Connecticut Hedgehogs-How to care for your hedgehog

Connecticut Hedgehogs

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How to care for your hedgehog

When you decide to get a hedgehog, it is important to direct any questions to your breeder. Your breeder knows your hedgehog the best and will be a great source of information on husbandry and care.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact Ann at Connecticut Hedgehogs if you have questions you do not see answered here.

Enclosure

You will need a cage or other secure enclosure for your hedgehog. A cage should be solid bottom to prevent foot injury. We prefer plastic over metal or aquariums, as it is lightweight and easy to clean. Sterilite® or Rubbermaid® bins of 90+ quart size are inexpensive alternatives to traditional cages. You can also make a C&C (cube & coroplast) cage.

Single level cages are better for hedgehogs than multiple level cages. A lot of hedgehogs will not use more than one level, so the best use of space and money is with a single level cage in most cases.

You will want the largest cage that you can afford and have the space for. Check the height to make sure that your wheel will fit in easily. A cage of at least 2 feet by 2 feet is recommended.

Some hedgehogs can be escape artists. A hedgehog can climb a water bottle or igloo and escape through the top of an enclosure without a top or lid.

Temperature

Our domestically bred African pygmy hedgehogs are descended from those who lived in Africa so they like it to be warm. A temperature between 70º F and 80ºF is required. Different hedgehogs have different temperature tolerances. Some will be fine at 70º while others will be too cool at 75º. In addition, hedgehogs do not tolerate swings in temperature well so a thermometer near the cage area is recommended to monitor temperature.

If your hedgehog gets too cool, it will try to hibernate. This is not good for the health of your hedgehog. You should have some sort of supplemental heating available before your hedgehog needs it. This can be a human heat pad set to low (without auto shut off), a space heater, a hermit crab or very small reptile heat pad with feet under the cage, or a microwaveable heat disc.

Bedding

Hedgehogs love to burrow. By using bedding, you are providing them with an environment that they will enjoy. In addition, bedding is sanitary as it is discarded and replaced. Recycled paper such as Carefresh®or Yesterday’s News®, aspen or kiln dried pine bedding are all suitable for hedgehogs. Cedar should never be used as it gives off fumes that can be harmful.

Bedding should be spot cleaned and refreshed every day or two as needed and a complete change of bedding should be done every week.

Some people use cloth liners for their hedgehog cages. The cloth should be a string free type such as fleece so that hedgie nails and feet do not get caught. Liners should be changed as often as needed-usually every couple of days and cleaned and disinfected thoroughly before re-use.

Food

Hedgehogs are insectivores in the wild. That means that their main diet is insects, and at times of the year when no insects can be found, they will forage for other foods.

For our domesticated hedgehogs, a high protein low-fat diet seems to best accommodate their needs considering they are not hunting for food and are not getting the same type of exercise.

The base diet should consist of a mix of high protein, low-fat cat and kitten foods. Once they are established on their base diet, treats can be added in the form of live or freeze dried insects. Mealworms are a particular favorite of most hedgehogs. Other treats such as cooked chicken also may go over well.

Note that any change in diet can result in stomach upset to a hedgehog and may result in off color or green poop. Any diet changes should be done gradually.

If your hedgehog is a normal weight, you can give them a few more pieces of kibble than they will eat in a day to make sure they have enough food. A weighted dish should be used because some will try to knock their food over and this will make for easier cleanup.

Water

Water should be freely available at all times. You should check everyday to make sure that your hedgehog has had water and change the water everyday.

A hedgehog can use either a water bottle or a weighted water dish. Some hedgehogs prefer dishes to bottles or one type of bottle over another. If you find your hedgehog is not drinking, you may have to make a change.

Fun and games

Hedgehogs love to run. An exercise wheel in their cage is a must. An 11 or 12 inch diameter solid surfaced wheel will get a lot of use every night. The wheel will need to be cleaned every day or two.

Toys such as solid cat balls, empty boxes and toilet paper tubes are also enjoyed by some hedgehogs.

For out of cage time, you can use an exercise pen, a kiddie wading pool or let them roam in a supervised play session.

Sleep

Hedgehogs are naturally nocturnal. This means that they sleep during the day and are awake at night. You can wake your hedgehog up during the day, but some hedgehogs will be understandably grumpy when you first wake them up. Most of their activity will be at night and they will sleep most of the day.

Your hedgehog will want a hiding spot to sleep in. This can be a plastic igloo or hut, or cloth sleeping bags.

Bathing

Most often, hedgehogs will get their feet are dirty from running on their wheel. If you put a small amount of water in a basin or sink and let them run in it, that will clean their feet.

Other than foot baths, don’t overdo the bathing as hedgehogs are prone to dry skin. Even a bath in plain water will dry the skin out. If your hedgehog has made a mess of himself, a bath with a few drops of baby shampoo and a toothbrush to clean the quills will take care of most messes.

If your hedgehog has dry skin or is quilling and needs some itch relief, an oatmeal bath with 100% colloidal oatmeal packets will soothe the skin. It is available in drugstores with other itch relief products. Olive oil in the bath or between the quills can also help.

Companionship

The only friend your hedgehog needs is you. Hedgehogs are solitary in the wild and they do not need another hedgehog to keep them company. They will do fine as a solitary animal.

If you do want to keep more than one hedgehog, two females can enjoy living together if you double up on things like food bowls and wheels. You will still want to have two separate cages in case one hedgehog gets ill or if they do not get along well and need to be separated.

Two males cannot be housed together because most of the time they will fight and can fight to the death. Unless you are a hedgehog breeder, you do not want to have a male and female together at any time.

Veterinary visits

A well pet visit at least once a year is recommended. Some vets will recommend twice a year. It is to your advantage to have a vet see your hedgehog for these well visits so that a relationship is established in case you need it on an emergency basis. Hedgehogs do not need any routine vaccinations like dogs and cats do. Preventative spaying and neutering is also not required.

Litter training

You can try to litter train your hedgehog, but don’t feel bad if they do not take to it. A lot of hedgehogs don’t. If they have a favorite corner that they use to eliminate, you can put a litter tray there. Since most will poop on the wheel, a tray under the wheel is also an option. Do not use clay or clumping cat litter in a litter pan as it is dusty and can get caught in quills and other body parts. A small animal litter or bedding is a better choice.

Clipping nails

Human baby nail clippers or small scissors can be used to trim the hedgehog’s nails. Check your hedgehog’s nails on a regular basis to make sure that they are not too long. Long nails can curl under and interfere with walking. The quick (the red part of the nail) will also grow as the nail grows making it harder to keep the nails short if they do get too long. If the hedgehog does not like having their nails clipped, a short session every day or two may be easier than trying to clip all the nails at once. A foot bath to soften the nails before clipping will make the nails easier to cut.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact Ann at Connecticut Hedgehogs if you have questions you do not see answered here.

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