Tips for new members

[twobytwopets]

This isn't intended as a list of things to help with your hedgehog, but to using the forum successfully.

Check dates on posts. If you have a question and find a related post that is more than a couple months old, start a new post. The exception to this is the sticky posts that haven't been locked.

Before asking a question, read the stickies on the related area. These are the posts at the very top. You may also know them as pinned posts, but here they are commonly called stickies. Many times you can get the answer to questions there. It's also generally the first suggestion that we give.

Use the search feature. Most of the time, with basic questions it's been asked and answered. If you need more information or some clarification, start a new post with your question, but please let us know what you need help with. A question such as "what food is good" will give you very different answers of what you really mean is "my hedgehog is underweight, what diet changes and treats can I add to help him gain some weight"

We want to help, we enjoy it. Please understand we have limits. No one is payed to reply, so you could ask at a time when people don't have time to respond. We usually can't tell you without a doubt what is wrong with your hedgehog as far as health issues go, that's what vets are for. They have the ability to run tests.

When you ask a question, expect to get questions right back at you. This helps us answer your question. Specifics help with the answers. Your answers help other people answer your question and help with your question.

If you have a question and another question comes to mind along the same topic of the thread, ask it right there. However if you have a question about diet and one about cages, make two different posts. This helps out flow just as a conversation would.

Only post a question once. If you create multiple posts asking the same question, it becomes difficult to keep up with. This can increase the likelihood that bad information won't be noticed.

If you post a question and don't get a response within a day/day and a half just politely reply to your post to push it back into the new posts section and increases the likelihood that you'll get a response. Remember we all have lives and things come up and possibly didn't get the opportunity to reply.


Hopefully these tips can help you become a happy member of our hedgehog family.

[Artemis-Ichiro]

Can I add to It, not to give advise if you have no idea what you are talking about? someone could kill a hedgie by giving dangerous information (I know, I don't learn).

[twobytwopets]

The issue with that is people learn in different ways and sometimes the info they are sharing is logical but doesn't apply to a hedgehog.

An example would be, "if it's eating, drinking, using the bathroom and behaving normally than its fine"
This can be true for a dog, but for a hedgehog it's not always the case.

I will add or amend your suggestion that if you aren't sure about something, feel free to respond with your thoughts but it's very helpful if you let others know that you aren't sure or don't have experience with that area. This is great because we all learn from other members posts.

[twobytwopets]

Ok, I'm adding to the giving advice part.
There are two areas that people get defensive about with advice that's given.

#1. Health issues. Giving wrong advice here can be deadly, especially if it isn't caught before the person asking the questions acts follows your advice.

#2. Breeding and babies. This ultimately can boil down to a health issue but it's also an area where what a person does can have negative irreversible effects.

We get it, you want to be a contributing member of the forum and you want to help someone when they ask. The best way you can help them is see if there is a sticky to help them, and direct them there or better yet provide them the link. If you can't find the answers there, do a search for them but remember that information may be wrong or outdated so giving them the link is great but just let them know you simply did a search. If none of that leads you to an answer and you still want to offer support, let them know they are in your thoughts and you are hoping for the best.

[Kalandra]

Reading the forum rules from time to time to remind yourself of them, is always a good thing too:

https://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forum...uncements.html

Most of this thread is covered by them. Etiquette, giving advice, taking advice, and even necroposting are covered.