Hedgehog Care

Taking your hedgehog home.

This could be stressful for your hog as he/she will be experiencing a change of environment,different smells and noises but there are a few things that you can do to make this easier for your hoggie.

Once you get home your hog will most probably be awake so handle him for a little while,no more than 15 mins and then place him in his new home and leave him alone to settle down for the rest of the day.When he wakes up later in the day just watch him as he gets to know his new home. Feed him with the food we will have given you for the first few days so that there are not too many changes all at once. It could take 2-3 days for him to settle but it is important to still handle him just for short periods as he needs to bond with you, as he gets use to you gradually lenghten these play times. Most hedgehogs love mealworm so these are useful to give as treats while bonding, a little bribery goes a long way. You will need to put in some time to bond with your hoggie but will be rewarded by these lovely creatures.

Diet.

Hedgehogs eat a staple diet of PREMIUM dry cat biscuits with a minimum of 30% protein and no more than 10% fat content.We also give a mix of grated carrot,cooked grated chicken and sweetcorn a couple of times a week. Some hogs like a little chopped harboiled egg,apple,pear and you will get to know what your hoggie prefers. 3-4 mealworms can be give a couple of times a week but no more as they can lead to your hedgehog putting on too much weight.

You must NOT feed your hedgehog: FISH, GRAPES, PEACHES or RAISINS.

A plentiful supply of clean fresh water must be available at all times.

Housing.

They require a warm dry living space and there is a wide variety of enclosures available. We prefer to use cages that are for guinea pigs and no smaller than 3ft long but be aware that smalll hogs can squeeze through the smallest space. We find wood shavings(not sawdust) are best as a floor covering and this makes it easy for spot cleaning each day. A sleeping compartment or igloo is a must so that your hoggie can sleep undisturbed. An exercise wheel is essential for a healthy hog as they can run up to 8 miles a night. The wheel should be a minimum of 12" diametre and solid not wire as they could catch their feet. They also like large cardboard tubes to hide in and run through and some cat toys.You'll find out which they like and which they ignore. Spot clean the cage each day giving it a full clean each week but you will need to clean the wheel daily as hogs tend to poop in them.

Temperature.

Usually a centrally heated house is fine for hedgehogs but the temperature should not really drop below 65 deg as there is a danger that your hoggie will try to hibernate if it becomes too cold and this can be fatal. A heat mat can be useful to maintain the temperature and remember that if you feel cold your hog feels cold.

As breeders we are here to help you all we can and if you ask questions we cannot answer we most probably know someone who does.