Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are such sweet, timid little animals, but they really come alive when they're socialized properly. Any hedgehog owner will tell you that they love to hear their owners' voices and see their faces, and they're so interactive!

While they can make wonderful pets in the right circumstances, they might not be the right choice for everyone. Before you get a hedgehog, it's a great idea to learn as much as you can about them. That way, you can be sure that these fascinating creatures are right for you.

Where Do Hedgehogs Live?

The wild hedgehog is a truly global animal, native to Africa, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand. They're not originally from the U.S., but they've become some of the most popular pets here! The majority of North American hedgehog pets have been bred from African species and are considered domesticated. They're usually called African pygmy hedgehogs. With the right cage set-up and environment, these adorable animals can thrive in captivity and be great fun and social pets.

Who Should Have a Hedgehog?

Hedgehogs are adorable little creatures, and like porcupines, they have a skin covering over their backs that is covered with prickly quills. These quills help protect them from predators. But here's where hedgehogs are different from porcupines. They can't shoot their quills out in defense. Their quills can be a little tricky to hold, so these animals might not be the best for families with very young children or for individuals with very sensitive skin. Just hold them in a small towel until they relax, and they'll be as good as new!

Hedgehogs are absolutely wonderful for people who have the time to handle their pet every day and socialize it. They're perfectly happy living by themselves, and they don't need to be kept with other hedgehogs. But they still love to get out of their cages at least once a day to stretch their little spines and play with their friends!

Hedgehogs are so shy! They use their strong back muscles to roll up tightly into a ball, hiding their faces and making their spiny quills point outwards so that predators can’t see their faces or limbs. If they feel scared or in danger, they'll stay nice and safe by rolling up into a little ball. To help your hedgehog feel more at ease, it's a great idea to take them out of their cage every day when they're young. This will help them get used to being handled and to feel less afraid of people. This will also help them to be less scared and to stop balling up!

If you're someone who doesn't sleep well and gets easily disturbed by your pet running around in a wheel at night, a hedgehog might be the perfect pet for you! They're nocturnal, so they'll be most active at night, and they're great company for anyone who loves animals and likes to cuddle up with them at night. They may even sleep for several hours during the day, which makes them the perfect pet for anyone who wants to play and interact with their furry friend in the evening.

Do Hedgehogs Bite?

Hedgehogs are sweet, adorable creatures that can have up to 44 teeth! They don't typically bite, but they're still pretty strong. If a hedgehog is feeling scared or frightened, they will roll up into a little ball before they bite anyone. If a hedgehog does bite, it's probably because they're feeling a bit annoyed, in pain, or startled. But don't worry, they're unlikely to attack and try to bite anything.

How Do I Care for a Hedgehog?

Hedgehogs need a safe and secure home, so it's important to make sure their cage is escape-proof. It's important to make sure the cage is as big as possible. Something like a wire enclosure for guinea pigs would be great! Just make sure the floor is solid, so the hedgehog's little feet don't get caught. You can line the cage with newspaper or other paper-based bedding. We don't recommend using wood shavings or other types of litter meant for cats, as they can be dusty and indigestible if eaten. This can lead to potential gastrointestinal obstruction, so it's best to avoid them. Hedgehogs can be trained to use small litter boxes, which should also be lined with a paper-based litter and placed in the corner of the cage.

Hedgehogs just love their food! Make sure you give them a nice, heavy bowl for their pellets and a smaller bowl for insects. Some hedgehogs like to drink from a water bottle that is attached to their cage, while others prefer a bowl.

All hedgehogs deserve a safe and cozy home! Make sure to provide them with a smooth-sided wheel to run in (no wire wheels, please!), as well as a hiding spot. A great option is an upside-down wooden box with a cut-out door or a plastic “igloo” for rodents, which you can find in most pet stores.

It's really important to keep your hedgehogs' cages clean! They should be spot-cleaned daily to keep them free of fecal contamination and leftover food debris. And at least once a week, you should thoroughly clean their cages by removing all of the bedding and replacing it with fresh bedding. It's important to remember to give your hedgehogs fresh food and water every day.

Hedgehogs are such sweeties, but they can get a little chubby. So, it's really important to make sure they get plenty of exercise every day. It's also important to make sure they have plenty of mental stimulation in their cages.

What Do Hedgehogs Eat?

Hedgehogs are insectivores, which means they love to eat insects! But they're not just insects, either. In fact, wild hedgehogs will eat all kinds of food, including mollusks (snails and worms), amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds’ eggs, fish, carrion, mushrooms, roots, berries, and melons.

Our lovely domesticated pet hedgehogs should be fed a special pelleted formula made just for them. They also need a little extra love in the form of insects (mealworms, crickets, earthworms, waxworms) and a small amount of fruits and vegetables, such as beans, peas, corn, apples, and carrots.

Hedgehogs are so fond of catching live prey that they might not eat other foods if they're given too many live insects. It's best to give them a variety of foods to choose from. This can lead to an unbalanced diet, which can cause the hedgehog to become overweight.

Symptoms of Mites in Hedgehogs

It's totally normal not to notice any signs of mites in your hedgehog when the problem is in the early stages. Especially since your pet is covered in quills that can hide any trouble! But don't worry! Mites might be crawling all over your hedgehog's face and ears, and you might even be able to see them.