So, after several long weeks of waiting and over four years of wanting one, I finally got my first hedgehog last night! Naturally, I'm freaking out a bit.
Since the breeder lives very close to me, she offered to deliver the hedgie. Upon opening the container she was transported in, we discovered a spikey ball of rage; she huffed and she puffed and made oh-so-scary noises. But a few minutes after being put in her new cage, she snuggled up in tank top of mine I left in her igloo and started anointing. I don't know if that's normal, but it was rather adorable. And then...she curled up and went to sleep. She's barely moved in the last 24 hours, as far as I can tell.
Some questions:
1) Her food and water are untouched. How long can a hedgie safely go without nourishment?
2) She's used to drinking out of a water bottle, but I got her a bowl. Will she figure out how to drink from it on her own, or will I have to show her somehow?
3) Her temperature dropped to 72º last night. :\ The thermostats in my apartment are, unfortunately, very unpredictable...I have two CHE's on full-blast, but I guess the heat in the room must have turned itself down/off during the night. Is there any chance she could have tried to hibernate at 72º?? I really, really hope not, but seeing as she has barely moved since I got her I can't help but worry. Her temperature has been between 75º and 77º since early this morning, and my boyfriend said he saw her moving a little bit (breathing, shifting her weight) inside the igloo so she is at least alive. I'm probably panicking for no reason.
4) Just to be extra-safe, I got a large reptile heat pad for her today. Has anyone (who happens to be reading) used these with a Critter Nation cage? I'll probably just affix it to the bottom of the plastic tray in the cage, unless anyone tells me that's a bad idea.
5) Is tonight too soon to take her out for the first time? I'm dying to make sure that she's okay, and to actually get a good look at her, but I don't want to rush things.
6) When I do take her out, do I need to make sure that it's 73º+ in the room where she'll be? That's probably a stupid question. I will try to keep the whole place warm, but I may periodically be thwarted by my apartment's useless excuse for thermostats.
7) I have three cats, and I'm sure EVERYTHING in my apartment smells like them -- my clothes, the carpet, towels and blankets, you name it. Will she be able to smell MY scent even if I recently picked up or petted a kitty? Is it something I should be worried about?
Um, I think that's it for now. Thanks for reading, and I would very much appreciate any input!
Since the breeder lives very close to me, she offered to deliver the hedgie. Upon opening the container she was transported in, we discovered a spikey ball of rage; she huffed and she puffed and made oh-so-scary noises. But a few minutes after being put in her new cage, she snuggled up in tank top of mine I left in her igloo and started anointing. I don't know if that's normal, but it was rather adorable. And then...she curled up and went to sleep. She's barely moved in the last 24 hours, as far as I can tell.
Some questions:
1) Her food and water are untouched. How long can a hedgie safely go without nourishment?
2) She's used to drinking out of a water bottle, but I got her a bowl. Will she figure out how to drink from it on her own, or will I have to show her somehow?
3) Her temperature dropped to 72º last night. :\ The thermostats in my apartment are, unfortunately, very unpredictable...I have two CHE's on full-blast, but I guess the heat in the room must have turned itself down/off during the night. Is there any chance she could have tried to hibernate at 72º?? I really, really hope not, but seeing as she has barely moved since I got her I can't help but worry. Her temperature has been between 75º and 77º since early this morning, and my boyfriend said he saw her moving a little bit (breathing, shifting her weight) inside the igloo so she is at least alive. I'm probably panicking for no reason.
4) Just to be extra-safe, I got a large reptile heat pad for her today. Has anyone (who happens to be reading) used these with a Critter Nation cage? I'll probably just affix it to the bottom of the plastic tray in the cage, unless anyone tells me that's a bad idea.
5) Is tonight too soon to take her out for the first time? I'm dying to make sure that she's okay, and to actually get a good look at her, but I don't want to rush things.
6) When I do take her out, do I need to make sure that it's 73º+ in the room where she'll be? That's probably a stupid question. I will try to keep the whole place warm, but I may periodically be thwarted by my apartment's useless excuse for thermostats.
7) I have three cats, and I'm sure EVERYTHING in my apartment smells like them -- my clothes, the carpet, towels and blankets, you name it. Will she be able to smell MY scent even if I recently picked up or petted a kitty? Is it something I should be worried about?
Um, I think that's it for now. Thanks for reading, and I would very much appreciate any input!