Tips for Hedgehog Care

I decided to create this blog to be a source of information about the care and well-being of the African Pigmy Hedgehog. I do not claim to be an expert, but as a hedgehog owner myself, I see a lot of individuals interested in getting a prickly friend...

[artofyaya]

Since I started following sites like Mr.Pokee or Azuki on Instagram I am really hooked on hedgehog cuteness. So here’s one for my fellow hedgehog lovers <3

[hedgehogsofasgard]

Lovely work!

[hardhedgehoglife]

Who says old ladies like me can’t be beautiful?

[mustluvhedgies]

Hi there! I’m a new hedgehog owner to a hedgie that is currently 6 months. I wanted to know- she started to have a less appetite so I got her new food. From a blog I read they said that breeders recommended the Natural Balance green peas and duck was a great option for hedgehogs, but I was informed that green peas can cause CMD for hedgehogs.. if I however mix this food with her first food, is she still at risk for CMD?

I don’t know about any pea correlation.

Peas generally have a high sugar content, so they may not be the best choice. I’ve never given my hedgehog peas, but I do not see why they can’t have fresh (cooked) peas in moderation.

As far as food goes, a high quality cat food is recommended. At least 30% protein, no more then 18% fat, and no less than 3% fiber is ideal. Dry food helps keep teeth clean, and I would avoid any fish flavors.

[hedgehogsofasgard]

The reason why peas are not recommended is because they contain high levels of phosphorus (next to the high sugar level). Combined with the other high phosphorus foods many hedgehogs already get (such as mealworms), this could become too much if it’s not balanced out in the diet. Excess phosphorus can hinder the absorption of calcium and cause calcium deficiency which can affect muscle so I’m guessing that’s where the CMD part comes from, even though CMD are inherited diseases and have nothing to do with peas - so no, your hedgehog won’t get CMD from eating peas but it’s not the ideal food for them either. While peas should be fine as an occasional treat, I would not recommend a diet where peas are one of the main ingredients. Most commercially made diets are already balanced when it comes to vitamins and minerals but with so many other foods (mainly live insects) already being high in phosphorus I’d go for a different option if given the choice especially if you feed an insect-rich diet to your hedgehog.

[mustluvhedgies]

Thanks @hedgehogsofasgard.

[hedgehogsofasgard]

Hi Hedgehogs of Asgard, My name is Hada. I have a almost-3-year-old hedgehog named Momo. She has been diagnosed with a malignant mass lesion (cancer - middle stage) few weeks ago. I have had coped with this fact and preparing my mental to let her go. I bumped with your web and read about your TYR. I just want to stop by to ask, "how could you make that decision when you knew TRY wouldn't go any better?" It is so hard. She has acted normal when on my nap and in my arm. It's very hard to let go.

I’m so sorry to hear about your hedgehog’s diagnosis. It is a difficult decision. Sometimes - for me at least - it can help to think “How would I want to remember him/her?” I wouldn’t have wanted to remember Týr in any other way than his active and curious self. It was also difficult because we still thought we could make him better. But he was going downhill fast and in the end there was no other (humane) choice. If I’d known, I’d made the decision even sooner. Cancer is a horrible disease, but if you’re at a point where you know it’s untreatable but your hedgehog is still pretty much herself, I would ask myself that question every day. The most difficult thing to do is to let go before the day comes where she isn’t like she used to be anymore. It’s a thin line and you know your hedgehog best, so it’s a decision you will have to make when the time comes. I hope you will be able to still have some good days or weeks with her and I wish you the best in making this difficult choice! It’s always hard, but I’m glad we are able to make that decision for them when it’s needed.

[ron-hari]

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カイくん、ホラー映画の練習中です。音声ありでどうぞ 🔊🔛

#hedgie #hedgehog #ハリネズミ #はりねずみ #pet #animal #刺猬 #ふわもこ部 #エキゾチックアニマル #riccio #igel #hérisson #animalsofinstagram #cuteanimals #erizo #instaanimals #еж #buzzfeedanimals #animalphotography #ハリネズミのカイ #櫂くん

[mustluvhedgies]

Blog Update 1/30/18

Hello all,

Longtime followers will have noticed that I stopped posting daily since last spring. Today was the first time I’ve answered questions in months.

When I started this blog back in 2014, I did so as a passing hobby. I felt like there was a gap that needed filling when it came to finding information about the care and well-being of our favorite prickly companions. I enjoyed queuing up daily content for you all, and loved (and still love) getting responses and feedback.

I did take a short hiatus back in 2016 for personal reasons, but then came back for your normally scheduled programming. It may have not been daily posting, but hey, I shot for a couple of times a week.

But in early 2017 I was overcome with another personal hardship and basically dropped off of the proverbial tumblr-planet. And that’s how things stood for the better half of a year.

So to all of the people who have sent me questions and have essentially been ignored, I apologize.

Moving forward, I don’t see myself pouring in as much time as blogs-past. Life gets hard. I have no intention of pulling the plug on mustluvhedgies, but it’s likely I will not respond in a timely manner (just a heads up). I’m taking time to focus on myself, however long that takes.

[mustluvhedgies]

Hi there! I’m a new hedgehog owner to a hedgie that is currently 6 months. I wanted to know- she started to have a less appetite so I got her new food. From a blog I read they said that breeders recommended the Natural Balance green peas and duck was a great option for hedgehogs, but I was informed that green peas can cause CMD for hedgehogs.. if I however mix this food with her first food, is she still at risk for CMD?

I don’t know about any pea correlation.

Peas generally have a high sugar content, so they may not be the best choice. I’ve never given my hedgehog peas, but I do not see why they can’t have fresh (cooked) peas in moderation.

As far as food goes, a high quality cat food is recommended. At least 30% protein, no more then 18% fat, and no less than 3% fiber is ideal. Dry food helps keep teeth clean, and I would avoid any fish flavors.

[mustluvhedgies]

How big do hedgehogs usually get? What kind of reference can I use to tell if my hedgie is overweight?

It really depends on the hedgehog.

According to Hedgehog Central, “The average African Pygmy Hedgehog weighs about 0.5 to 1.25 pounds…about the size of a guinea pig. There are some that will grow to as much as 1.75 to 2 pounds (without being fat) while others are as little as 6 or 7 ounces.”

I would trust your vets opinion on that matter. A general rule of thumb is that your hedgehog should not struggle to ball up when defensive.

[mustluvhedgies]

sorry to bother you. do you know if amaranth seeds are good for hedgies? i cant find anything either way

In general, seeds aren’t recommended for hedgehogs. They pose a choking hazard.

[mustluvhedgies]

I've been hearing that hedgehogs can eat pumpkin but.. Should I cook it? Can they eat it raw? Can they even eat it?

Canned pumpkin is a great source of moisture. It is often recommended for hedgehogs that strain with hard stools.

As for raw whole pumpkin, I would cook it to soften it a little bit first before feeding.

[mustluvhedgies]

Hi! I'm getting a hedgie this year and your blog is a GODSEND. I just had a question about hedgies and cages in general- Do they get depressed or unhappy? I'll of course be playing and interacting with her outside of a cage, but I am so nervous that i'll hurt my hedgie somehow. What cage size is recommended? I'm looking at a cage 47" long and 27" wide. Is that enough to keep them very happy? I'm very sorry to bother you, i just want to ease my anxiety about i pet that i adore. Thank you!

That should be plenty of room for him/her. The recommended minimum is about 4 square feet.

Hedgehogs are solitary by nature. They are perfectly happy to be left alone. Of course, you do still want to interact with them. The easier it is for you to handle them, the better off he will be. You will be able to monitor his health more closely (clipping nails, weight management, teeth care, skin care, etc...).

[mustluvhedgies]

My hedgehog passed away a month ago and I still cry when I think about him. Your blog helps me relive the memories so thank you.

[fbwzoo]

And this is why you should really go to an established rescue or a breeder if you’re a first-time hedgehog owner. I posted about Bassy this morning, one of my boyfriend’s rescue boys that I’m in love with. The left picture is from 4 months ago, when he first arrived. He had a horrible mites infestation, along with a skin infection. He was a very uncomfortable, unhappy ball of quills. :(

4 months later, he’s healthy, happy, and starting to realize that humans are not all terrible! ♥ But it took quite a bit of work, baths, and medicine to get him to this point. If you’re interested in getting a hedgehog, it’s a good idea to go to a reputable breeder or a rescue instead of adopting one from Craigslist or something similar. You can’t be sure of what you’ll end up with & hedgehogs take some getting used to for their normal behavior & care as it is. 

You can find rescues in your area by checking out the Hedgehog Welfare Society! If you go to a breeder, make sure you check them out carefully - there are a LOT of backyard breeders for hedgehogs these days. You can read this post to see what you should look for in a hedgehog breeder!

[hedgehogsofasgard]

Merry Christmas!

[honmushi-deactivated20191104]

My friend @morronsoup requested in my stream doggos but then she wanted hedgehogs at the end aND I CANT SAY NO TO THAT

[ron-hari]

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枝豆ちょうだい！枝豆！枝豆！

#hedgie #hedgehog #ハリネズミ #はりねずみ #pet #animal #刺猬 #ふわもこ部 #エキゾチックアニマル #riccio #igel #hérisson #animalsofinstagram #cuteanimals #erizo #instaanimals #еж #buzzfeedanimals #edamame #枝豆 #animalphotography #おはぎデラックス

[hedgehogsofasgard]