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Hedgehog FAQ
Welcome to the world of the pet African Pygmy Hedgehog! So, you’ve been thinking of getting a hedgehog.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on basic care.
What supplies do I need for my hedgehog?
The main necessities for owning a hedgehog are a decent sized cage, method of heating, bedding (liners or shavings), exercise wheel, food and water dish, and food.
What gender is my hedgehog?
Hedgehogs are easy to sex. Males have a prominent "belly button" (the penile sheath) located about half way up the abdomen, where as females do not. Both genders have nipples, so that can’t be used to help find your pet’s gender.
Are there differences between genders?
Besides anatomical differences, male and female hedgies are pretty much the same. Each individual hedgehog has its own personality. No particular gender is a better pet. Males also do not produce as strong of an odor as females do.
How do I pick up my hedgie?
The best way to pick up a hedgie is to scoop him/her up with both hands under the belly, like a cradle. If the hedgie balls up quickly or already is in a ball, the best way to pick him up would be to use your hand or a blanket to roll him into your hands or the blanket.
My hedgehog hates me. How do I get him to like me?
No hedgehog hates humans. They may be scared, or angry, or have had a bad experience, or even may be quilling. The first thing to do to get a hedgie comfortable around you is to put a worn shirt that smells like you in their cage to sleep with (make sure it has no loose strings). If you’ve just gotten your hedgie, let it settle into its new home before handling too much. Then, you can start off by placing hedgie in a blanket in your lap. Usually quiet, dark rooms will help them relax. You can gradually build up handling time from there. Also, new smells (such as other animals) may frighten your hedgie. Make sure you wash your hands before handling, as hedgie may not recognize you if you smell like a big scary dog.
My hedgehog is losing lots of quills. What does this mean?
Your hedgie most likely is quilling or has mites. If you know your hedgie is over a year old, it is most likely mites, or another insect/fungus related disease. Very flaky skin and bald spots indicate mites or a fungus. A vet can diagnose and treat mites. Quilling is perfectly healthy and all hedgies do it. They basically are shedding baby quills and getting adult ones, and is sometimes compared to human baby teething. It occurs at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and sometimes again at a year. Your hedgie will most likely be a bit more temperamental and uncomfortable. You wouldn’t like needles poking through your skin either! A warm oatmeal bath helps, and make sure you are extra gentle.
My hedgie is foaming at the mouth and spreading on his/her quills! Does he/she have rabies?
Nope! This is called "self-anointing". No one knows why they do it, but it has been compared to "anting", a behavior done by some birds. When a hedgie finds a new smell, or one they just like, they will froth at the mouth, contort themselves, and spread the saliva mix on their quills. Some hedgies do this often, some, never at all. Hedgies especially like to do this with new food and I've also seen them do it with new bedding. Be careful if you are feeding strawberries or something similar, you may end up with a pink hedgehog!
How do I trim my hedgehog’s nails?
Nail trimming can be a challenge. If you have a well-behaved hedgie, you should be able to simply grab each foot and cut the nails. This can be done when hedgie is on his back, standing, however you find comfortable. Many hedgies don’t like nail-trimming time, and will ball up. The best thing to try is to give his a warm bath, because they can’t ball up in water. You should be able to grab each foot and trim from there. If you can’t finish all the nails, don’t worry! You got this far and just try getting the rest later. Knowing how far to cut can be a bit difficult as well. You should be able to see the small pink blood vessel (the quick) in the nail. You want to cut just after that. Be careful not to cut too close, you may cut the quick, which is extremely painful, or put pressure on it, which hurts as well. However if this does happen do not panic best thing to do is stay calm and take a piece of toilet paper or a paper towel and just hold it gently on their foot you can also dip their foot in flour to stop the bleeding.
How do I give my hedgehog a bath?
Hedgies don’t need baths very often, but do get dirty feet from running on their wheel. If this is the case, a foot bath is better than a whole bath. To give a foot bath, simply run an inch or 2 of warm (not hot) water in the sink or tub, and let hedgie walk around. This will loosen and wash off the residue. To give a whole bath is only a bit different. Fill the sink or tub with warm water to about belly level, so they can wade but do not have to swim. Gently pour the water over hedgie, and lather some soap on the fur and quills. Recommended soaps would be Aveeno Baby Creamy Oatmeal Wash (this is what i use) or any unscented colloidal oatmeal product (the oatmeal is good for their skin). Remember that there shouldn’t be any drafts in the bathing area, and you should completely dry the hedgie before returning him to his cage.
My hedgie is lethargic and unresponsive, and has a cool tummy. What’s wrong?
Your hedgie is most likely beginning hibernation, which is very dangerous and can be fatal. Warm up your hedgie ASAP and keep the heat at least at 75* F.
What should I use for heating my hedgie’s cage?
There are many ways to heat your hedgie’s cage. You could use a heating pad or a heat lamp with no light or even just keep the air temperature at a good temp. There area should always be 73-76 degrees F.
What temperature should my hedgie be kept in?
Proper temperature would be 73-76 degrees F. This needs to be consistent around the year.
My hedgie’s got a bald spot on his head! What’s wrong?
Nothing is wrong! This is called a "reverse mohawk". There are no quills there because there are muscles which help the hedgie roll into a ball.
Should I use a water bottle or a dish?
There is much debate over whether a dish or bottle is better for a hedgie (I use dishes with all of my hedgies). Here are some of the arguments on both sides.
Dish-
Pros: Natural drinking position, hedgie will drink more than if using a bottle, no dangers from cut tongues or chipped teeth.
Cons: If you are using shavings or a paper product, hedgie might dirty the bowl.
Bottle-
Pros: Water stays clean.
Cons: Drinking from a bottle is an awkward position for a hedgie and may be uncomfortable. The nozzle of a bottle can cut a hedgie’s tongue, and chewing on it to dispense water can chip teeth.
Does my hedgie need light?
Hedgies need light daily to help keep their internal schedules in order. Natural or artificial light 12-14 hours a day. This should be consistent and start and end the same time every day.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions on basic care.
What supplies do I need for my hedgehog?
The main necessities for owning a hedgehog are a decent sized cage, method of heating, bedding (liners or shavings), exercise wheel, food and water dish, and food.
What gender is my hedgehog?
Hedgehogs are easy to sex. Males have a prominent "belly button" (the penile sheath) located about half way up the abdomen, where as females do not. Both genders have nipples, so that can’t be used to help find your pet’s gender.
Are there differences between genders?
Besides anatomical differences, male and female hedgies are pretty much the same. Each individual hedgehog has its own personality. No particular gender is a better pet. Males also do not produce as strong of an odor as females do.
How do I pick up my hedgie?
The best way to pick up a hedgie is to scoop him/her up with both hands under the belly, like a cradle. If the hedgie balls up quickly or already is in a ball, the best way to pick him up would be to use your hand or a blanket to roll him into your hands or the blanket.
My hedgehog hates me. How do I get him to like me?
No hedgehog hates humans. They may be scared, or angry, or have had a bad experience, or even may be quilling. The first thing to do to get a hedgie comfortable around you is to put a worn shirt that smells like you in their cage to sleep with (make sure it has no loose strings). If you’ve just gotten your hedgie, let it settle into its new home before handling too much. Then, you can start off by placing hedgie in a blanket in your lap. Usually quiet, dark rooms will help them relax. You can gradually build up handling time from there. Also, new smells (such as other animals) may frighten your hedgie. Make sure you wash your hands before handling, as hedgie may not recognize you if you smell like a big scary dog.
My hedgehog is losing lots of quills. What does this mean?
Your hedgie most likely is quilling or has mites. If you know your hedgie is over a year old, it is most likely mites, or another insect/fungus related disease. Very flaky skin and bald spots indicate mites or a fungus. A vet can diagnose and treat mites. Quilling is perfectly healthy and all hedgies do it. They basically are shedding baby quills and getting adult ones, and is sometimes compared to human baby teething. It occurs at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and sometimes again at a year. Your hedgie will most likely be a bit more temperamental and uncomfortable. You wouldn’t like needles poking through your skin either! A warm oatmeal bath helps, and make sure you are extra gentle.
My hedgie is foaming at the mouth and spreading on his/her quills! Does he/she have rabies?
Nope! This is called "self-anointing". No one knows why they do it, but it has been compared to "anting", a behavior done by some birds. When a hedgie finds a new smell, or one they just like, they will froth at the mouth, contort themselves, and spread the saliva mix on their quills. Some hedgies do this often, some, never at all. Hedgies especially like to do this with new food and I've also seen them do it with new bedding. Be careful if you are feeding strawberries or something similar, you may end up with a pink hedgehog!
How do I trim my hedgehog’s nails?
Nail trimming can be a challenge. If you have a well-behaved hedgie, you should be able to simply grab each foot and cut the nails. This can be done when hedgie is on his back, standing, however you find comfortable. Many hedgies don’t like nail-trimming time, and will ball up. The best thing to try is to give his a warm bath, because they can’t ball up in water. You should be able to grab each foot and trim from there. If you can’t finish all the nails, don’t worry! You got this far and just try getting the rest later. Knowing how far to cut can be a bit difficult as well. You should be able to see the small pink blood vessel (the quick) in the nail. You want to cut just after that. Be careful not to cut too close, you may cut the quick, which is extremely painful, or put pressure on it, which hurts as well. However if this does happen do not panic best thing to do is stay calm and take a piece of toilet paper or a paper towel and just hold it gently on their foot you can also dip their foot in flour to stop the bleeding.
How do I give my hedgehog a bath?
Hedgies don’t need baths very often, but do get dirty feet from running on their wheel. If this is the case, a foot bath is better than a whole bath. To give a foot bath, simply run an inch or 2 of warm (not hot) water in the sink or tub, and let hedgie walk around. This will loosen and wash off the residue. To give a whole bath is only a bit different. Fill the sink or tub with warm water to about belly level, so they can wade but do not have to swim. Gently pour the water over hedgie, and lather some soap on the fur and quills. Recommended soaps would be Aveeno Baby Creamy Oatmeal Wash (this is what i use) or any unscented colloidal oatmeal product (the oatmeal is good for their skin). Remember that there shouldn’t be any drafts in the bathing area, and you should completely dry the hedgie before returning him to his cage.
My hedgie is lethargic and unresponsive, and has a cool tummy. What’s wrong?
Your hedgie is most likely beginning hibernation, which is very dangerous and can be fatal. Warm up your hedgie ASAP and keep the heat at least at 75* F.
What should I use for heating my hedgie’s cage?
There are many ways to heat your hedgie’s cage. You could use a heating pad or a heat lamp with no light or even just keep the air temperature at a good temp. There area should always be 73-76 degrees F.
What temperature should my hedgie be kept in?
Proper temperature would be 73-76 degrees F. This needs to be consistent around the year.
My hedgie’s got a bald spot on his head! What’s wrong?
Nothing is wrong! This is called a "reverse mohawk". There are no quills there because there are muscles which help the hedgie roll into a ball.
Should I use a water bottle or a dish?
There is much debate over whether a dish or bottle is better for a hedgie (I use dishes with all of my hedgies). Here are some of the arguments on both sides.
Dish-
Pros: Natural drinking position, hedgie will drink more than if using a bottle, no dangers from cut tongues or chipped teeth.
Cons: If you are using shavings or a paper product, hedgie might dirty the bowl.
Bottle-
Pros: Water stays clean.
Cons: Drinking from a bottle is an awkward position for a hedgie and may be uncomfortable. The nozzle of a bottle can cut a hedgie’s tongue, and chewing on it to dispense water can chip teeth.
Does my hedgie need light?
Hedgies need light daily to help keep their internal schedules in order. Natural or artificial light 12-14 hours a day. This should be consistent and start and end the same time every day.