Choosing an Exotic Pet - Care of Exotic Pets

Answer: The answer to both questions is yes: hedgehogs are pretty spiky, but they can be held, especially once they are tame. When a hedgehog is calm, the quills are in a relaxed position, and the hedgehog and be held without worrying about he sharp quills. The quills tend to lay down along the back and sides, all pointing towards the back, so as long as you don't push against the sharp tips of the quills they pose no problems (don't pet a hedgehog the wrong way!).
A scared or angry hedgehog is another story, since the quills are raised and tend to point in all directions; trying to handle a hedgehog in this defensive posture is sure to be a prickly experience.
How much a hedgehog enjoys being held or cuddled is a completely different question, and depends personality of the individual hedgehog. Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be more shy or simply prefer exploring and moving about than cuddling. My hedgehog was tolerant of being held but preferred snuffling around and exploring (or finding a quiet corner of the couch for a nap) over being held. It is hard to predict the personality of an individual, though it is safe to say that with patience, almost any hedgehog can be held.

When choosing a hedgehog, there are a few things you can look for to increase your chances of bringing home a healthy hedgehog. Unfortunately, the steps here can't rule out all health problems, and health problems could develop later, but avoiding hedgehogs with some common signs of poor health is still a wise idea. Here are some things you can check quickly in a hedgehog you are considering adopting.

Here's How:

1. Learn all you can about caring for hedgehogs before you go shopping. Not only will this prepare you to be a good owner, you will be able to evaluate whether the hedgehogs you are looking at have been cared for properly. Pay close attention to what they are fed and how they are housed.
2. It can be hard to really look at hedgehogs, as they are nocturnal and tend to roll up and act defensive around new people. But usually, even if they need to be woken up (which might make them snuffle and roll up a bit at first, but usually they settle down), hedgehogs will become active for a short time. Watch the hedgehogs move around. They should be bright and curious, and not overly lethargic and sleepy. They should have a smooth gait, free of limping or wobbles.

Pokey - African Pygmy Hedgehog Photo © Julie

The Basics of Hedgehogs

• The hedgehogs commonly kept as pets in North America appear to by a mix of species, originally native to Africa. The term "African Pygmy Hedgehog" is a descriptive term (coined by breeders), rather than a true species name.
• They are considered primarily insectivores (insects make up the largest part of their natural diet).
• Their backs are covered with rows of short prickly spines and their bellies are covered with soft fur. When threatened, they roll in to a tight ball with just a mass of spines poking out. When relaxed, the spines lay almost flat.
• Thanks to selective breeding, hedgehogs are now available in a huge array of color variations.
• They are quite compact, reaching a size of around 5-8 inches in length.
• Estimates of expected life span vary widely, anywhere from 3-8 years, although 4-6 years is probably most typical.
• Illegal in some areas.
• Fairly low maintenance pets, and while they don't mind handling once used to it they don't really seem to "crave" human interaction.

Choosing a Hedgehog

• It is best to locate a reputable breeder who breeds for good temperament and makes sure young hedgehogs are handled regularly.
• Getting a young hedgehog (6-8 weeks) is the best way to make sure your hedgehog will get used to being handled.
• If possible, try to pick up the hedgehog to gauge its reaction - try to choose one that will allow itself to be picked up and maybe even turned on its back without rolling into a tight ball and staying there.

There is some debate on ideal housing for pet hedgehogs, but for any hedgehog cage, the most important considerations are size, safety, ventilation, and ease of cleaning. There are pros and cons for different types of cages, and it is important to find a cage that meets the unique requirements of hedgehogs as well as fitting your budget and preferences.

Size
Hedgehogs in the wild usually cover a lot of ground in their search for food. Pet hedgehogs need lots of room to move about too. Two square feet (e.g. 1 foot by 2 feet) is sometime quoted as the minimum floor space for a hedgehog, but this should be considered an absolute bare minimum, and only used if you have a wheel and give your hedgehog ample time to roam around outside the cage for exercise. It would be much better to aim for a minimum of about four square feet (e.g. 2 feet by 2 feet).

Safety
A hedgehog cage needs to have a solid floor, so avoid any cages with wire or wire mesh flooring (hedgehogs may catch and injure their legs or feet on wire floors). Cages should not have any sharp edges or spaces in which a hedgehog could get his or her head stuck. The cage must also be secure to prevent escapes.

Ventilation
Good ventilation is necessary to keep humidity levels down and to prevent ammonia (from urine) and odor from building up in the cage. Wire cages offer the best ventilation.

Ease of Cleaning
This one is fairly self-explanaorty, but do not underestimate its importance. Your hedgehog's cage will need frequent cleaning, and a large, heavy or awkward cage will make this chore very unpleasant.

Wire Cages
Many owners use wire cages since they are quite readily available and these have the the advantage of good ventilation. In addition, they are usually pretty lightweight and easy to clean. However, few are made specifically for hedgehogs so you need to be very particular when choosing a cage. Avoid any cages with wire flooring (or if absolutely necessary, cover the wire with wood, plastic, or a Vellux blanket cut to fit securely). Additionally, cages large enough for hedgehogs might have wire spacing that is too large for safely housing hedgehogs (look for ferret or rabbit cages with spacing of 1 inch or less). There are a couple of manufacturers producing wire cages particularly for hedgehogs: Martin's Cages (choose from the larger ones - the Hedgehog Home is very small) and Hedgehogs by Vicki. Some people recommend multilevel ferret cages, but the height of these cages and the platforms make me nervous about falls (from the platforms or from climbing the sides of the cages).

Aquariums
Aquariums are okay, but you need a large aquarium (i.e. 30 gallon is a good minimum) and a wire mesh top. The major disadvantages are the lack of ventilation, and aquariums are heavy and awkward to clean.

Plastic Containers
Many owners have gotten quite creative with creating cages out of plastic storage bins. With some slight modifications, you can make a large cage for little money out of clear plastic storage containers (solid color containers would be quite dark for a hedgehog). The biggest downside is again ventilation. Holes can be made in the sides and lid with a soldering iron or drill, but it is difficult to provide enough holes to provide great ventilation. If you get a deep enough container and don't have anything (including water bottles) around the walls that the hedgehog can use for climbing, you may be able to get away with having no lid. Alternatively, you can fashion a lid out of hardware wire mesh or screen material, either on its own, or attached to a large opening cut in the lid of the storage container. The Michigan Hedgehog Owners Group site has an ingenious idea for a two-container home with instructions. Hedgehog Valley suggests cutting panels in the sides of the container and fixing wire mesh or plastic canvas over the openings to aid ventilation in this type of home. With creativity, these homes can work quite well.

Other Options
I have seen other ideas for cages, such as wading pools (solid plastic with high sides) and home-made wooden cages. As long as a cage is large enough, escape proof and safe, ventilated and easy to clean, then your imagination is the limit.

Here's How:

1. Get a small plastic tub for a container. Inexpensive clear containers with vented snap on lids are available at pet stores.
2. Place 1-2 inches of substrate (which mealworms will eat) in bottom. Use bran, oats or a mixture of the two.
3. Place 1/2 a potato on substrate or in a small dish (supplies moisture and food).
4. Get around 2 dozen mealworms from the pet store.
5. Place mealworms in container, which should be kept relatively warm.