Spiny exotics: how to properly keep a pet hedgehog

The hedgehog is such a cute, charming animal . Having seen him, it is impossible to restrain the smile on his face and not be touched by his appearance, everyone wants to cuddle him and immediately give him shelter. But people’s attitude towards these creatures was not always so favorable. In ancient times, the skins of killed hedgehogs were used to comb the wool of sheep. Well, in our time, they can become a good option for a pet.

In modern society, purchasing an exotic pet will not surprise anyone, including a hedgehog. They go along with ordinary pets, such as cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs and so on. Hedgehogs, like other animals, come in different breeds.

Often, you can meet these creatures in the forest or at your summer cottage, but alas, taking it to your apartment is not the best idea; it’s safer to visit a nursery or go to a special store. But still, most people, before buying this animal, are tormented by doubts: is it worth getting one? This article will make it very clear all the advantages of keeping a hedgehog and show the negative sides of coexistence with one.

Care and maintenance

Caring for a hedgehog at home is not difficult.
Even a beginner can handle this; just read the recommendations for its content. These animals are kept in spacious cages or enclosures. Some owners set aside a small corner of the apartment for their prickly pet. The minimum height of the fence should be 25 cm, otherwise the hedgehog may escape. There should be about 1 m2 of free space per pet. The exception is the dwarf variety. An area of ​​0.6 m2 is enough for such an animal, provided that it has the opportunity to walk.

Hedgehogs living in the wild spend the winter in their burrows. They hibernate for several months. This happens because with the onset of cold weather, insects, lizards and mice, which serve as food for hedgehogs, disappear. In summer, animals accumulate fat, which is gradually used up in winter for life support. If the animal does not have enough energy reserves, it may not wake up.

Some pet hedgehogs also hibernate. However, it lasts for a short time - a few days. Before buying a pet, you should find out how the variety you like winters. African hedgehogs, including dwarf ones, never enter a state of rest. Representatives of Eurasian species require prolonged sleep during the winter. These hedgehogs need special care. The owner must properly prepare the pet for hibernation.

Home improvement

The domestic hedgehog is sensitive to cold. It is kept at a temperature of +20...+25 degrees. Humidity is maintained at 55-65%. The enclosure is placed so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight

It is also important to protect the hedgehog from drafts

The cage tray is filled with filler. You can use only natural materials - wood shavings, pressed sawdust, crushed corn cobs. Your pet will need a house - a refuge where he will sleep and hide when he wants to be alone. The design must correspond to the size of an adult hedgehog.

A wheel is installed in the cage - the pet will run around at night. You will also need a feeder - a small plastic container. Some hedgehog owners place food directly on the bedding, as the animal likes to collect food and bury it. A container for drinking water is another attribute that you cannot do without. It is better to buy a hanging automatic or nipple drinker to avoid tipping over.

Hygiene procedures

Caring for hedgehogs includes hygiene procedures

It is important to keep the cage clean:

• replace bedding weekly;
• clean the tray from excrement residues;
• Wash the feeder and drinker with hot water every day.

Domestic hedgehogs are clean animals. They clean their bodies frequently and therefore have little or no odor. You can wash your pet no more than 4 times a year.

For bathing, use a bowl filled with warm water so that its level reaches the hedgehog’s belly. It is advisable not to use detergents so as not to provoke the development of an allergic reaction. The animal's body is moistened and cleaned with a soft sponge or hand. The needles can be washed with a toothbrush. After bathing the pet, dry it with a towel.

Once a month, hedgehogs have their claws trimmed. In the wild they wear down naturally. In pets, they grow back and may begin to curl up. This risks damaging the paws. Cut off the very tips of the claws with nail scissors or special nippers.

Taming

Even a decorative hedgehog is not so easy to handle, let alone domesticate a wild one. These are rather shy animals that do not feel much affection for people. The animal perceives humans solely as a source of food.

What you need to do to tame a pet hedgehog:

Give him at least 30 minutes of attention every day. Handle the hedgehog without gloves so that it gets used to the owner's scent. Place your old, unwashed item in the cage. Reward your pet with a treat every time he unwinds from the ball. When the animal is in your arms, you should not make sudden movements or make noise so as not to frighten it.

If your pet hedgehog bites your finger, you need to remain calm. You cannot shout loudly, throw the animal or hit it in the nose. To wean your pet from using its teeth, just blow on its face after a bite. After several attempts, the hedgehog will realize that this behavior is unacceptable.

Is it possible to keep hedgehogs at home?

It is strictly not recommended to take a wild forest hedgehog into your home, because they are often carriers of dangerous infectious diseases (rabies, leptospirosis, lichen, etc.). In addition, an animal raised in the wild has an extremely difficult time getting used to being kept at home, will not be handled and bites heavily. You should not purchase hedgehogs on the market or from private unknown sellers, as there is a high risk of buying an old or sick animal. It is best to buy a pet in a specialized pet store or from reliable breeders who guarantee the good health of the animal. A decorative hedgehog from domesticated parents is immediately human-oriented and has good heredity.

It’s better not to take wild forest hedgehogs home

African hedgehogs, which were specially artificially bred for this purpose, are most suitable for home keeping. Such pets are not adapted to life in the wild. The species is distinguished by its miniature size, usually the animal does not exceed 15–20 cm in length and weighs no more than 500 grams; it easily fits in the palm of your hand. In addition, its needles are not as hard as those of other relatives. It does not hibernate in winter, does not make so much noise and stomps at night. African pygmy hedgehogs are agile, fast, sociable and affectionate, and are very attached to humans. The animals do not live long; even with good maintenance, their age rarely exceeds 5–6 years. Decorative hedgehogs are bred in several colors: brown, gray, white (albino).

African hedgehogs are the smallest

Video: African pygmy hedgehog

It is necessary to remember that hedgehogs lead a nocturnal and twilight lifestyle; it is in the dark that they eat, walk and run, while knocking their claws on the floor, stomping and making a lot of noise. It is impossible to force them to stay awake during the day (they are inactive, lethargic and most often sleep). In winter, all hedgehogs, except the African one, go into long hibernation for several weeks or months.

Spiny pets easily get used to being handled and are happy to sit on your lap. Some hedgehogs respond to their name and can follow a few simple commands.

Video: is it worth having a hedgehog at home?

What do hedgehogs eat at home?

In order for a hedgehog to live a long and happy life at home, it needs to be provided with a nutritious diet. Although the hedgehog is considered an omnivore, you should not feed it everything. Eating citrus fruits, dried fruits, salt, spices, milk, nuts, baked goods, etc. will be detrimental for a hedgehog. A hedgehog's diet should be close to that in the wild. Its menu should be varied and include:

Meat. A hedgehog's diet should include raw or cooked meat. You can feed hedgehogs: beef, lamb, chicken, horse meat, turkey, mice, frogs. It is not recommended to feed hedgehogs pork. The meat should be cut into small pieces or made into minced meat. Under natural conditions, hedgehogs eat raw meat, but at home it is recommended to boil the meat or scald it with boiling water. This is necessary in order to disinfect it.

Insects. Hedgehogs love to eat beetles, larvae, worms, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, moths, etc. Insects can be given raw or baked. In the summer, insects collected or purchased by yourself must be baked in the oven, then placed in jars and tightly closed with lids.

• Vegetables and fruits. In small quantities, hedgehogs eat tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, sweet peppers, carrots, pears, apples, strawberries, raspberries, etc. Hedgehogs eat grated carrots best.
• Porridge. You can introduce buckwheat, rice, millet, wheat, and pearl barley porridge into your hedgehog’s diet, but they must be cooked strictly in water without adding spices. You can add minced meat, bone meal, and small insects to this porridge.
• Fish. In nature, hedgehogs do not eat fish, but at home, fish can be included in the diet. It is better to feed hedgehogs with fresh sea fish, as river fish can cause a lack of vitamins.
• Cottage cheese. You can add cottage cheese to your hedgehog's diet in small quantities, about half a teaspoon per day.

• Liver, offal. These products must be given boiled. Hedgehogs love liver, heart, stomach, spleen, lung, etc.
• Eggs. Several times a week, chicken or quail eggs, raw or boiled, must be included in the hedgehog’s diet at the rate of 30 grams per meal.
• Potato. You can only feed your hedgehog boiled potatoes. It can be crushed by adding fish meal, bone meal, minced meat and form into balls.

It is also necessary to introduce greens into the hedgehog’s diet, namely sprouted grains, dandelion leaves, etc. Vitamin complexes can be purchased at veterinary pharmacies

It is very important to provide your hedgehog with clean drinking water; it needs to be changed every day. She must be with him 24/7

In order for a hedgehog to develop properly and live a long life, it is necessary to provide it with a comprehensive diet that contains a sufficient amount of nutrients.

Cute prickly hedgehogs have been familiar to many of us since childhood. We have seen them in children's books, films and cartoons. In pictures, hedgehogs were always carried using spines

various fruits and vegetables. What do hedgehogs really eat, and where do these prickly animals live?

Positive sides

• Few people know that hedgehogs are predators , so with its acquisition you can forget about worries associated with harmful rodents and insects, since in the wild they feed on mice, cockroaches, worms, and caterpillars.
• A hedgehog is a very smart creature , it is easy to train and over time will respond to its nickname, and can borrow the habits and habits of its roommates.
• These animals are not picky about food , their diet is almost the same as the diet of their owners, with the exception of raw meat - this is the main component for hedgehogs. In addition to it, hedgehogs eat vegetables and fruits, eat bread and enjoy milk with pleasure, but it can be given in small quantities, and they will also not mind tasting bloodworms.
• Hedgehogs are ideal pets for people suffering from allergic diseases, as they do not have fur .
• Hedgehogs are creatures that are resistant to potent substances (arsenic, sulima, etc.), so if he finds supplies of household chemicals, there is a high probability that they will not harm him if he decides to “feast” on them.
• These animals are perfect for people who lead a nocturnal lifestyle - “owls”; they will turn out to be excellent companions for them, because they are nocturnal inhabitants.
• With proper care and nutrition, a hedgehog can become a long-liver and be your companion and friend for ten years, or even more, in contrast to living in its natural habitat, where its life expectancy is five years.
• Caring for these creatures is easier than, for example, a dog or cat; you don’t need to walk , comb them, or collect constantly shedding hair.

Where should a domestic hedgehog live: setting up a house for a hedgehog

A pet hedgehog must have a house. Otherwise, it will easily climb into unwanted places or get tangled in wires. But an aquarium is not an option - solid glass does not create the kind of microclimate that hedgehogs need.

The best choice is a cage that is as spacious as possible. And tall - at least 41 cm in height. The material does not matter - metal and wood will do. The main thing is that the distance between the rods is not too large. Hedgehogs love to escape. But the bottom must be solid to avoid injury.

A domestic hedgehog should live in a cage with bars.

A hedgehog's house must have food bowls. You can choose plastic ones, but it is preferable to install heavier dishes. Water can also be served in a bowl, or you can install an automatic drinking bowl. However, in the latter case, you will need to accustom the animal to it.

A tray with low sides should also fit into the cage. You need to look where the animal wants to relieve itself - and just install a toilet there.

You definitely need to put sawdust, straw, and leaves on top. Hedgehogs love to build miniature shelters. You can also put pebbles and twigs for this purpose.

You should definitely consider installing a running wheel. Hedgehogs love to eat, and therefore are prone to obesity. The wheel will serve as both entertainment and exercise equipment.

Your pet hedgehog will love the opportunity to run on a wheel

What accessories do you need to buy?

Like any pet, a hedgehog needs some accessories for a comfortable stay in the house:

1. Little house. You can assemble it yourself, using your imagination, or buy a ready-made one. The house must be closed so that the animal has the opportunity to remain alone with itself. You can choose plastic as a material, but it is better to choose natural material. A cage with metal bars will also work.
2. Litter. Veterinarians do not recommend using sawdust from resinous trees, newspapers and magazines. It is better to choose non-resinous sawdust or cellulose fillers.
3. A bowl. It should be heavy and have low sides. Such a hedgehog will not be able to move around the entire apartment, and the low sides will not interfere with the comfortable approach of a small animal.
4. Drinking bowl. You can choose either a ball bowl, which is popular among rodent owners, or a heavy, weighty bowl that your pet will not be able to move. However, the ball drinker can get stuck, so you can take both options at once for insurance.
5. Toys. Those sold for cats are suitable - these can be balls or mice with bells or bells.
6. Wheel. Hedgehogs are very active and need somewhere to spend their energy. It is advisable to choose a running wheel that is solid and silent, this will help avoid damage to the animal’s paws and not disturb the owners’ sleep at night.

Is it possible to walk with a hedgehog?

On the street, the risk of introducing various parasites into the animal’s body increases. Pets need space to run freely. But you can’t walk with him on the street with a harness, like with a cat.

If you live in a private house, equip an enclosure for him in the yard. Its dimensions can be arbitrary, but be sure to cover the area with mesh.

The height of the enclosure should exceed the size of the hedgehog standing on its hind legs by 2 times. The more sticks, leaves, branches, grass there are on the ground, the better and more interesting it will be for your pet.

You can use the balcony as an enclosure in the apartment. First remove from it all objects that pose a danger to the hedgehog. In the corner of the balcony, place a wheel for sports exercises and a house where he can hide from the sun and relax.

Hedgehog bathing

• Bold
• Salty
• Milk
• Chocolate and other sweets
• Sour foods
• A pineapple
• Raisin

Your pet should always have fresh water in his drinking bowl. If you notice that the animal has begun to drink little or refuses fluids completely, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Taking care of the cleanliness and hygiene of a hedgehog is a very important aspect in keeping a prickly animal. Wet hedgehogs look very touching. Therefore, bathing will not only bring a lot of pleasure to your pet, but will also make you happy.

We suggest you read: What to feed mulard ducklings: my experience

First of all, wet the hedgehog's spines. This can be done either under running water or in a basin. Then apply a small amount of special shampoo. Using a toothbrush, evenly distribute the foam over the needles from head to tail.

Be careful! Do not allow foam to get into your pet's eyes and ears.

Now turn the hedgehog over and rinse the pink belly. Rinse off the foam and apply moisturizing oil. Never dry your hedgehog with a hairdryer. This is serious stress for the animal. Wrap it in a towel and wait until the hedgehog is completely dry. As a rule, this process takes about 2 hours.

As you can see, caring for hedgehogs does not require serious preparation. The main thing is to follow simple rules and adhere to the basics of a healthy diet, then the prickly pet will delight you with its company for a long time.

If you have an idea to feed a hedgehog that is wandering around your summer cottage, you should read in advance the stop list of foods that are contraindicated for this animal. This list will also be useful for those who keep such animals as pets.

Almost all people first run to the refrigerator for milk to treat the animal, but it is believed that it is this that hedgehogs have the hardest time digesting. Many veterinarians even consider milk to be poisonous for such animals.

In addition, the following products are prohibited.

• Any candy, chocolate and other sweets. It is believed that they can lead to diseases such as diabetes.
• Any products with dyes, thickeners and preservatives.
• Grapes, raisins and all kinds of dried fruits, especially those with seeds, are also not recommended for hedgehogs, as they can get stuck in the animals’ throats.
• Avocados, pineapples and other exotic fruits can also be dangerous for hedgehogs; animals can be poisoned by them, because it is unlikely that a hedgehog will be able to find an avocado or sweet lychee in the forest. If there is no reliable information about whether a particular exotic fruit can be given to an animal, it is best not to risk it.
• Vegetable oils, any fast food, buns with meat, chips, crackers with additives, dry food for dogs or cats, onions, garlic are specially prohibited.

If pet hedgehogs roam freely around the apartment or house, then you should be very careful about the dishes from which they eat. It shouldn't be plastic. Many animals easily chew through it, which can subsequently lead to poisoning and even death. Such animals often chew through wires, which can also lead to the death of pets.

Description

African pygmy hedgehogs were artificially bred specifically for human consumption. These hedgehogs look very cute, they are not at all dangerous, they weigh about 500 g and are about 20 cm in length. They differ from each other mainly in color. Their needles, unlike forest species, are softer, which is undoubtedly a big plus.

It is not necessary to keep the animals in pairs, since they feel great alone, the main thing is to surround the pet with care.

Let's take a closer look at their color varieties.

Dwarf gray individuals have black eyes and nose; they may have dark spots on their belly and legs. The needles are soft, dark gray or brown, usually on the back and in the ear area they have a gradating color from gray to black.

Brown individuals have lighter needles, dark eyes, may have a dim edging, and a chocolate-colored nose. The skin is pale pink with a grayish undertone.

Chocolate-colored pygmy hedgehogs have bright brown needles, black eyes, and a soft brown nose. Such individuals look especially attractive and cute

This species sometimes has characteristic dark spots on its abdomen and paws.

There is also a “champagne” variety; the color of the needles of such individuals is usually gray-brown or light beige, the nose is pink, and the eyes may have a ruby ​​color.

There are also cinnamon-colored hedgehogs that have milky beige needles.

When choosing a pet, we recommend paying attention to the common “salt and pepper” color. Hedgehogs are almost black, but the color also includes less pigmented needles

The skin around the ears and on the back of such individuals is usually dark.

Often, pygmy hedgehogs are born albinos, that is, they have completely white spines, a soft pink nose and bright scarlet eyes. And there are also just white hedgehogs that are not albino; ​​their spines are almost all discolored.

What affects life expectancy at home

By consulting a doctor in time, you prolong the life of your pet. The fashion for hedgehogs is gaining momentum every year. In order for a pet to live long, you need to know that it needs proper feeding.

Hedgehogs, even very young ones, should not be fed milk; this can lead to severe digestive upset and death. The basis of a proper diet is protein foods, for example, insects, which will have to be purchased in a special store.

You should not keep several animals in one cage. Their struggle for territory may end in the death of one of them.

Timely seeking veterinary help also prolongs your pet's life.

Selection does not stand still. Modern scientists and breeders are trying to develop pedigree and hybrid forms in which a longer life span will be genetically fixed.

When purchasing an ordinary or decorative hedgehog as a pet, do not forget that only proper care and love from the owner prolongs the pet’s life.

Hedgehog toilet

Is it possible to train a hedgehog to use the toilet the way cats, small dogs and even rats and raccoons do? It is possible, although you will have to put in a lot of effort to achieve the result.

Only young hedgehogs can be trained to place the litter tray in a certain corner of the cage. Old or wild animals will not understand what is wanted from them.

In nature, the hedgehog uses its own chosen places in the forest for toileting. Therefore, at home, you need to take a close look at which place in the cage your pet chooses for toilet needs. Then a tray with filler is placed in this place. It is better to use sawdust rather than sand, which sticks to the needles. So that the hedgehog understands what they want from him, his feces or a cloth soaked in urine are placed in the tray.

For a prickly pet, a plastic tray is suitable, which is sold for large rodents.

You should clean the toilet no more than once a week - a hedgehog will not use a sterile, odorless tray for its intended purpose.

Bowls for food and water should not be placed near the tray.

Conditions for keeping hedgehogs at home

First of all, for comfortable keeping, a hedgehog will need a spacious metal or wooden cage (optimal area of ​​at least 1 m2), which is placed in a quiet, secluded place in the apartment, where there is no direct sunlight and where there are no drafts . It is better if the cage has a retractable tray at the bottom, this makes cleaning much easier (1-2 times a week). The bottom is lined with hay, straw or sawdust; you can use paper towels or disposable diapers.

To keep a hedgehog you will need a spacious cage

Install inside the cell:

• Feeder. The bowl should be heavy enough and stable so that the pet does not spill the food.
• Drinking bowl. Use stable containers or special devices that are hung on the cage. The pet easily turns the flat saucer over with its paws and spills water.
• A litter tray with low sides so that your pet can easily climb inside.
• A small house for sleeping and relaxing. You can use a ready-made commercial rodent house or make one yourself. A fleece bag or soft fabric bag will do.
• A running wheel with a diameter of 25–30 cm and other toys (balls, balls, etc.).

A glass aquarium is not suitable for a hedgehog because there is no air circulation. It can only be considered as a last resort temporary option.

Some young hedgehogs can be trained to relieve their natural needs in a potty. To do this, move the tray with cat litter (preferably wood) to a far corner (away from the feeder and drinking bowl), put some feces there or a small piece of cloth (paper) soaked in the animal’s urine. Sometimes the pet regularly goes to the toilet in a certain place, so the tray is simply placed there. Cleaning and replacement of filler is carried out once a week.

To make the hedgehog move more, they put a wheel in the cage.

Hedgehogs live alone, so they do not need any companions. Keeping two or more individuals in one cage is highly not recommended.

Comfortable temperature for rodents is approximately +22…+26 °C. In summer, the aviary is placed on a balcony or loggia, but the sun should not fall directly on it. Sometimes you can give the animal the opportunity to run around the apartment, but you cannot leave it unattended, as it can get tangled in wires or chew them, as well as damage indoor flowers, furniture, flooring, etc.

If necessary, hedgehogs are bathed, but this is done no more than once every 3-4 months, using animal shampoos.

The hedgehog needs to be let out of the cage to run around

A special feature of keeping a thorny forest pet at home is hibernation, into which it falls in late autumn . Before this, it is recommended to give the animal more high-calorie food so that it gains a little weight and stores up fat. To build a nest, he will need dry leaves, a lot of straw, hay or just rags. The temperature should be around +5…+7 °C. The animal wakes up at the end of February or beginning of March.

Wild forest hedgehogs do not feed on mushrooms and apples. Contrary to popular belief, they are not vegetarians, preferring to eat various insects (crickets, snails, cockroaches, beetles, etc.). At home they are given:

• lean minced meat from chicken, veal, beef, etc.;
• boiled or raw fish;
• boiled offal (liver, etc.);
• raw eggs (chicken and quail);
• fresh vegetables and fruits.

What hedgehogs love most is to eat insects.

It is important to periodically give your pets live food (insects, lizards, frogs, etc.) . Hedgehogs are fed twice a day, with no more than 50 g of food at a time. Pet stores sell special dry food for hedgehogs. In extreme cases, you can use cat granules.

Hedgehogs love milk, but you need to remember that it is not absorbed in their bodies, causing digestive upset.

A forest hedgehog lived in our apartment for several years. He didn’t have a cage, but he had a house under the closet in which he holed up during the day. At night, the animal rushed around the rooms and stomped terribly. At the same time, he shit everywhere, all attempts to show where exactly it should be done were unsuccessful. Something was constantly wrapped around its paws (threads, hair, etc.). It was not possible to remove them so easily; I had to put the pet in a bath with a small amount of water (1-2 cm) and, when the hedgehog turned around, quickly cut off and remove the bonds that were digging into the skin.

Video: keeping hedgehogs at home

Review of owner reviews

Many people are fascinated by the cute appearance of hedgehogs and their small size. It's hard not to be touched by the little paws, beady eyes and funny ears. People who decide to get such an exotic pet leave different reviews about it.

People note the following positive aspects in keeping these interesting animals:

• beautiful, cute appearance, a domestic hedgehog is pleasant to watch, which is noted by many breeders;
• the hedgehog doesn’t bark, doesn’t tear up furniture, you don’t need to walk with it like you would with a dog;
• most breeders did not notice the sharp and unpleasant odors behind hedgehogs that they expected to encounter;
• the animals are easy to care for;
• do not cause allergic reactions;
• according to the owners, pet hedgehogs are quite inexpensive to keep;
• sociable and funny animals;
• Hedgehogs do not need frequent and time-consuming bathing.

But negative reviews about keeping pet hedgehogs are associated with the following things:

• The nocturnal lifestyle of hedgehogs bothers most of their owners - at night the animals make noise, stomp, run in wheels, snort and do not allow them to sleep peacefully;
• according to some owners who buy ready-made branded food for their hedgehogs, such food costs a tidy sum;
• for some ;
• The breeders also included the disadvantage that their small, prickly pets bite often and painfully;
• the fact that the hedgehog needs to be fed insects is not liked by many owners;
• It also upsets owners that their pets cannot be kept in the same area as small children and other pets.

Many of the problems listed can be avoided if hedgehogs are properly maintained and the conditions in which they should live are taken into account in advance. You must initially be prepared for the fact that this is a nocturnal animal, and during the day it will sleep more, and all its activity will be demonstrated at night. It is not necessary to buy expensive branded food for the animals - you can give them natural food prepared yourself.

To learn how to care for pet hedgehogs, watch the following video.

oh thank you for responding!!! I said about the name - they called it Busyastic! he’s a boy and the breeder said the letter B is necessary - I couldn’t think of anything smarter, well... like beady eyes - he’ll be Busych, which means we’ve got an emergency here... Busy got out of the cage (I have the same one as yours) through the top door... I didn’t even know that they could climb like that... me too... hedgehog lover... the worst thing is that the cage is at a decent height... and we didn’t immediately discover that he had fallen... in general, at night he ran away and during the day we I just fainted... I almost had a heart attack... I think that’s it... it fell and broke... I climbed behind the chest of drawers where it was supposed to fall... I looked, it was empty, thank God... and the characteristic trail of poop going somewhere into the distance... generally without going into in detail how we looked for him - he was found sleeping peacefully by the radiator (it’s bad that there’s a balcony next to it from which there’s a decent draft) I checked - it seems his arms and legs are intact... the pupils are normal... the needles are not dented... i.e. it seems like he landed normally... damn... it’s still shaking as I remember... in general, thank God it seems to have worked out...

In terms of nutrition, mine doesn’t eat chicken-yolk (I didn’t know about grapes, I’ll buy it tomorrow) I changed his food to this https://www.krysota.ru/index.php?cPath=44_51_200 (I’m texting a girl from Canada - the breeder of these hedgehogs, she recommended this food - there’s a lot of protein in it) but somehow it doesn’t have much of it yet... with canine it crunched much more intensely, to be honest...

about sawdust, I also bought granular ones like yours... and on top I laid napkins and rags that are sold in rolls... very convenient... I just change the napkins on top... the sawdust is still intact... we bought him a Ferplast house like this https://www. krysota.ru/images/41002wm.jpg (which is how he actually got out of freedom, in my feeble-mindedness, a bed in a house like this https://www.krysota.ru/images/449002wm.jpg he really likes it... well, that’s all... I'm still waiting for the wheel... with these holidays the post office can't cope with shipments... here's another photo

in general, during that short period of our acquaintance with him, I realized that the animal is simply wonderful - it’s not at all clear how we lived without him before, we need to trim his claws soon... I’m gathering my thoughts and strength for this attraction

I see they don’t drink from a hanging drinking bowl, what motivates you? I think I read that they need pendant ones... I bought it, he drinks from it, but he likes it better from just a bowl (my daughter drinks it while I don’t see it)

And yet, I see they live together...how do they get along? I read that they are loners and that you can’t keep them together... they fight... and I really want to take the girl... but there’s simply nowhere to put a second cage... and I wanted them to live together... as a family... but they say it’s impossible and that’s it... what do you say? Do you have a boy and...a boy or a girl?

I also wanted to ask how long they still live, interesting... I read that in the house. under normal conditions they can live up to 10 years... I wish I could... but of course, in fairness, with a housewife like me, every day of his life is a feat... my poor hedgehog, I’m thinking, couldn’t he have caught a cold by the balcony? 3 days have already passed since that incident - no cough, no runny nose... eating and drinking... everything is as usual... do you think it's gone?

And I still don’t understand about the food - you don’t feed it dry, right? I didn’t know what they could do... in bags with jelly, right? Do they need to constantly or alternate with dry maybe?

Pros and cons of keeping hedgehogs

Before getting a hedgehog as a pet, you should weigh the pros and cons.

Behavior and character

Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals by nature, so most often they spend daytime sleeping and become active at night. As for the temperament of hedgehogs, almost all of them are very kind and flexible.

But since by nature they generally prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle, they feel very uncomfortable in families with small children.

But a hedgehog can quickly get used to an adult owner, remember his voice and allow himself to be stroked.

If you want to have not just one prickly pet, but a couple or more at once, you need to think about it carefully.

For a short time, animals can tolerate the presence of a relative nearby, but then they begin to start fights and fight for territory.

In general, it all depends on the breed and character of the hedgehog - some can be very sociable and curious, while others can be shy and reserved.

Diseases

Hedgehogs are prone to many diseases, including cancer and Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS). Some symptoms of WHS resemble those of multiple sclerosis in humans, so the condition in animals can be compared to what patients with multiple sclerosis experience. These include the inability to move normally, tremors of the limbs, staggering when walking, etc. A possible cause of WHS is a genetic defect that allows the virus to attack the hedgehog’s nervous system.

The nose can exhibit a variety of alarming symptoms, especially respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia. In many cases, the form of pneumonia that affects hedgehogs is bacterial in nature. When acted quickly, antibiotics can have a very positive effect. Observable signs include blisters, excessive mucus production, or persistent sneezing.

Where to buy

Nurseries

It is important to inspect nurseries. Nurseries are often considered to guarantee quality

Unfortunately, this is not always true. For many breeders, the first priority is making a profit from sales; proper living conditions and medical care are not always provided.

Nurseries are often considered a guarantee of quality. Unfortunately, this is not always true. For many breeders, the first priority is making a profit from sales; proper living conditions and medical care are not always provided.

Adviсe:

• Monitor nurseries that breed hedgehogs, compare them, read customer reviews. Don’t stop at the first one you come across; there’s no need to rush in this matter.
• If possible, go to several nurseries, look at the conditions of detention, talk to the breeders.
• The animal must have all the necessary documents: passport, vaccination certificates.

Private owners

Is it worth buying a hedgehog secondhand? Of course, you can save money on this, or even get a “bun with thorns” for free, that is, for nothing. But such an acquisition may also have quite a few disadvantages:

• there is no guarantee that the animal is healthy, and it will turn out just like the proverb that “the miser pays twice”;
• Your new pet has already formed habits that will be difficult to correct.

Pet stores

This may seem surprising, but you shouldn’t buy hedgehogs at a pet store, and there are many reasons for this:

• Housing conditions are often not met: animals are disturbed by noise, bright light, and there is no division by gender.
• The animals are not socialized; they are completely wild and afraid of people.
• Animals are often born as a result of inbreeding and have a whole bunch of genetic diseases.

Have you decided to get a hedgehog?

Yes No, not yet...

African pygmy hedgehog

A hybrid of the four-toed hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog, it is the most popular species of domesticated hedgehog in the world. The practice of domesticating hedgehogs and keeping them as pets began in the 1980s, relatively recent in terms of animal husbandry.

They are very gentle animals and are not suitable as pets for young children. Hedgehogs, like any pet, may bite when alarmed or injured, so you need to treat them with respect. They require gentle, patient handling, and you must be willing to spend the necessary amount of time to tame them and let them get used to you during the first few months.

What to feed your African pygmy hedgehog

What to feed your African pygmy hedgehog? To thrive, African pygmy hedgehogs need a balanced diet consisting of a variety of foods. Good quality dry cat food with high protein content is one of the main types of food. A balanced and varied diet can be achieved by supplementing the food with: boiled eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean boiled chicken, lamb or minced meat. Hedgehogs are insectivores, meaning their diet in the wild consists mainly of insects. To promote natural feeding and meet all their dietary needs, you should include worms and crickets in your regular feeding regimen.

How to care for an African pygmy hedgehog?

Like most hedgehogs, African pygmies are quite solitary by nature, and in the wild they tend to only gather to mate, so it is perfectly acceptable to leave a member of this species alone. Keeping more than one male in the same cage will usually lead to fighting, most often with females.

A single African pygmy hedgehog will need a cage measuring 80-100 cm. They can also live quite happily in medium-sized rabbit cages.

You should not use a cage with a wire floor as this may damage your little hedgehog's paws. Multi-level and horizontal cages should be avoided, as hedgehogs are not good climbers and may fall and injure themselves. An exercise wheel should be provided, similar to the one you can buy for hamsters, but it should be made of hard metal or plastic, not mesh or wire. It is not recommended to use wood shavings as a substrate in the cage. Dust can irritate your pet's skin and eyes. Pygmy hedgehogs are prone to upper respiratory problems, and shavings can be detrimental to your pet's health.

Comfortable living conditions for a pygmy hedgehog

African pygmy hedgehogs are sensitive to cold and temperature changes, so you will need to warm the cage with a heating pad. These animals must be kept at a constant temperature of 23 to 24.4 degrees Celsius. A thermometer should be placed in a safe place in the cage to ensure that the temperature remains constant and at the appropriate level. Your hedgehog will need twelve hours of light per day to regulate their natural rhythms. A broad spectrum lamp or a standard light bulb on a timer is suitable for use. Before bringing home your African Pygmy Hedgehog, consult with your veterinarian, who will explain in more detail and in an orderly manner what care, prevention, feeding and, if necessary, treatment, your new one needs. pet.

African white-bellied pygmy hedgehog - reviews

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Lika Mozyrko

https://flap.rf/Animals_and_plants/Common_hedgehog/Reviews/7600831

When I visited my grandmother for the holidays, at the end of July and the beginning of August there was an invasion of hedgehogs and, oddly enough, snakes on her property.

At this time, hedgehogs are already growing up, but they are not yet as prickly as adults. I loved playing with them. I remember dragging a few of them into the house, letting them out and watching them run around. She fed them milk.

Previously, people deliberately brought hedgehogs into the house and then the mice left. A profitable animal.

I also remember when we lived in Turkmenistan, I brought home a steppe hedgehog. They are different from ordinary ones, they have large ears like jerboas and a white belly.

So, at night the cat and the hedgehog were running around our one-room apartment, there was so much noise. The hedgehog lived with us for two days, or rather two nights. Mom kicked him out onto the stairwell and he ran away.

lenava

https://otzyvy.pro/reviews/otzyvy-karlikovyy-ezh-78128.html

Pros: interesting, funny

Disadvantages: price

Hello, dear readers! I want to tell you about a pygmy hedgehog. We once bought such a hedgehog for a child for her birthday, because she really asked for it. When we came to buy him, we saw that he was not at all comfortable there and his cage It was so small that we even felt sorry for the animal and then we decided that we would buy it right away in this store. To be honest, before buying it, we read a lot on the Internet about what kind of hedgehog this is and how to care for them...

Anna Che

https://bvf.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=1016945

Lovely! Do they eat insects alive?

Svetkin

Can be frozen

Kostya_KVK

https://nashemnenie.com/zhivotnye/17622-afrikanskiy-belobryuhiy-karlikovyy-ezh.html

Pros: Small size, cute, doesn’t trample, good!:)

Cons: Stinks, dirty, not human-oriented, no recoil, nocturnal, you need to strictly monitor the correct

A month ago, a pygmy hedgehog appeared in our family, or rather a hedgehog named Monya.

First of all, this is a nocturnal animal, completely nocturnal, it is impossible to see it either in the morning, during the day or in the evening. It only comes out after we go to bed. If you forcibly take him out of the cage and put him on the floor, he will freeze and sit in one position for as long as he likes, even for eternity.

The food is very funny. Banana crickets and small mice resembling some kind of embryos have taken up residence in our refrigerator. They convinced me that dry food should not be fed at all, only as a treat sometimes. I switched her to canned cat food and natural food. Her stool is plentiful and her cage needs to be cleaned at least once every two days. She shits exclusively in our wheel at night, so she went to the toilet and then ran around. Therefore, the wheel itself in the morning does not look good, to put it mildly, it needs to be washed. There is a smell, a good, persistent smell. She doesn’t need contact with people. In a month there has been no progress towards addiction or communication. You can pick her up, she won’t inject herself, she will crawl, look at you, and smell you. If you let him go, he will immediately run into the house.

When planting, you need to remember all of the above. Lack of disgust is the main factor. I gave you a live mouse. At first, this mouse suffered for a day in the feeder, the hedgehog did not want to eat it. And the next night she made up her mind, when she was chewing this mouse, a squeak was heard, disgusting, heartbreaking, the wife completely hid her head under the blanket and almost fainted. If you don’t give natural food, the hedgehog’s life will be cut in half at best, this should also always be remembered. Personally, I find it interesting to watch her, but I admit it’s very difficult. Life has changed dramatically this month. If you go on vacation, I can’t even imagine who you can leave this happiness to, because care and feeding require skills and take time. So I didn’t even decide on the usefulness, but I realized one thing: exotics are hemorrhagic.

I grew up among animals, cats, dogs, fish, hamsters were always at home, this tribe is generally problem-free compared to a small hedgehog. Even if it’s funny, beautiful and cute. This is a predator that does not eat mushrooms and apples, as they depict in cartoons.

Evochka Mustafina

https://vk.com/topic-91967152_33825828

We bought a hedgehog from this amazing nursery and did not regret it at all. The baby is very sociable, active and curious, and easily goes into the arms of strangers. I would like to say a big thank you to Victoria for putting your care and love into him, and even now, when any problems arise, you will always advise and give your recommendations.

natalya88

https://kupi-slona.com/catalog/afrikanskiy-belobruhiy-karlikovyy-zh-3/571331

I was always touched by this little miracle when I looked at pictures on the Internet. I wanted this little pet to run around in our apartment. I buzzed the guy's ears and for the next holiday he gave it to me!!! This is how I got a little hedgehog with a passport...

Ja__mama

https://www.u-mama.ru/forum/family/pets/698147/

This breed is a hybrid, that is, artificially bred to be kept exclusively at home. African pygmy hedgehogs were created by crossing two generic species, the white-bellied hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog.

I'll find out about these. They only shop, they don’t live in the forest.

Anonymous

https://v_dguk.ukr/ru/African_white-bellied_pygmy_hedgehog-r809226.html

I had the “luck” to keep a hedgehog for several days. The hedgehog, however, is not an ordinary one, but a specially bred domestic one (there are different species-subspecies crossed).

Although my friend himself doted on his hedgehogs, I still didn’t understand why??

My hedgehog was completely uncommunicative. He was constantly scared and curled up into a ball. The main food, according to my hedgehog breeder friend, is dry cat food. To please the hedgehog, I even went to the edge of town to buy him mealworms... They, by the way, are incredibly disgusting.

But the hedgehog crunched them just like that!

He refused to eat the huge cockroach that I caught! This was my biggest shock, because... I overcame my aversion to cockroaches. It’s still disgusting to remember.

The hedgehog shit a lot. I had to clean it every day.

Naturally, I didn’t sleep at night, trying to get out of the box, which I had to take out onto the balcony.

In general, I don't consider hedgehogs to be pets. There is NO return from them.

janed72

https://www.detkityumen.ru/forum/thread/451311/

Good day to all

I searched the forum and didn’t find a single owner of these wonderful animals.

Well, I’ll be the first, maybe someone else will come along

Meet Happy the Hedgehog, 2 months old

Olga and Gray

https://www.rustoy.ru/forum/index.php?topic=33150.0

Katy, look what I found

Kotya

Cool!!!

lenalena94

https://otzovik.com/review_5025724.html

Advantages:

small, unpretentious

Flaws:

not fluffy, often snorts and puts out its needles

The animal is exotic; recently many people have become interested in African hedgehogs. The animal is smaller than an ordinary forest hedgehog and when it grows it is still no larger than the palm of your hand. As I wrote in the title, hedgehogs are not suitable for playing with children, this is not a fluffy cat or dog, he is really prickly, the hedgehog has been living with us for six months and should get used to us, but nevertheless he still snorts when you pick him up . They do not require any special care, of course, clean the cage more often, you rarely need to wash it, we wash it once a month, sometimes we add a drop of linseed oil so that the skin does not dry out under the needles. We feed him cat food for small kittens, we also give him boiled chicken or meat, vegetables and fruits, he eats little, so a pack of food lasts a long time. A big mistake many people make is when they give them milk, under no circumstances should you do this! They are allergic to lactose. They do not tolerate infection and are very clean animals. You can start breeding from six months. We haven't driven ours yet. As for gender, it is difficult to determine immediately after birth and becomes clear and understandable only after two months; males have higher organs and they will become visible only after some time. Hedgehogs have a good sense of smell. If you start cooking in the kitchen, you immediately sniff it. They are mostly active at night, so we don’t let them out of the cage at night; they start running around the entire apartment, doing it very quickly. But it’s also better not to keep them in a cage all the time, they are prone to obesity and they need to run out of energy, so I advise anyone who gets a hedgehog to buy a wheel. It's really hard to find because they are mainly sold for hamsters and they are small in size. It is better to buy a cast wheel, because if the wheel is made of mesh, it can hurt the paws. Our hedgehog is not very friendly, she often snorts, but still often falls asleep in her arms. Very cute in a dream))

Irinapeach05

https://otzovik.com/review_7643901.html

Advantages:

Cute, funny

Flaws:

Lots of care)

Such an animal appeared) we were not at a loss right away, we went online. These are the rules you need to follow: change the water daily, your hedgehog should always have water! Water that stands. After more than a day, he begins to smell bad, the smell scares off the hedgehog, but he needs to drink, otherwise he will die! Fillers should not be corn or fruit tree sawdust! Corn filler is very poorly filtered; it can contain grains that are dangerous for the hedgehog! The Hedgehog should have a house, as well as a ball for cats (he will play with it, you can buy one at a pet store, not big and like a rattle). Feed as it is active, if the hedgehog doesn’t have a wheel and you don’t often let it run around, feed it a little twice a day, if the hedgehog has a wheel, three times, but also a little at a time! At first the hedgehog will hiss and jump, it takes him a week to get used to it, then he will walk on his own! They also don’t see well, so they remember the smell of their owners’ hands! This is such useful information)

kukolkabubekri

https://irecommend.ru/content/zhivotnoe-bez-otdachi-slozhnyi-ukhod-nedeshevoe-obsluzhivanie-ekzotika-ne-dlya-brezglivykh

Every animal is both good and bad. It brings both joy and problems. Unfortunately, I saw more problems in the hedgehog than joys. I decided to buy a hedgehog because of my daughter’s long persuasion. I read it. People seem to be happy. The animal is tame, recognizes the owner, and makes contact. I'll tell you about the main points. In four paws the hedgehog costs 6 thousand! Not cheap. They found it on Avito for half the price, although they also paid for the “shipping”) They handed it over to us by bus. We bought a cage, a wheel, a fleece house, and a drinking bowl. And all this came out to 7 thousand, including the hedgehog. We bought a pink cage. It fits well into my daughter's interior. The hedgehog is cute, small, we immediately started posting him on Instagram, even before they brought him to us))

A huge disadvantage was that, contrary to ALL the comments on the Internet, we could not pick up the hedgehog with our bare hands! We bought rubberized gloves for gardening. And so they were able to touch the hedgehog. I pierced my gloves a couple of times and my finger bled. Agree, it’s unpleasant.

Food is also a minus! Our hedgehog only ate ROYAL CANIN for kittens. 100 rubles per week. Next: puree for baby food. ONLY beef! The cost is no less than the hedgehog itself. We haven’t fed the hedgehog any worms or other live food in a month and a half! In Voronezh, we couldn’t get this “unseen” thing in pet stores! We were told that hedgehogs should be fed cat food. So we weren’t able to feed the thorn with worms. And I don’t know how I could even withstand this spectacle. Another minus is dirt!!!!!!!!!!! The cage can and should be cleaned every day. I did this a little less often. She looked messy all the time, even after cleaning 15 minutes later!!!!! Hedgehogs poop a LOT! Cleaning up is simply a pain—it can be done endlessly. And by the way, the smell is extremely unpleasant. Sorry for the details, but hedgehog urine is so yellow that it’s disgusting to even look at! Like the peel of an orange - the color is simply nuclear! The next disadvantage is that the hedgehog is a nocturnal animal! As the hedgehog grew - and he grows very quickly - the rumbling at night intensified to the limit! Every evening I took the cage with the hedgehog into another room and still heard it!!!!!! The filling in the cage is woody and loud, just like the hedgehog itself. But the most important disadvantage of a hedgehog is that it is not a cat or a dog! He will not be happy to see you, he will not rub himself at your feet and allow himself to be stroked. He will never repay you with his love and devotion for your efforts! This means that your efforts in care and your material costs will NOT pay off. Let me summarize: keeping a hedgehog is expensive, problematic and not very interesting. I persuaded my daughter to sell the hedgehog to a man who sincerely wanted such an exotic home! And they bought themselves a dog. Let the hedgehog forgive us, but we loved the dog more. Probably because he fell in love with us!

lusine9

https://otzovik.com/review_6920502.html

Advantages:

- does not smell - takes up little space - he does not need walks in nature - bathing occasionally (once a month is enough) - many gentle and positive emotions as a reward for patience and attentiveness

Flaws:

- it takes time and patience for him to get used to it and be calm - he is a nocturnal animal, so it is better to keep him not where someone sleeps - different food

2 years ago I was given an African pygmy hedgehog, and an albino one at that! This was the most unusual birthday gift. Now I can’t imagine life without him, I feel so much love and emotions, despite the fact that a hedgehog cannot show his feelings like a dog, for example)) The animal does not like sudden sounds and movements. He needs to know that he is safe. You need to take him out every day (after 6 pm, before this time it is night), give him space to walk, talk to him, hold him in your hands. Food - premium kitten food, no more than 20% fat, insects (Turkmen cockroaches, crickets, sometimes mealworms). It is also necessary to give a little bit of fruits and vegetables (apples, carrots, cucumbers, pears, etc.). The hedgehog really loves boiled chicken hearts (you can’t give them too often, they’re fatty), and boiled chicken or turkey breast fillets. All without spices. He definitely needs his own space, a wheel (physical activity is necessary), regular clean water, a house (with a piece of fabric) or a bag. If you are going to buy a pet (only in trusted places, I can tell you where), then know that after work/university (I think this is not a pet for children), you will need to find strength and pay attention to this creature. Basically, you need to spend time with him and watch his diet; caring for him is very simple. I am ready to answer all your questions, give recommendations on the care, nutrition, and health of your hedgehog. I approach the maintenance of my pet very responsibly, because he is special!

viktoria163

https://otzovik.com/review_3422370.html

Advantages:

Don't bite

Flaws:

There is not

On December 30, my daughters went online and came across pictures of pygmy African hedgehogs. My husband and I couldn’t choose a New Year’s gift for our children, since they already have everything. And we decided to buy them African hedgehogs. Little prickly lumps that at first hissed at us and were afraid, but quickly adapted and got used to us and the children. The children are delighted that there are 2 hedgehogs at home, whom they themselves named Misha and Masha. They are not pretentious and maintenance is not expensive.

amerbul

https://otzovik.com/review_4396508.html

Advantages:

does not take up much space, “compact”, not problematic, suitable for allergy sufferers, not difficult to care for, not expensive to maintain.

Flaws:

not for small children, must be fed with insects

The African hedgehog is an ideal pet for busy, always working people who cannot afford to have a cat or dog, because they require more complex care, and the dog generally needs to be walked 2-3 times a day. The cost of these animals from breeders ranges from 5 to 15 thousand. Well, for 15 thousand these are, of course, original colors, super blood, which are needed more for breeding. If you are on a limited budget, then it is better to choose an ordinary hedgehog for 5-7 thousand, but do not save and do not buy an animal on Avito for 3,000 rubles. There is a risk of running into a breeder and buying an animal that is not healthy and tame. The African hedgehog is very easy to keep; caring for it is no more difficult than caring for a rodent. You need to change all the filler in the cage once a week, and every day you need to wash the wheel in which the hedgehog runs all night. What should be in an African's cage? A spacious cage, in which there should be a soft house or a fleece bag, as well as a running wheel, we have a high-quality silent transparent wheel, a ceramic bowl (the hedgehog starts playing with plastic ones and turns over all the food), a drinking bowl, the one that hangs on the cage ( nipple), and a filler. African hedgehogs, if you initially bought a tame animal, are very sociable, although of course, these are not robots, so they, like any living creature, have mood swings, they can snort and even bite your hands if your hands smell of something, “aggressive.” "for the hedgehog. These exotics feed on dry cat food, premium class and insects such as crickets, cockroaches, mealworms and zoophobass, locusts, small mice (mice are not necessary). If you are afraid of insects, I will reassure you, all this is stored frozen, in the freezer. A large container of insects, which is enough for an animal for 1.5 months, will cost you 700 rubles. And a pack of dry food costs 400 rubles, which is also enough for 1.5 months. You can also give fruits and vegetables, but not citrus fruits. When purchasing this pet, it is important to remember that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals! They are active in the evening and during half the night (the other half of the night they eat and sleep). If you have allergies, then the African hedgehog is very suitable for you as a pet, because with proper care and nutrition, they do not smell at all. A properly selected filler absorbs all odors and prevents allergens from scattering around the room, which is why allergists allow their patients to get an African hedgehog, and not another small animal, because even from a rat or a hamster, which is 2 times smaller than a hedgehog much more stench than a hedgehog. Most importantly, when you get a hedgehog, remember that these animals are very demanding in terms of communication. It is very important that the owner communicates with the pet every day so that the hedgehog does not become wild and does not get used to your smell. If you devote time to your animal every day, the little thorn will trust you and sit calmly in your arms.

Strukova Yulia

https://irecommend.ru/content/bestolkovoe-domashnee-zhivotnoe

Good day, dear readers! I want to share my experience in keeping this animal... I will say right away that I do not have any positive feelings or emotions for this animal, its acquisition is a great curiosity and desire of my husband. I will not go into history and other details; I will immediately tell the main arguments of the content. This is a nocturnal animal that sleeps in the morning, afternoon and evening, and is actively awake at night! He eats, drinks, runs and poops (this is a separate topic). He eats dry cat food, and also insects, namely worms (zoophobus are such unpleasant worms), and beetles (fortunately, we live in a private house near the forest, and in the summer there are no problems with this stuff). There is also a bowl of water. I have already written about sleep, I will also add that there is practically no contact with him - he either sleeps or lies in a ball and hisses... I don’t know and don’t understand what emotions he can give in principle... In our country he lives in a large aquarium, filled with wood filler , a bowl of food and water, a house, and also a wheel in which he runs at night and poops terribly. While moving, they poop well (sorry for the details), because it all stinks terribly! In the morning, the wheel is removed and washed, but the room must be ventilated and washed with bleach or something that covers the smell. The noise from running at night is also very loud, at first I couldn’t sleep, now I’ve gotten used to it a little, but I still hear it every night. The price for such an extremely dubious pleasure is about 7 thousand (they took it 3 years ago). To summarize, I want to say that before you get such a pet, think a million times! It’s not worth it, believe me...there are no emotions and impressions, but there are a lot of minuses (the hassle of maintenance and smells are worth it).

SHUNI1423

https://otzovik.com/review_5252227.html

Advantages:

unpretentious, does not stink, sociable, very sweet and funny, eats cat food, does not tolerate illness

Flaws:

the wheel makes noise at night, but these are minor things for me

With my burden, I “fell ill” with hedgehogs. I drew pictures with them. I bought postcards and calendars with them, toys, etc. And then for my birthday my husband gives me Ezhunya! Let's go pick it up. It was winter, we put him in a box and all the way (since we are without a car) I hugged her from all sides so that the hedgehog would not fall into hibernation (they explained that they fall asleep from the cold and then they would have to wake him up for a long time). At home, the Hedgehog had a small cage waiting for him (there was no money for a larger one yet) and a portable plastic ball (in which he ran in the evenings, but this is very little for hedgehogs! They must run at least 10 km a day!). Later we transplanted it into a huge cage with a mesh wheel. Now every night you can hear the creaking of a wheel (as in the song) - confirmation of the health and well-being of the animal. Ezhuna really liked the bag I knitted - she always sleeps in it, even if it’s hot. I can say that the Hedgehog is not a whimsical animal at all! At all! As for care - I change the water every day, I add food every 2 days, once a week (or even once every 2 weeks!!) I change the filler (for girls you can use simple sawdust, for boys it must be in granules - because sharp little teeth can get into they will be in the causative place and there will be inflammation). Hedgehogs, unlike hamsters, rats, ferrets, etc., do not stink! With timely cleaning, neither the hedgehog itself nor its “business” emit any unpleasant odors. You can wash the hedgehog itself. But, despite all the cute videos where hedgehogs swim in basins, this is a lot of stress for them. If you wash a prickly one, then only in case of emergency and without any detergents. African pygmy hedgehogs are not found in the wild. They were bred specifically for home keeping, so they do not tolerate any diseases, ticks, etc. However, like their wild relatives, they are predators. They eat insects (locusts, zoophobass, cockroaches, etc.), which can be bought at the poultry market or from a breeder (you shouldn’t give them domestic cockroaches - they are full of infection). But if you don’t want to carry insects, you can get by with regular premium cat food. My Hedgehog eats Purina for kittens with pleasure. Chocolate, milk (there will be good diarrhea) and some other products are contraindicated for hedgehogs (you can find out the full list from the breeder or on websites about Hedgehogs). UNDER NO EVENT should you use perfumes or any products containing tea tree extracts. The vapors of the latter alone WILL KILL your pet!!! Now for communication. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and during the day you can only get them out of the house by force. In the evening, the prickly ones themselves go out to walk around the cage, crunch on food, drink some water, run in the wheel, etc. Then you can take him in your arms, painlessly for yourself and without stress for the animal. At first it will be sloppy - 100%. But with daily communication, ironing, etc., the Hedgehog will get used to you and will climb onto your palms and crawl on them like a hamster :-) African pygmy hedgehogs grow as big as the palm of an adult man at most. very cute, sociable (with the right approach) and unpretentious animals that even a child can handle.

ElenaPhotographer

https://irecommend.ru/content/polnyi-obzor-afrikanskogo-belobryukhogo-karlikovogo-ezha-osobennosti-kormleniya-i-ukhoda-moi

Greetings, friends!

I have loved animals since childhood, I have a lot of them, but I have the opportunity and desire for this! I am happy to take care of animals, I like to see their gratitude and happy faces! Animals are little angels who surround us and give us their warmth, kindness and devotion!

Today, I want to share my impressions and talk about the features of caring for the African white-bellied pygmy hedgehog! In the 21st century, there has been a trend towards owning exotic animals, some have a cat or a dog, some have a hedgehog, and now it has become absolutely normal!

So, what might motivate you to get a pygmy hedgehog?

1. Love to the animals
2. The cuteness of the hedgehog
3. The beauty of a hedgehog
4. Belief that a hedgehog brings good luck
5. Home security

You should not have a hedgehog if:

1. You have small children who could injure the hedgehog or injure themselves
2. You don't have time to properly care for your hedgehog
3. Your apartment is small
4. Do you have a cat
5. You have no money

If you still decide to take this important step, you should know the features of caring for and feeding a pygmy hedgehog!

• Think about what part of the apartment the hedgehog will live in; this place should not be near the bedroom, because the hedgehog is a nocturnal animal that will rustle at night!
• The filler for a hedgehog's litter box should be made of wood, except pine and spruce; the hedgehog should not have any evaporation of essential oils, he won't stand it!
• Food! You can feed special food for hedgehogs, or food for cats, and also give your hedgehog cockroaches and worms for dessert from time to time!
• Their small paws can be damaged very easily, so be very careful that there are no extra ropes, hairs, etc. in the hedgehog’s cage so that he doesn’t get entangled in it!
• Pets and hedgehogs are not always friends! Cats especially don’t like them; they want to touch them with their paws and crawl towards them. Dogs sniff hedgehogs!
• The hedgehog's cage should be such that the hedgehog cannot get out of it!

My experience with a hedgehog

My hedgehog is very sociable, he is not afraid of me at all, but I often hear that there are usually specimens that do not need communication at all, and people write that they do not get any return from them! I want to say that perhaps a mistake was made from the very beginning, because a hedgehog, like any other creature, needs warmth, attention, love and care, tactile daily contact so that it gets used to your hands! But each hedgehog is individual, and their characters can be completely different, just like people! When you buy a hedgehog, make sure that it is not very afraid of you, it will be easier to accustom such an individual to communication!

I hope my advice will help you in choosing a hedgehog and communicating with it!

You can read about my other animals here:

• About my cat
• About my dogs

By the way, they all get along great in the big house! Thank you for your attention!

irina_kozlova812

https://irecommend.ru/content/my-v-otvete-za-tekh-kogo-priruchili-9

I read reviews about the pygmy hedgehog. Lord, poor hedgehog! In my opinion, you didn’t take a dog or a cat. Hedgehogs have character and you need to find an approach to them! Should he change his habits out of happiness? People, wake up, if your soul is not in your heart, you don’t have to follow your children’s lead! In the end, a hedgehog is not a toy, but a living being. I should have talked to real people before buying, and not scoured the World Wide Web for information. I myself became the owner of a hedgehog, a girl, for four months. My hedgehog is very capricious and touchy, like all girls. She releases needles when she doesn’t like something or is hungry, including a new smell. You need to talk to hedgehogs every day. Otherwise, they become wild. Regarding the poop, sorry. She poops in the morning, there is no smell!!!!! If your hedgehog had a smell and there was a lot of poop, it means that not everything is in order in the body. My hedgehog doesn’t give me any trouble, I cleaned up the poop with a scoop once a day, the urine was absorbed into the soil and there were no odors. For the entire time that my hedgehog has been alive, I have not worn gloves!! The spines, on the contrary, are soft. She even became friends with a cat, and by nature he does not accept any animals. And I’ll tell you more, she has a cage in which her house is located. She doesn’t like store-bought ones, I had to sew it myself, but the hedgehog spends most of the time not in the house, but with us on the bed. Including at night. You need to buy a silent wheel, not the same as for hamsters.

Habitat of wild hedgehogs

Wild hedgehogs prefer savannas and deserts to live. There they freely hunt small rodents. Hedgehog predators go out hunting at night; they can navigate freely in the dark. Smell and hearing help to smell and hear prey even at a depth of 5 m underground.

The peculiarity of these small predators is the ability to swallow and digest food that reaches a third of the size of their own body.

Wild animals hibernate at certain times of the year; domestic animals, bred by breeders, do not have this feature.

If hedgehogs are not accustomed to drinking from a drinking bowl, then it is difficult to retrain them.

Answers to popular questions

No. When hedgehogs stop drinking their mother's milk, their digestive tract stops processing lactose. Animals can drink this drink, but they always pay for it with diarrhea.

It is not included in the diet of animals in the wild, but they quickly become accustomed to its use. Sea or river fish is boiled, steamed without salt, thoroughly cleaned of bones and given 1 tbsp. l 1 time per week. To make it easier for your pet to get used to the new product, it is mixed with pre-boiled cereals and vegetables.

Can be used to feed animals. 0.5 tsp boiled in water without salt and sugar, allowed once a week instead of millet, rice, oatmeal.

A dwarf pet should not eat this fruit, just like avocado and pineapple.

No, cookies are also contraindicated for African pygmies. They cause diarrhea in animals.

Dairy products, including cottage cheese, sour cream, and cheese, are prohibited for representatives of the hedgehog species. The high fat content in them harms the sensitive liver of pets, and lactose intolerance leads to digestive upset.

As in most semi-finished and ready-made meat products for people, sausage can contain many flavors, dyes, preservatives and other harmful additives. They have a detrimental effect on the body of a miniature animal in a short period of time.

The insects sold at bait shops are often raised in manure. They can be carriers of helminth eggs and a source of pathogenic bacteria.

For hedgehogs, feed insects should be used, which are bred specifically to enrich the diet of domestic animals.

Cockroaches, mealyworms, crickets, and grasshoppers must be purchased at pet stores. They also sell baby mice, hamsters and other treats for pets.

Proper feeding is the key to a long life for African hedgehogs. It is not difficult to organize, and the reward will be the health and grateful affection of a unique dwarf pet.

What to feed a hedgehog

The diet of hedgehogs is very specific, which is important to consider when choosing such a pet.

Veterinarians recommend taking premium dry food for cats as the basis of nutrition.

This product does not contain grains, dyes and starch, which are contraindicated for hedgehogs.

In second place in importance is the addition of specially grown insects to the diet, which, due to the popularity of unusual pets, can now be found in most pet stores.

Among these products you can choose Madagascar or Cuban cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, wax worms or zofobas larvae.

Before eating, the insects mentioned above must be frozen, first divided into portions, and then, if necessary, defrosted, bringing them to room temperature.

It is also recommended to give animals lean boiled meat or poultry, raw quail eggs or boiled chicken eggs, berries, vegetables and fruits.

Among the permitted ones are raspberries, apples, melon, apricots, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes and broccoli. Prohibited foods include high-calorie avocados, sweet raisins, cereals, nuts and seeds, as well as salty or peppery foods.

Also, contrary to popular opinion, it is not recommended to give your hedgehog milk or any dairy products.

To the same list you can add any sweets, onions and garlic, dried fruits, sausages, citrus fruits, and potatoes.

Today, commercial foods designed specifically for feeding hedgehogs are already appearing on the shelves of pet stores, but some of them contain nuts and raisins and may not be suitable for all breeds of pets.

It is necessary to feed the hedgehog 2-3 times a day, otherwise it may simply die from lack of food.

Don’t forget about drinking water; it should always be freely available and regularly updated with fresh water.

Feeding the hedgehog

In their natural environment, hedgehogs eat primarily animal foods. Their diet is dominated by insects - beetles, spiders, caterpillars, slugs, earthworms. These animals are not averse to feasting on bird eggs, frogs and lizards.

Hedgehogs living at home can be fed not only with purchased insects, but also with meat, fish, eggs and offal. All this is given in boiled form. The preferred meats are chicken fillet, turkey, veal and horse meat - low-fat varieties.

It is important for your pet to get fiber. Its main sources are vegetables:

• carrot;
• spinach;
• Bell pepper;
• pumpkin;
• cucumbers

As for fruits, the home hedgehog likes apples, pears, strawberries, wild strawberries and bananas. It is better not to feed dried fruits to your pet, as they contain a lot of sugar.

How long do hedgehogs live?

In the wild, these animals do not live long, on average from 3 to 5 years.

The reasons for this are infections, tick bites, attacks by predators and lack of food.

However, at home, with proper care, proper nutrition and regular examinations by a veterinarian, the animal’s lifespan can be from 6 to 7 years.

Today, breeders are working on crossing different breeds of hedgehogs in order to increase their life expectancy at the genetic level.

Domestic hedgehog: nuances of hygiene

A domestic hedgehog requires care on a par with cats and dogs. In particular, you should constantly wash his bowls. Moreover, it is advisable to use hot water for this. You also need to treat the running wheel with water and clean the bedding. It is recommended to change the litter approximately once a week.

Hedgehogs need to be bathed, but only when they become dirty. Warm water is suitable for this, but even this should not get into the ears or eyes. Therefore, you need to fill the container approximately to the level of the hedgehog’s tummy.

Convenient to clean with a toothbrush. It will perfectly treat the areas between the needles. It is also convenient for cleaning paws.

After bathing, the hedgehog must dry himself with a towel. You should not use a hairdryer - the animal may get scared.

It is also recommended to trim your hedgehog's claws. Otherwise, they will wrap up and the animal will be injured, for example, during a wheel race. But you only need to remove the very ends. Nail scissors are best suited for this purpose.

Domestic hedgehog loves to swim

How to care

First you need to decide on the place where the house will stand and take care of the optimal temperature conditions. Hedgehogs are contraindicated from being in a draft, hypothermia and staying in a place exposed to direct sunlight at the height of the day.

The ideal temperature should be no less than 20°C and no more than 26°C.

It is better to place the house in a quiet corner away from windows and a balcony, where the hedgehog can retire and feel safe.

Also, for a comfortable life for an animal, it is important to feed it correctly and regularly, clean the toilet, clean the house, and regularly wash the bowl and drinking bowl.

As for the toilet, hedgehogs usually choose one corner and start going there regularly. It is advisable to lay a diaper or place a small tray in this place.

It is important to know that these animals involuntarily relieve themselves while moving, in particular in the running wheel, so it needs to be washed regularly.

It is not recommended to let your hedgehog move freely around the apartment, because he may get stuck somewhere or begin to relieve himself throughout the house.

An important ritual is bathing hedgehogs. By nature, they are quite clean and take care of their fur and needles themselves, but sometimes they still need help from their owners.

It is recommended to arrange bath procedures once every two months. You need to fill the bathtub with water at a temperature of 36°C to a height of 10-15 cm, then put the animal in there and let it get comfortable, after which you can direct a stream of water at it.

It is not advisable to wet the ears and face, but the paws, back and tummy can and should be done.

You can bathe your hedgehog in clean water, and in case of particularly heavy contamination, use a special shampoo intended for rodents.

The shampoo should be applied to the tummy, as well as to the back, spreading the needles, and then let it float a little.

Then the hedgehog is washed well with water, dried with a towel and kept in a warm and soft blanket or towel on your knees for an hour to avoid colds.

What is contraindicated?

What should you not feed hedgehogs? First of all, the greatest danger to your pet will be from household members trying to feed the hedgehog food from the common table. This should not be done under any circumstances. Salty and peppery food is extremely dangerous for your prickly friend. It is highly not recommended to offer your hedgehog fatty and fried foods.

The list of prohibited products includes:

• Dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream) and milk
• Dried fruits, including raisins
• Citrus fruits, their peels and seeds
• Seeds in any form, nuts, almonds
• Onion, garlic, horseradish, pepper
• Crackers, dried fish, chips, cookies
• Sausage, smoked meats, frankfurters

Feed your prickly friend only foods that are healthy for him, and your pet will live a long and carefree life.