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09/03/08 |
      
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Dietary Concerns: Hedgehogs are insectivores in the wild. They eat a diet rich in protein and fiber. They require at least 25% protein in their primary diet. Many hedgehog foods on the market are not satisfactory proper hedgehog nutrition. We feed our hedgehogs a diet of high protein kitten food, one type of hedgehog food that is okay for them, freshly cooked chicken and chicken eggs as well as freeze dried meal worms. Do not buy the hedgehog food that Petco sells. It is no where near satisfactory for the dietary requirements that hedgehogs have. It will likely kill your hedgehog. Join us in helping to get Petco to sell food that is healthy for hedgehogs. Housing and Cleanliness: Generally speaking, cages that are good for guinea pigs can also work for hedgehogs. Our preferred cages are those that have a plastic tub for the bottom and a wire top(30" wide x 18" deep x 18" high). The variety with the shelf and ramp so that they have two levels are nice because they give them a little extra room to run. Hedgehogs should not have cages with wire bottoms. Depending on how dirty your hedgehogs are makes a difference on how often you need to clean their cages. Cleaning the cages at least once per week is preferred. Many hedgehogs sleep in a sleepy sac fleece miniature pillowcase-type nest. They can also use an igloo type plastic house. We prefer these, because they are easy to clean. Other people use wood houses for their hedgehogs but we have found that the plastic ones are easier to clean. Hedgehogs are Nocturnal: Hedgehogs are up during the night. Ours get up for the day between 8 and 10 pm. They are generally not happy to be disturbed during daylight hours. If you get a hedgehog, be prepared for that. You may need to adjust your sleeping schedule to have time to bond and spend time with you new pet. Toys: Many people have different ideas about the types of toys that hedgehogs require. All hedgehogs have different personalities and will use different toys. You may have to experiment with your personal hedgehog to see if they want to play with any toys. Ours like to run and spend time on a wheel and in a ball. The largest size that most pet stores sell of these is 13" and these are a good size for hedgies. The solid plastic wheels are the only ones that are acceptable for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are likely to break their legs in a wire wheel. Hedgehogs and People: Many people have allergies to common pets due to their hair and dander. It is unlikely that these people would be allergic to hedgehogs because hedgehogs do not have fur, they have spines. They are, therefore more of a hypoallergenic pet. There is a rumor (of which we have not been able to decipher its truth) that hedgehogs were illegal for a short time a few years ago due to a reported case of salmonella in a small child. Hedgehogs are legal now and can be purchased at some pet stores and through private breeders. The risk is miniscule as there have been very few cases on record. Hand washing is important preceding and following handling of any animal. Here are some links for other hedgehog care, etc. Check back later. We are still researching sites that give good information for hedgehog care. Please be patient with us. Our site is still in construction. Thanks!
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This site was last updated 06/01/07
