Hedgehogs are such an amazing animal! They are kind of like the prettier and nicer version of a rat and mole combined. If you are interested in getting a rat or small furry creature, don't get a rat, they LOVE to bite. And Don't get a Ferret, they LOVE to stink! This gentle little creature is the perfect pet for an older owner. Hedgehogs... Well, look like this! This is My Baby!
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| This is when he was younger, about half the adult size. Notice he has blue eyes! |
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| This is him now, full grown and about 1 year old! Same sweetness as he had when I first got him!! |
Hedgehogs are pretty hard to breed, and are pretty expensive to buy at a pet store, but its a save compared to what you will go through will other pets!
Hedgehogs are A LOT like humans, believe it or not! Every one is different with a lot of things, including food habits, the way they sleep, and their own personality! Mine was nurtured by the pet store they came from, and wasn't too shy because of it. He was raised around people, so he was lovable at the beginning. They can tend to get Mites. Mine had them, and still might. The medicine is so easy to get from a vet, and is super cheap, though don't be mad if a vet IN THE CITY charges you more. They can have teeth problems, because they are so tiny, but I don't think its too common. My hedgehog HATES fruit. There are only certain fruits you can give them. Most fruit with no kind of hard seeds is good. Bananas, blueberries, strawberries, you can try apples, though it gives some a stomach ache. I have given mine a couple pomegranate seeds, and he spits the seed out, he just eats the fruit coating.
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| As you can see, there is a small white seed in a coating of fruit. |
But I have stopped until I can confirm its safe for him to eat. ALWAYS talk to your vet if you are ever hesitant, I call mine at least once a week, and he might get irritated, but that's what he is there for! So don't ever feel afraid to. They have a certain food you feed them and can buy, that looks like little cat food X's.
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| This is the food that I use for him. |
This is their preferred food. Fruits are a nice vitamin boost! Good for the body! Mine hates every fruit possible except for pomegranate seeds. You can also buy your Hedgehog Meal Worms and Crickets for more protein and other nutrients. Now don't think 'Oh, I can just go catch a cricket and feed him one.' NO! They can carry something that can get your Hedgehog sick, or even killed! When you buy them, they are clean and bred for the soul purpose of being eaten. My Hedgehog Cyndaquil LOVES Meal worms, and is quite alright with crickets. I feed him some often, to keep his protein up. If you want to connect with your hedgehog, or just make him happy, feed him by hand. I wait till my crickets die to feed him, because the last thing I need is to chase one around my house. And with meal worms, at first I was freaked out to use them, because they look like grubs, but they aren't as bad as I even thought they were, They don't have a big enough mouth to bite you, hardly one at all, and there are only a couple legs, and you can't feel them. And to reassure you completely; when you buy them, they are stored in a fridge to keep them in hibernation. That's right, they are frozen! They don't move! You can feed them to your Hedgy by hand, and they wont move at all!
My NEXT Blog will be a continued part (Part 2) if you own or going to own a Hedgehog! The next blog will explain about how you know when they are sick, and their disadvantages that they need your help with! The Hedgehogs you can get at a pet store are not wild, and are different than a wild one, they are not as accident-prone as the wild ones! They need your help, so read the 'Hedgehogs!! (Part 2)' Blog!
