Hello !! I was wanting to get a pet hedgehog but I know absolutely nothing about it, do you know what all I should know before getting one?? :)
Hi!Ok so hedgehogs are really cute and pretty trendy at the moment, but they are not a great choice. They don’t make good companions, are difficult to care for, and most importantly, hedgehogs are wild animals that are not well adapted to living in a domestic situation. They are not affectionate and don’t like being touched, and it’s hard to provide them with medical care and a proper diet.
Here’s a few reasons why they aren’t great companions:
They are not domesticated (link)Hedgehogs bred in captivity are generally only a few generations separate from their free-living cousins. They are not genetically different from wild hedgehogs. They are wild animals.If you spend a lot of time taming them, they can eventually learn to tolerate your presence and touch, but they will never initiate contact with you, run towards you, or display affection. (link)
They are scared of youAs antisocial prey animals with poor sight, hedgies are naturally scared of humans. When you first bring a hedgehog home, they will not like you at all.You will need to spend a great deal of time getting them used to you. (link)As they are almost entirely dependent on scent, if you change soap or shampoo, you will need to go through the entire process over again.
They are pricklyTheir spines aren’t just for display and you will get poked. It hurts.
They biteHedgehogs have sharp teeth and they communicate by biting. (link)
They don’t like to be patted (or petted, whichever word you use)They just don’t like it and it can stress them out to be stroked. Really well socialised hedgies can learn to tolerate it but generally they don’t. (link)Your social interactions with them will be limited to just having them on your lap and not touching them too much. (link)If you’re a really tactile person and want a companion that you can stroke, a hedgehog isn’t for you.
QuillingHedgehogs periodically shed their spines and grow new ones. This is generally a quite painful process for them (a bit like teething in babies) and their behaviour can change dramatically during this time.You will need to monitor them closely during quilling as several things can go wrong and will require medical assistance. They require special care during quilling and you will need to find the balance between continuing your daily handling, providing the care they need, and not agitating them too much. (link)
They are nocturnalThey sleep most of the day and are generally only active at night. This means that you will only be able to interact with them at night. (link)If you intend to house a hedgehog in your bedroom, be aware that they make noise all night every night.
Vet care is difficult to find and expensiveVery few vets will be able to treat a hedgehog, and the ones that can will charge a lot. Before you take on a hedgehog you must be financially secure and find a suitable vet in your area because they need yearly checkups. (link)If there are no vets near you that can treat a hedgehog, you will be unable to provide them with the care they need.
They can make you sickHedgehogs have salmonella in their feces which is transmittable to humans. You will need to wash your hands thoroughly after you interact with a hedgehog or clean out their cage. (link)
They spit all over themselvesThat’s right. They make big mouthfuls of foamy spit and spread it all over their bodies. (link) (link)
It’s hard to provide a complete dietHedgehogs are insectivores. Free-living hedgies eat diets based on a variety of insects. As well as bugs, they will opportunistically eat carrion, eggs, small vertebrates, and occasionally some vegetation.It is impossible to provide an ideal diet for a hedgehog. You will have to carefully research the best diet for hedgehogs and provide a variety of foods. Best to discuss it with a hedgie enthusiast or a vet that specialises in exotics. (link) (link)
They must be kept at a specific temperatureHedgies need a constant temperature of 22-27°C (72-80°F). You’ll need to keep the room they are in at a constant temperature, and put a heater in the cage. (link) (link)
I do not support keeping hedgehogs or other wild animals as pets.It’s unfair to them and promotes the capture of wild animals for the pet trade.Wild animals belong in their own habitats, living their own lives.
If you’re looking for a small and cute companion, how about rats, guinea pigs, or a hamster?
