Sarah Hand
Callahan, Florida 32011
sstjwjh@aol.com
Callahan, Florida 32011
sstjwjh@aol.com
| hedgehog_care_sheet.pdf |
FAQ
What is a hedgehog?
The most common domesticated hedgehog is the African Pygmy Hedgehog. They're a hybrid between a white-bellied (or four-toed) hedgehog and/or the Algerian hedgehog. Hedgehogs are easy to spot thanks to their compact size (usually reaching 5 to 8 inches in length), the thousands of quills covering their backside (5,000 to 7,000 on an adult hedgehog), their pointy noses and soft, fur-covered bellies. Thanks to selective breeding there are many colors available now. The first hedgehogs were imported to the United States in the 1980's and in 1992 there was a ban placed on importing any new hedgehogs from outside of the country due to the chance Foot and Mouth disease may be contracted, imported. Hedgehogs do not naturally have this disease so the current hedgehogs were allowed to stay and flourish under the careful and precise breeding practices done by the United States breeders.
What is the difference between a male and female hedgehog?
There are no temperament differences between a male and a female. One does
not stink more then then other. Only thing different is the gender. Females do
not go in heat and Males do not mark.
Should I get 2 so they have a play mate?
Hedgehogs are solitaire animals and prefer to be alone. Housing 2 together can cause loss of eyes or other injuries.
Why is my hedgehog foaming out the mouth?
Hedgehogs will anoint when they have tasted something they like and then
make a foam and lick it to their backs. Its really fun to watch and not harmful
to the hedgehog.
Do hedgehogs bite?
Anything with teeth can bite. Most hedgehogs rarely bite out of meanness. He
is licking because you have something on you that smells yummy and he may nip
you to test it out. Try not to switch your soaps often this includes, Shampoo,
body washes, lotions and hand wash. After you are done eating be sure to wash
your hands. Smokers tend to get bite more often.
Are hedgehogs good pets for all ages?
No, Although there are some
exceptions to this rule. If you have a mature child who is not scared easily
then I would recommend getting a baby. Adult hedgehogs are usually set in their ways. Hedgehogs carry salmonella so children that stick their hands in their mouths may not be a good fit.
Do they shoot their quills like porcupines?
No, they do however shed quills while they are a baby and grow in new adult
quills. The adult quills typically do not fall out.
How long does a hedgehog live?
Average 3-5yrs but I have heard of some living as long as 10 years but
this is very rare.
What temperature should a hedgehog be kept in?
74 to 80 degrees
How much is the deposit and how do I get the money to you?
The deposit varies which is non refundable. I also accept paypal and credit/debit card payments through this website, cash only at time of pickup. Price depends on sex and color.
Can a Hedgehog be litter trained?
Yes, When you do train them. While they can be litter trained in a cage, they
will not really use a litter pan if you let them outside of the cage. I do not litter train my hedgehogs.
Do hedgehogs need vaccines?
No they do not.
Can a hedgehog give me salmonella?
Any pet can carry salmonella. The hedgehog is no different. Anytime you hold
your hedgehog be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you have placed him
back in his cage.
Are hedgehogs quills Sharp?
Yes, Their quills are like tooth picks. They typically don't puncture your
skin but if they hit you just right it is possible.
How often do they go through quillings?
It happens off and on til they are 6 months old. There is not set time frame
they go thru it.
Why does my hedgehog sleep all day?
Hedgehogs are nocturnal. So they sleep during the day
Do hedgehogs need a bath?
Yes, but not often. Only when needed.
What do hedgehogs eat?
They eat cat food high protein low fat.
Is a hedgehog a good classroom pet?
Yes and no, Depending on your classroom, Hedgehogs are nocturnal so need to sleep during the day, although some handling during the day is ok, a loud classroom can cause the hedgehog disruption in sleep. Temperature needs to be controlled. The teacher needs to take full responsibility for the hedgehog and take home on weekends and holidays to ensure temperature and care is taken care of and most importantly medical care. Hedgehogs can get some fungal diseases from kids like ringworm, please teach your kids good hygiene washing hands before and after handling. Never leave the hedgehog unattended with the children as it can be very vulnerable to abuse (being thrown or dropped) I do not offer discounts to teachers. Hedgehogs make great pets to visit the classroom but in my opinion not live there all year long.
What should I expect the first few weeks home with my new hedgehog?
Diarrhea/Green Stool:
It is common, if not standard, for hedgehogs to get diarrhea, green, mucous, and all around yucky stool during their first week in a new environment. This is generally caused by stress and sudden diet changes and can happen throughout the hedgehogs life. What you can do is avoid any changes in your hedgehog’s diet the first week home. Try to make sure your hedgehog’s environment is as stress free as possible by reducing loud noise, handling,
etc. What to watch for is blood in stool may indicate serious bowel disturbances. Blood may appear red or black, not to be confused with the normal dark brown of hedgehog feces. It is in your hedgehog’s best interest to be seen by a veterinarian immediately if blood is found in the stool.
Sleeping
It is very normal for hedgehogs, especially young hedgehogs, to sleep a lot. You must remember that they are nocturnal and like newborn babies, they do require a lot of rest. What you can do is make play time rewarding. Like humans, hedgehogs may not like being woken up out of a sound sleep. Wake them up slowly and quietly and allow them to realize what is going on. Offer them a treat for the inconvenience. This is a great time for them to get their fiber from a mealworm or a cricket. What to watch for is if your hedgehog does not seem to wake up “normally”, look for these things is a cold belly, “wobbling” after the initial few steps, or any kind of “out of it” reaction. This may indicate a hibernation attempt that must be addressed immediately! (A hedgehog wobbles if anything is wrong with it, such as temperature, dehydration, an illness, so do not automatically assume Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome and worry.) If your hedgehog is experiencing any of these symptoms, please start slowly warming your hedgehog by holding them on your skin under your shirt and contact your breeder and veterinarian immediately. DO NOT try to warm them up quickly! If your hedgehog has not been eating or drinking and is experiencing these symptoms, you should also contact your veterinarian for further analysis and instruction. Finally, keep in mind if they are cold then their digestive tract has slowed down and they should not be force fed anything.
Behavioral
It is common for hedgehogs to go through grumpy periods. Like humans, they have their good days and their bad days. Stress, quilling, diet changes, and illness can all play a part in your hedgehog’s behavior and mood. Most babies will be very huffy during their first two weeks in their new environment. They may quill up, pop at you, make huffing noises, and although it is rare, some may even bite if agitated enough. This is not to be confused with “tasting”. Many hedgehogs will “taste” you because they do not know who or even what you are. When a hedgehog “tastes” you, they are usually fairly calm. They may first begin by licking and follow with a bite and reasonably quick release. This will often be followed by an episode of self-anointing. They will cover themselves in a frothy spit and then may return
to have a second go at whatever it was they just tasted. This is not a behavioral problem and will continue throughout the hedgehogs life when they encounter something a new smell or taste that they enjoy. What you can do: Try to keep their environment as stress free as possible by reducing loud noises. How often you handle your hedgehog really depends on their personality. We do not suggest leaving a cranky hedgehog alone simply because they are cranky. They must learn to trust you and will not be able to do so if they are never handled. Quilling will often lead to a very
cranky hedgie. Putting a few drops of olive oil or vitamin e oil on the hedgehog’s skin will relieve some of their discomfort and help prevent them from scratching; therefore preventing any related skin infection. Hedgehog
“tasting” and biting is often brought on by new scents; hand lotions, soaps, perfume, food, and cigarette smoke are only a few of the things that may cause this. Hedgehogs seem to be particularly sensitive to smoke and many will
experience personality changes that reverse themselves once the hedgehog is removed from a home where their owners smoke indoors. What to watch for is sudden mood swings can be brought on by illness and pain. It is important to monitor the other aspects of your hedgehog’s behavior and note any sudden changes in bowel movements, sleeping patterns, or eating and drinking habits. If something in your hedgehog’s behavior seems “off”, please contact your veterinarian for further advice.
Not always do I have what your looking for as far as color goes. I don't list all my babies I have on here so if your looking for a special colored baby please text me. Below is the most common colors I have
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#1 Dark Faced Pinto
Will have more dark than white and a dark face. |
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#2 White Faced Pinto (reverse) Will have more white than dark on the body too.
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#3 dark body & dark face, as you see this one has white quills mixed in some call it snowflakes. I will never have a solid dark all will have a few white quills mixed in
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#4 Brown Variety
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#5 Albino can have ruby red eyes(they kind of look dark) and the bright red eyes I get these frequently
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#6 Special features:
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