little more of the new food each day until the old food is completely gone. Starting your hedgehog off by feeding a mixture of foods can help them avoid finicky eating in their later years.
Hedgehog Health Care
Hedgehogs have special health care needs, but caring for them can be surprisingly straight forward if you are prepared. Most common hedgehog ailments such as obesity, quill loss, tattered ears, and foot injuries can be prevented through proper diet, exercise, and routine care. Some ailments or symptoms necessitate veterinary care. Before the need arises, identify a veterinarian in your area who has experience with hedgehogs. A yearly well-pet visit consisting of a normal physical exam, fecal analysis, skin scraping for mites, and dental exam is an excellent precaution. A good vet can catch many symptoms before they become emergencies. Since hedgehogs are relatively new to the domestic market, information on their proper care is rapidly changing. Keeping your hedgehog warm is also important. Since they come from an arid, hot climate, they are not used to cooler temperatures. Keep their habitat away from drafts and above 75ºF. African hedgehogs cannot adequately hibernate, and attempts to do so are life-threatening.
Socializing your hedgehog
Hedgehogs are naturally shy, cautious, and nocturnal animals but have the capacity to socialize well with proper attention and patience on the part of the new owner. Offer your hedgehog a worn t-shirt upon arriving home, making sure all loose strings have been removed as they can wrap around wee legs and cause injury. This will allow your hedgehog to become familiar with your scent. Try holding your new friend in your lap during the evening while reading or watching TV. Often he will begin exploring and allow petting and other interaction. Also consider offering a treat of some kind like a mealworm or a piece of lean cooked chicken upon waking your hedgehog to provide a positive reinforcement. Having your hedgehog habitat in a moderately trafficked area of your home is a good idea as it allows your new friend to become accustomed to the everyday sounds of humans. The key to socializing a hedgehog is patience. Remember that the huffing and rolling into a ball is out of nervousness or fear and not anger. You are unfamiliar and unknown until you have proven yourself a friend. Once this beautiful relationship has been established, the bond is genuinely affectionate and meaningful on both sides.