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Hedgehog Care Sheet

The BASICS:

  • ​Cage: At LEAST 105 quart storage bin or bigger. There are several other caging ideas out there.

  • Hideaway: A medium sized hide(igloo) is the minimum. Fleece snuggle bags are popular among most pet owners. There are other hideaway options.

  • Heating: Must be between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (mine prefer 75-78). You can use a CHE-Ceramic Heating Emitter bulb. Depending on how warm you keep your home during the summer months, a 50 W - 100 W bulb would work. A 150 W bulb for winter months, if you are having trouble stabilizing the temperature.

    • Remember that just because your house is set to 74 degrees, does not mean the INSIDE of their home is that warm.

  • Thermometer: You must have a thermometer with a probe to be able to monitor temps. If a hedgehog gets too cold then it will try to go into hibernation which can be deadly. There are thermostats that can be attached to your CHE to control/monitor your temps for you (they are pricey).

  • Bedding: Carefresh (I had an issue with this bedding getting stuck inside my male’s penile sheath), aspen or kiln dried pine FLAKES (this does have dust particles & can cause URI’s) or fleece/flannel liners with sewn edges (I use pine bedding). DO NOT USE CEDAR!!!!!!!

  • Wheel: 12" diameter with a 4” wide running surface is the minimum sizing for a wheel. Bigger is better. The smaller it is, the harder it is on their fragile backs. Bucket Wheels or Cake Cover Wheels are the IDEAL wheel options, but if you need something quick at a pet store, then the Comfort Wheel is OKAY or the Silent Spinner with some modifications (hot gluing the slits/cracks closed) is OKAY.

    • I RECOMMEND BUYING FROM CAROLINA STORM WHEEL!

      • The EXPRESS Wheel from Carolina Storm Wheel, is TOO SMALL. They are made for hamster size pets.​

  • Food dish: You can use a Ceramic, Glass or Porcelain bowl that is appropriately sized for them. You want something that has some “weight” to it so they don’t dump their food.

  • Water bottle/dish: You can use a plastic water bottle (one that DOESN’T have a floating water level monitor) or a glass water bottle. Some people prefer water dishes, but they are easily dumped & get dirty daily, so you are constantly filling it up. (I use water bottles).

  • Toys: Any cat, ferret or preschool toys, toilet paper tubes (must be cut down the center long ways), they like things that make noise and to push things around (not all hedgies will play with toys).

  • Litter box (if interested) A cookie sheet, flat plastic pan, or a plastic container that will fit the base of a wheel inside of are preferable.

  • Nail Clippers: Cuticle trimmers or small human/baby nail clippers.

  • Bath Wash: Aveeno Baby Oatmeal Cream Wash (I use this), or other oatmeal based washes are acceptable.

    • UNSCENTED or MILDLY SCENTED ONLY! No SHAMPOOS!

    • If you are unsure of what to use, PLEASE ASK BEFORE wasting your money on bad products.

  • Litter: Carefresh, Yesterday’s News, or PINE PELLETS are an excellent products for litter options. You can also use paper towels or puppy potty liners. DO NOT USE CLAY OR CLUMPING CAT LITTERS!!!!
     

Dietary Needs

  • LOW FAT DRY CAT FOOD! You want it low fat so that way your hedgie doesn’t gain so much weight and have early health complications.

  • Here are basic requirements to look for when choosing a kibble:

    • It is recommended to MIX 2 types of kibble EQUALLY (if you a 7 lb bag of food, the other bag should also be a 7 lb bag). If you buy 2 types of food, make sure they are not the same percent of protein and fat.

    • Example:  34% protein 13% fat mixed with 28% protein 12% fat

      • Protein Suggested:  30% - 35%

      • Fat Suggested: 15% or LOWER

 

Recommended items to have when purchasing a hedgehog:

  • Oatmeal wash - dry skin

  • Old fashioned cooking oats - dry skin

  • Humilac - dry skin

  • Coconut oil - dry skin

  • Tooth brush: soft - to use with bathing

  • Mite prevention prescribed by your VET

  • Snuggle bags - hedgies love to sleep in them

  • Play pen - for safe playtime

  • Extra food/water dishes/bottles - to replace old or dirty ones

 

Bonding

When you first take your hedgehog home, he/she will be scared of the new surroundings (smells, sounds, light), everything is new and different.  To help break that and build trust, you must bond with them. Here are a few steps you can take to start the bonding process. REMEMBER: NEVER HOLD THEM WITH GLOVES! Use a piece of fleece to pick them up if you are nervous, but this shouldn’t be your go to tactic every time. Don’t be afraid to contact me for help!
 

  1. Get a couple shirts that you don't mind sharing with your hedgie.

  2. Sleep in these shirts a night or two before bringing them home, this will put your scent on them. You can even bring them with you at pick up.

  3. Let your hedgehog sleep with 1 shirt at a time. Switch them out every day or two.

  4. You do this for 4 to 6 weeks.

  5. Use a fleece snuggle bag when they are out to hold/carry them in.

  6. Handle them for AT LEAST 30 min a day.

  7. Place their head/feet on the palm of your hand until they open up fully.

  8. Don’t be scared to “man handle” them. If you are scared, so are they.

  9. MEMBER TO HANDLE YOUR BABY HEDGEHOG EVERYDAY! WHEN THEY LEAVE ME THEY HAVE BEEN SOCIALIZED. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE SOCIALIZING THEM!!


REQUIRED Cleaning

YOU MUST DO A WEEKLY CLEANING/DISINFECTING OF EVERYTHING!

THIS MEANS USING SOME SORT OF DISINFECTANT TO CLEAN THE INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE CAGE, TOYS, HIDES, WHEELS, LITTER PANS, THERMOMETER, FOOD DISHES, WATER BOTTLES/DISHES…. ANYTHING INSIDE THE CAGE OR ANYTHING THE HEDGIE COMES IN CONTACT WITH. I USE A SPRAY BOTTLE WITH 50% VINEGAR & 50% WATER. SPRAY BIN & WHEEL DOWN, LET IT SOAK FOR A MINUTE THEN WIPE DRY WITH A PAPER TOWEL. ONCE A MONTH YOU SHOULD DO A FULL SCRUBBING WITH SOAP, WATER & BLEACH, THEN RINSE CLEAN AFTERWARDS, AND DRY.

    THEY ARE EXOTIC ANIMALS AND REQUIRE THE BEST UPKEEP YOU CAN PROVIDE. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, THEN EXOTICS ANIMALS ARE NOT AN ANIMAL CHOICE FOR YOU. IF THIS IS NOT DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU ARE ASKING FOR HEALTH ISSUES AND THE POSSIBLE DEATH OF INFECTION.

 

 

More Information

Anointing: The act of frothing (foaming) at the mouth, arching their head over their shoulders and depositing the frothy saliva onto the quills. This usually happens when they find a smell and/or taste they love.

Quilling: Quilling is the time when a young hedgehog starts to shed their baby quills and replace them with their adult quills. The average time span of this process is about a week but can be shorter or longer. They start this around 6 to 8 weeks old. It can happen a few times throughout their lives.

Sleeping Habits: Hedgehogs are nocturnal, meaning they are awake at night and sleep during the day. This doesn’t mean that they can’t be held during the day time, but you should let them sleep for a few hours after they go to bed. Awake times vary from hog to hog (10p to 7a).

Heating: Hedgehogs are from a warmer climate, so they NEED a climate of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If their heat is ANY LOWER, you can cause them to go into hibernation. They are NOT natural hibernators, this can be deadly to the hedgehog, because their body temperature drops. HEATING IS THAT IMPORTANT THAT WE WILL KEEP REPEATING IT!!

Vet Care: Hedgehogs are exotic animals, so they are not just accepted by any vet because they are exotic pets and need to see a specialist. Just like a cat or dog, a hedgehog will need to see a vet when they are sick and have emergency issues.

I have provided a website to help you locate a vet close to you! Just make sure you are double checking that they are exotic animal certified. http://www.veterinarians.com/

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