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! :)