Our pygmy hedgehog Pumpkin is the first
pet we got together and we’ve had him for about a year and a half. Some
people might find a hedgehog a weird pet but we adore him. We
actually talked about getting one for about four years so it wasn’t a decision
we rushed. I’m glad we waited because we got the hedgehog that was
perfect for us. He is the best little boy. For anyone
considering getting a hedgehog as a pet I have put together some information
for you.
Spikes – Quills
Hedgehogs are spikey creatures and yes
they can hurt at times. When we first got him, we were using oven
gloves to pick him up! This lasted a few days really but we were very
lucky. I’ve heard of people that couldn’t pick up their hedgehog for
months. His spikes softened somewhat as he got more domesticated and
he doesn’t really hurt us anymore. I’ve had naps with him, I play
with him and give him hugs and kisses all the time. He feels rough
but not spikey. He lets me play with his spikes and he seems to like
it. Once again I do need to say that this isn’t the case for
everyone.
Hedgehogs can spike in different
ways. They make a deep sigh or a hiss and they can lightly spike as
a warning or to show mild irritation. They can also roll into a ball
and give the full spikey blast and it will hurt. They do this when
they are distressed. They can do this for seconds or hours.
The spikes are called quills. Young
hedgehogs start to quill which essentially means they shed some of their
spikes. This is normal but if too many quills are being shed then
the hedgehog needs to be examined by a vet. As an adult if a
hedgehog starts to lose a lot of quills they really need emergency medical
attention. I will talk about hedgehog health in a separate post.
Teeth
As much as one thinks a spike from a
hedgehog will hurt, I can promise you it is nothing in comparison to a
bite. They have fangs and can really chomp down if they feel like
it. I’ve been bitten by Pumpkin two or three times since we’ve had
him. Usually they don’t bite for malicious reasons, it is normally
something like a nice smelling soap or shower gel that they think is food that
makes them nip.
Diet
I have seen posts and videos with
hedgehog parents offering grapes as part of a hedgehog’s diet. Please
do not give your hedgehog grapes. So many animals are allergic to
them and hedgehogs are included. Grapes will sicken and possibly
poison your poor hog.
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so
never let them have dairy. I read before that they like scrambled
egg whites but Pumpkin didn’t take to them at all. His main diet is
cat nuts. These need to be very good quality nuts. Pumpkin
has Royal Canin. A bag will last months because they don’t eat a
lot. They also need mealworms in their diet. This might
seem a little bit gross but they absolutely adore them. They need to
be live and the hedgehog can’t have too many of them too often as they are quite
fatty. Mealworms are a great way to blackmail your hedgehog when you
have to cut their nails or do something they don’t like. Always
distract them with mealies!
Heat
Pygmy hedgehogs originate in Africa so
they need heat. They will be cold if you don’t supply them with an
additional heat source. You really don’t want to let your hedgehog
get cold because it will get sick or go into hibernation. Pygmy
hedgehogs do not hibernate so they will possibly die if this happens. The
best way to keep them warm is to install a heat lamp and separate light
source. We have ours on a timer so Pumpkin is always between 18-20
degrees and he loves it. He has a fleecy insulated little bed in his house and
he’s very happy.
When we got him we were assured a
regular cage was perfect for him. This isn’t necessarily true and a
glass style cage would have been better because the cold wouldn’t get
through. We ended up insulating his cage with tinfoil and this did
the trick.
Sleep
As I mentioned, pygmy hedgehogs do not
hibernate. They are nocturnal though. Some people train
hedgehogs with lights to change their sleeping habits. We do have
lights for Pumpkin but we haven’t changed his natural sleeping rhythm
much. Generally speaking he wakes up at about 7pm. He’ll
sit with us in a snuggle sack or play, whatever he feels like for a few hours. When
we go to bed at 11ish, he runs on his wheel. They love running and
can run up to five miles in a night. This is great exercise for them
and great fun. He goes to sleep again at around 6 or 7am. Sometimes
this alters, for example it is 4pm now and he’s wide awake. Their
sleeping pattern can be great because during normal working hours, he or she is
fast asleep and will be awake when their pet parents come home.
Play
Hedgehogs like to explore and
play. Now they can be moody so if they don’t want to, they’ll
definitely let you know. Like other small animals they like to run
through tunnels. They also like to explore the house. A
word of warning, they are incredibly fast and they’ll vanish in the blink of an
eye so always play with them.
They like little tug-of-war games
sometimes but use something soft like a baby towel.
Running is for sure the favourite activity
of a hedgehog. They don’t really fit in normal gerbil wheels so
special ones can be bought. Carolina Storm in the states has amazing
wheels. Pumpkin adores his.
Snuggle sacks are a must. These
are essentially fleecy bags that they sit in, sleep in and dig in. They
also keep them warm and cosy when they are out of their heated houses. These
can be handmade but you need to be very careful about how they are sewn because
hedgehogs can get their teeny toes caught in them and they can break easily.
Cleaning
Pygmy hedgehogs need baths. Most
of them tend to like them and they roll in a ball and float on their
backs. They are little spikey boats. Pumpkin, however,
hates to roll on his back. He may be the only hedgehog in the world
that hates it. He tends to do a doggy paddle around the sink
instead. The water needs to be warm, not too hot and it is vital to
get the right shampoo that doesn’t irritate them. Aveeno’s baby
shampoo is great. You won’t need a lot. They can be
cleaned in their sink bath with a toothbrush. Their nails tend to
get quite dirty (when they run in their wheels, they poop so it gets on their
toes) so you’ll definitely need to get at them with a tooth brush. Make sure
they are rinsed and towel dry them.
Nails
Their nails grow very quickly and can
become ingrown so they do need to be cut regularly. This can be a
bit of a job because holding a spikey hedgehog that doesn’t want his or her
nails cut can be tricky but mealworms will be your best friend. Be
very careful cutting their nails because as with most animals, there are veins
in their nails. Only take off a tiny amount. A normal
nail clippers will do the job.
Personality
Pumpkin is the sweetest little boy and
we are very lucky. He is a very loving pet and we couldn’t ask for
better. He is so caring. Like other pets, he picks up on
moods. If he feels I’m upset he will snuggle into me more or gives
me a big grin. Hedgehogs smile and it is adorable. He
also laughs. If something happens like the dog falling off the couch
or something he thinks is funny, he opens his mouth wide, shows his teeth and
makes laughing motions. He likes to climb on us and play. Sometimes
he’ll put his paw over my finger and hold hands. He loves chin rubs
and kisses on his ears. He humours me and lets me put hats on
him. He really is a special little boy.
Pygmy hedgehogs really are the best
little pets. If you have any questions, please do get in contact with me.
