How To Care For Your Hedgehog
Housing & Environment:
Hedgehogs can be kept in a variety of cages like large sterilite containers 90qt minimum (Safest & our personal favorite), Guinea Pig or Rabbit cages with solid bottoms (wire floors can cause injury to your pet’s feet and legs) or C&C Cages if you want to get fancy! There are also many options in bedding choices. We find kiln dried pine to be the easiest option as it controls odors well and provides burrowing material for the if hedgehogs to dig in like they would do in the wild. You could also try Carefresh paper based small animal bedding (unscented), shredded news paper, Yesterday’s News cat litter (Environmentally safe recycled paper pellets), or fleece cage liners. Cedar shavings are not safe as they cause respiratory problems over time as a result of the fumes from their urine. Also, do not use corn cob bedding as it can cause injury to your hedgehog by sticking to them when they urinate, or can cause impaction if ingested. Many people try out multiple options before finding what works best for them and their pet. Individuals with allergies often choose paper based bedding or cage liners due to the dust from wood shavings. Hedgehogs must be kept warm at all times to avoid them going into hibernation. They are desert animals, and hibernation is harmful or often times fatal to them! Safe cage temperature is between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Lamps are not recommended because the temperature cannot be adjusted and they could cause overheating. Small space heaters or low heating pads on the outside of the cage work well, especially in winter when extra heating sources are a must. Avoid placing the cage near drafty doors and windows, or in direct sunlight. Never house your hedgehog outside; they could easily succumb to high/low temperatures, and predators.
Accessories:
Your hedgehog will need a few must-haves in their cage. Exercise wheels are a requirement because in the wild, hedgies can run miles and miles foraging for food, they also keep their metabolisms up to keep fat from building up. A hedgehog’s favorite thing ever is to poop in their wheel, so coating it with olive or bio oil will aid in easy cleaning. Placing the litter box under or near the wheel is also a plus! Wheels should be cleaned every morning, so poop doesn’t stick to it (or your hedgie’s feet) which can cause nasty bacterial infections if they were to get a scrape on their foot or leg. The wheel should be large enough so the hedgehogs don’t curve their backs while running; 12” comfort wheels are a great choice. For mental stability, they need something they can hide in to feel safe, or take a nap. Popular hides include small animal igloo houses, fleece cuddle sacks, or medium flower pots turned on their sides (hedgies also like to roll them around for fun). Wooden houses are not recommended as they are difficult to clean, and urine soaks into them easily.
Diet:
In the wild, hedgehogs eat a variety of insects, fruits, and vegetables; while in captivity they are fed a base diet of dry cat food along with insects etc. as treats. They do not need added supplements to their diets, and too much high quality kibbles containing a large amount of protein can cause liver problems later in life. For the most balanced nutrition, we mix a few types of dry adult cat food together to make a great hedgie blend. Our mix includes Purina Naturals, Purina Indoor Formula, and Purina Cat Chow Healthful Life. Kitten food should only be fed to baby/juvenile hedgehogs. Once your pet reaches 5 months of age, they should be switched to adult foods only. Obesity is a big concern, the average weight for an adult is 250-500 grams/ they should not exceed 650 grams. If your hedgehog starts to get to that point, scattering measured amounts of diet food (Purina indoor formula only) to force them to exercise, and cutting out treats usually does the trick. If your hedgehog becomes underweight (often in the winter) small amounts of kitten food can be added to their base diet to aid in weight gain.
Other brands of cat food acceptable for hedgehogs include:……………………………………………….. It may be tricky to get your pet to try new treats, so it’ll take a while to find what your specific pet likes and dislike.
Good Treats:
Baked or boiled chicken, beef, or turkey
(Fruits) Apples, Bananas, cherries, cantaloupe, honeydew, pears, peaches, kiwis, strawberries, pumpkin, papaya, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries
(Veggies) Carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potato, spinach, broccoli, zucchini
Scrambled or boiled eggs
Baby food (all flavors/brands)
Wet Cat food
(Insects) Meal worms, crickets, earth worms, grasshoppers.
(Live insects only, please do not feed insects from outside, as they could have insecticides on them which would kill your hedgehog. Freeze dried insects can cause impaction and do not hold the same nutritional value as live ones.)
Bad Treats:
Citrus fruits i.e. oranges, lemons, limes, pineapple, and grapefruit etc.
due to the high level of acidity that will rot their teeth and upset their stomachs.
Dried fruits, all types of nuts are a choking hazard
Avocados are toxic!
Onions, garlic, chives
Corn is indigestible
Chocolate, or other human junk foods
All treats should be cut into bite size pieces, and all seeds/pits removed from fruits and veggies to avoid choking hazards
Health & Hygiene:
Hedgehogs are relatively healthy pets. The average lifespan for an African pygmy hedgehog is 4-7 years with the maximum being 9 years in captivity. Keeping your pet and their home will ensure a happy, healthy hedgie. They are prone to bacterial and respiratory infections if not cared for properly. Hedgehogs do enjoy baths, and they can get pretty dirty at times. We bathe our hedgies once a month or as needed in a mild baby or kitten shampoo. We find that using Aveeno creamy baby wash is great and does not irritate even the most sensitive skin. A toothbrush can be used to scrub the dirt out from under their nails. Add just enough water to your tub or sink for the hedgehog to be able to swim, but still touch the bottom. Do not leave your pet unattended in the bath to avoid accidental drowning! Regular bathing is a good way to keep bacteria away and their quills soft and shiny, but over exposure can cause them to have severely dry skin. Make sure to dry your hedgehog fully before putting them back in their cage so they don’t catch a cold. Holding them in a towel is a great way to bond with them, hair dryers just scare them and are not needed- they dry quickly enough. This is a great time to clip their nails if needed. We use regular human clippers, the quick is easy to see but be sure not to cut too close. If you accidentally clip the nail too short, dip the toe in corn starch to stop the bleeding and avoid bacteria from entering the cut. Cages should be cleaned every other week regardless of bedding. Spot clean daily, and add bedding or litter as needed. We use a dust pan to scoop out soiled bedding, and then wipe down the cage with all natural cleaning wipes like scotch brite natural, baby wipes, or reptile cleaning wipes. Harsh chemicals found in most cleaners are harmful to your hedgehog. Things like the wheel and house can also be washed in warm water and dish soap (be sure to rinse off all residue and dry before placing back in the cage). Water bottles should be rinsed out with hot water before refilling each time, and boiled or put in the dish washer once a week. Enough bedding should be added to the dry cage to cover the hedgehog’s body. If added to a damp cage, they will soil more quickly.
Socialization:
Before even bringing your baby home, they will be accustomed to being handled by both adults and children, and will be introduced to the company and scents of other pets (cats & dogs). To pick up your hedgehog, use both hands and scoop them up from their belly, their stomachs have fur so you will not be pricked by the quills. If they are asleep, pick them up carefully the same way, or you can use a cloth if they’re very sharp. Make sure you have clean hands when picking up your pet; they are known to bite if they smell food! Hedgehogs do require a good bit of attention to stay social and friendly. It’s best to hold your pet for at least one hour every day, whether it’s direct playtime or just having them in your lap while you watch TV. Playtime is always appreciated! They love toilet paper rolls, cat balls with bells, aluminum foil balls, etc. Some also enjoy running around in a hamster ball. Letting your hedgie roam around the floor is not a good idea because they will just go under furniture or hide somewhere (sometimes never to be seen again)! Small animal playpens, or even a children’s swimming pool are great hedgehog play areas. Do not leave toys in your hedgehog’s cage over night, as they could cause injury; and it is best to watch your pet with the toys to make sure everything is safe for them. Hedgehogs do travel well, so feel free to take them with you! Critter keepers work great for travel containers, but make sure food and water are available to them at all times, and never leave your hedgehog in the car or in the sun!
Self Anointing:
You may see your hedgehog make foam with their mouth and lick their quills. No, they don’t have rabies! It’s called self anointing, and occurs when they smell something that they like; it’s their way of making memories of that scent. Hedgehogs are very sensitive to smells around them because of their strong noses, and they’ll do this with almost everything especially as babies. Perfumes, food, sweat, even grass will make them anoint. It is not harmful to them at all, and is definitely funny to watch.
How To Litter Train Your Hedgehog:
Training your hedgehog to use a litter box is easy, but you’ll need some patience! Some get it quickly, while others take longer. If you’re going to use cage liners, we recommend using puppy training pads or newspaper at first because your baby will have accidents. Double sided tape will be your best friend! It will make sure your pet does not crawl under or move around the liner. Apply the tape along the entire outside of the liner you’re using and stick it to the bottom of the cage. The weight of the other accessories will help also. Put the litter box in the desired area, it is best not to move it around once the hedgehog gets accustomed to its location. With a paper towel, pick up any solid waste and place it in the box. Do not fully clean the litter box at first, so they can recognize where their scent is. Only leave a small amount of waste in the box until you notice no more or very minimal accidents; then you can switch to fleece liners and clean the box fully as needed. Fill the litter box about 1-2 inches or enough to cover the bottom of the pan with whichever litter you choose. Spot clean daily, completely change litter once a week. You can purchase premade cage liners from the accessories section of our website, or to make your own, you can find fleece at any fabric store near you. Cut the fleece one inch larger than the bottom measurements of the cage, fold the edges and sew them. Unsewn cage liners will roll up, or become misshapen easily. Fleece liners should be washed once a week to stay fresh and clean, it’s best to use mild laundry soap like Dreft baby or Arm and Hammer hypoallergenic detergent.
This is a basic overview for the care of African Pygmy Hedgehogs. For more information, or if you have any questions or concerns, please email us any time at Greenislehedgehogs@yahoo.com or call/text 801-380-3358
-Kristen Knell @ Green Isle Hedgehogs 2012
