Picking Out Your Hedgehog

As always, I recommend reading my other blogs before reading this one, if you haven't already. I am trying to give a little background on what it is like to purchase a Hedgehog as a pet. :)

In this post, I will be focused on what you should look for when picking out a Hedgehog. Assuming at this point you have found a reputable breeder and have set up a date to go pick out your little one, there are some things to look out for when picking them out.

Usually the breeder will let you see and play with all the babies they currently have - assuming they have more than 1. (Sometimes they only will have 1 or 2 babies left to choose from.) I highly advise going against your instinct to pick out the cutest looking Hedgie, or the one with the color you like most. Mostly because this will probably change as the Hedgehog gets older.

When picking out a Hedgehog, you really have to look at their personality and what you want out of your pet. Observe the Hedgehogs as they play around with others, and how they interact with you. If you are looking for a Hedgehog that is very outgoing and full of energy, look for one that seems to resemble these traits. They will most likely be running around trying to get into things they aren't supposed to. If you want a laid back Hedgehog, you are probably going to want the one that has been sleeping ever since you arrived. It is totally up to you.

For example, the first Hedgehog I picked out was very adventurous. She escaped her cage several times and was very curious about her surroundings. She was also very friendly so I picked her to be mine. But again, it is totally up to you and your preference.

Again, do NOT pick out a Hedgehog simply because you like their coloring. Truly get to know your Hedgehog before you bring them home. Another thing to look out for is the gender. While I also don't recommend picking out a Hedgehog based on this, it can be a factor for some people when buying one.

For example, if you already have a Hedgehog, you need to take their gender into consideration. Are they going to be housed in the same cage? If so, you CANNOT put two males together. They will fight each other, and you do not want that. Females seem to be fine with one another most of the time. Also never put a female and a male together, unless you want babies. But I don't recommend doing this unless you are seriously considering breeding them, but that's a whole other story.

If you are putting them in separate cages, it doesn't really matter what the gender is. Overall, pick out the Hedgehog you think will fit your needs the most. Don't let color or gender hinder your choices. Also make sure you take their health into consideration. Although I briefly discussed this in the Finding a Breeder Blog, their health is very important. If a Hedgehog doesn't have trimmed nails, or has crusty eyes, etc. it may be time to find a new breeder. You obviously don't want to pick out a Hedgehog that is going to be ill. Especially if you are a new Hedgehog owner, this can be a serious issue to look out for. Vet bills are expensive.

I urge you to, again, do your own research before getting a Hedgehog. Check out my previous blogs for some more information. Picking out a Hedgehog is fun, don't over think it! :)

Finding a Breeder

I highly suggest you read my previous blog to decide whether or not a Hedgehog is the right pet for you. Assuming you have done so already, here are some tips on finding your pet.

Finding a breeder for your next spiky friend can be difficult and time-consuming. Now, before I continue, I am going to talk about finding a breeder for your Hedgehog. I highly recommend going to a specialized breeder instead of looking towards a local pet store, Craigslist, friends, etc. A breeder has knowledge that these other sources might. They also know what they are doing and most of the time they will guarantee your Hedgie's health for a certain period of time. They will not sell you a Hedgehog that has known health issues, or has a genetic predisposition for any diseases. Pet stores or strangers may not know/disclose this information with you. So, I will continue on with the assumption you are seriously looking into breeders and doing research.

Starting out with a Google search is a great start to look for breeders in your area. You can also check out websites, such as hedgehogbreeders.org, that have a full listing state by state (In U.S.) of certified Hedgehog breeders.

A little background on me, I got my first Hedgehog from Hamor Hallow Hedgehogs. They are USDA licensed, very friendly and knowledgable, and I had a great experience with them, as many others have. If you live in New England, I highly recommend looking them up.

Here are some things to look for while searching for a breeder:

• Find a knowledgable breeder. These breeders should be able to answer any questions you have, and will "screen" potential buyers before selling them Hedgehogs. Usually they will make you fill out a form saying where you live, where the Hedgehog will live, why you want one, etc. They do this so they can find the best homes for their Hedgehogs as well. 
• Healthy Hedgehogs. When looking for a breeder, make sure they have a health guarantee. With this, the breeder is guaranteeing their Hedgehogs do not have any known health problems, and will often offer a refund if they do. Also make sure the environment in which the Hedgehogs are living is suitable. If their nails are unclipped, they are living in filth, or their wheels/homes are too small, it is a sign you may need to find a new breeder. 
• Recommendations. Most breeders will/should have recommendations or reviews from people who have bought from them before. I highly recommend reading through these to get a feel about what the breeder is like. Most breeders will have a Facebook or Twitter, where you can check the feedback as well. 
• A breeder that will allow you to come check out the Hedgehogs before you take them home or make a commitment. This is extremely important. If a breeder is unwilling to let you come see their Hedgehogs, that indicates something is not right. They should welcome you to visit and play with them to get a feel about what owning a Hedgehog will be like. This will also allow you to ask any questions, and see what their living conditions are like. 
• Easy contact information. A breeder should respond relatively quick to any questions you have before AND after you purchase a Hedgehog. They should have their information clearly laid out on their website, or social media sites. This is important, and they should willingly offer this information to you, especially after you first take your Hedgehog home to make sure there are no problems that arise. 

Overall, there are many different factors to look into when buying a Hedgehog. There are more things to consider, but these are the most important. I highly recommend sitting down and dedicating serious time to researching breeders in your area. Don't just look at what breeder is closest, or cheapest. If you are serious about getting the best Hedgehog you can, you shouldn't care about these things. As mentioned before, they are expensive. Take that into consideration when looking for a breeder. 

As always, if you have any further questions, or want to make a suggestion for the next blog, feel free to contact me. All of my information is on the Contact tab! 

Is a Hedgehog right for you?

Hedgehogs are not only adorable creatures, but they make great companions. However, unlike a rabbit, hamster, or cat, these animals are not for the beginner pet owner. Hedgehogs are considered exotic animals, and they require a lot of specialty care. Therefore, one should do a lot of research and consideration before adopting a Hedgehog. Here are some things to consider:

Hedgehogs are not cheap to adopt and take care of. Their life spans can range, but can be anywhere from 3-8 years, with cancer and other diseases being prominent the older they get. The initial adoption cost can be pricey - usually a couple hundred dollars depending on your location, breeder, color, etc. That is usually just the cost of the Hedgehog itself, not including cage, food, toys, wheel, etc. However, let me just say that these are not cheap pets. Although they may be cheaper than a dog or cat, they are not your typical fish or hamster. Along with the hefty initial cost, they live several years, so you have to take into consideration the costs that come along with food, vet bills, heating bills, and so on.

They are nocturnal. Meaning, they like to sleep all day and play all night. Some people are not keen on nocturnal pets due to the fact that they can not generally play with them until late at night. Of course you can wake a Hedgie up during the day, but they will not be happy. Usually you can train Hedgehogs into a certain sleep pattern, however, I will discuss that in a later blog.

Quills. As it should be obvious, Hedgehogs have sharp quills, like a porcupine. Petting them would not be a smart idea. Although they have soft bellies, most Hedgehogs do not like their quills to be touched and they will let you know of it. This can also be dangerous if young children are present and do not know how to handle them correctly. This could lead to injury of the child, and the Hedgie. And any potential pets that may cross their path.

Hedgehogs are illegal in some states in the U.S. You can find a complete list online, but you need to check to see if it is even legal for you to own a Hedgehog.

Temperature requirements. Hedgehogs have very specific temperature requirements. They ideally need anywhere between 70-80 degrees fahrenheit, or else they can go into a false hibernation that they might never come out of. I will also go into this in a later blog as it can be a complicated issue. However, this is definitely something to take into consideration when looking into a Hedgehog, and can be costly.

I apologize for the long, dry blog, but it is important information to consider when looking into buying a Hedgehog.

I highly recommend doing extensive research before getting a Hedgehog. One of the biggest reasons people give up pets is because it wasn't what they expected. By researching and making sure you are up for the commitment, you should be well-prepared when you bring your Hedgie home. I will elaborate on some of these things in later blogs, but if there is a dire question or comment, feel free to leave it directly on this blog, tweet, or email me directly.

Introduction

Welcome!

Although this is a small project of mine, my goal was to create a blog designed to inform people about all things related to owning and raising a Hedgehog. However, I will not cover topics such as breeding Hedgehogs, as I do not have experience in that and I would like to leave that to the professionals.

My goal is to cover various topics that Hedgehog owners should know about before purchasing their Hedgehog. I am looking to post frequently to cover various topics, however, I cannot guarantee the frequency due to life being hectic at points.

If you are new and just reading through this, please look through the archives to browse various topics! If you do not see a topic you are looking for, please feel free to email me or message me with your idea and I will write a post about it! I am very open to suggestion on what everyone would like to see. Also, if you would like more information feel free to ask me as well. I will hopefully post pictures about everything I talk about.

You can look at the contact page information on how to get in touch with me! Thank you for stopping by!