Hedgehog Care
Housing: There are several different opinions on the best type of housing for hedgehogs. I prefer to use SuperPet small animal cages purchased at PetsMart or Petco, or any other small animal cage. Other housing options include rubbermaid containers or aquariums. Please note that hedgehogs are very good clmbers, and given the opportunity, can become quite the escape artists. No matter which housing option you prefer, be sure that your enclosure has a lid that allows adequate ventilation.
A very important factor to consider when preparing your home for a hedgie is cage placement and temperature. You do not want to place your hedgie in constant, direct sunlight, and you definitely want to keep your hedgehog out of drafty areas. Hedgehogs require warmer temperatures, between 72 to 80 degrees. A cold hedgehog can be a grumpy hedgehog! Additionally, if a hedgie remains too cold for an extended period of time they may try to hibernate which is potentially fatal.
Bedding: As with housing, there are a variety of appropriate bedding choices for hedgehogs, such as wood shavings, corn cob pellets, recycled newspaper such as Yesterday's News, CareFresh, etc. My research has failed to identify a clear winner for the "best" option, rather individuals' personal preferences. However, cedar shavings were consistently noted as being harmful to hedgehogs. My personal preference is kiln-dried pine shavings.
Food: Hedgies that spend their days at Hawkeye Hedgies are fed a mixture of Spike's Delite Premium Hedgehog Food and Purina One Chicken and Rice cat food. There are a variety of commercial hedgehog foods on the market that can be purchased at petstores.
The dry food being offered as a staple, the hedgies are also offered a variety of fruits and/or vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and live or freeze-dried mealworms a couple of times per week. Hedgies can be picky eaters so be sure to offer new treats a few times before determining your hedgehog doesn't like something.
Accessories: The most important accessory your hedgehog will require is a water bottle. Although some hedgehog owners and/or breeders prefer to use water bowls, I have found that I personally prefer the water bottle. Bowls are very easily spilled and usually end up full of bedding materials. Another important accessory for your hedgehog's home is a running wheel. Be sure to purchase a wheel that has a solid floor as hedgehogs can get their toes or nails caught in wheels with mesh-type flooring. Last, but certainly not least, on the important accessory list is a hiding hut. Hedgehogs will spend the majority of the day in their little hut sleeping, so be sure to provide a place for your hedgie to hide and sleep.
Veterinary Care: Although hedgehogs do not require routine veterinary care such as yearly shots, that does not mean that your hedgehog will never need to see a vet. Like all of us, hedgehogs can get sick or injured and may require a trip to the vet. A yearly well-pet visit is recommended.
Please note, not all veterinarians have experience with hedgehogs as they are considered exotic animals. Before bringing your new pet home, I would recommend locating a vet in your area that has knowledge and experience with hedgehogs in the event that you have an emergency. I recommend All Pets Veterinary Hospital, 611 West Street, Grinnell, Iowa, 641-236-6869, or Oaks Veterinary Clinic, 2030 27th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 515-279-3654.
Special Thanks: I would like to offer my special thanks to Shannon Orth of Dreamflower Meadows (dreamflowermeadows.com) for sharing her exceptional knowledge of hedgehogs and mentoring me in my goal to breed healthy, well-socialized hedgehogs.
A very important factor to consider when preparing your home for a hedgie is cage placement and temperature. You do not want to place your hedgie in constant, direct sunlight, and you definitely want to keep your hedgehog out of drafty areas. Hedgehogs require warmer temperatures, between 72 to 80 degrees. A cold hedgehog can be a grumpy hedgehog! Additionally, if a hedgie remains too cold for an extended period of time they may try to hibernate which is potentially fatal.
Bedding: As with housing, there are a variety of appropriate bedding choices for hedgehogs, such as wood shavings, corn cob pellets, recycled newspaper such as Yesterday's News, CareFresh, etc. My research has failed to identify a clear winner for the "best" option, rather individuals' personal preferences. However, cedar shavings were consistently noted as being harmful to hedgehogs. My personal preference is kiln-dried pine shavings.
Food: Hedgies that spend their days at Hawkeye Hedgies are fed a mixture of Spike's Delite Premium Hedgehog Food and Purina One Chicken and Rice cat food. There are a variety of commercial hedgehog foods on the market that can be purchased at petstores.
The dry food being offered as a staple, the hedgies are also offered a variety of fruits and/or vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and live or freeze-dried mealworms a couple of times per week. Hedgies can be picky eaters so be sure to offer new treats a few times before determining your hedgehog doesn't like something.
Accessories: The most important accessory your hedgehog will require is a water bottle. Although some hedgehog owners and/or breeders prefer to use water bowls, I have found that I personally prefer the water bottle. Bowls are very easily spilled and usually end up full of bedding materials. Another important accessory for your hedgehog's home is a running wheel. Be sure to purchase a wheel that has a solid floor as hedgehogs can get their toes or nails caught in wheels with mesh-type flooring. Last, but certainly not least, on the important accessory list is a hiding hut. Hedgehogs will spend the majority of the day in their little hut sleeping, so be sure to provide a place for your hedgie to hide and sleep.
Veterinary Care: Although hedgehogs do not require routine veterinary care such as yearly shots, that does not mean that your hedgehog will never need to see a vet. Like all of us, hedgehogs can get sick or injured and may require a trip to the vet. A yearly well-pet visit is recommended.
Please note, not all veterinarians have experience with hedgehogs as they are considered exotic animals. Before bringing your new pet home, I would recommend locating a vet in your area that has knowledge and experience with hedgehogs in the event that you have an emergency. I recommend All Pets Veterinary Hospital, 611 West Street, Grinnell, Iowa, 641-236-6869, or Oaks Veterinary Clinic, 2030 27th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 515-279-3654.
Special Thanks: I would like to offer my special thanks to Shannon Orth of Dreamflower Meadows (dreamflowermeadows.com) for sharing her exceptional knowledge of hedgehogs and mentoring me in my goal to breed healthy, well-socialized hedgehogs.