maybe mites? with my new babies...!

[scott310]

So I just had one of my girls have 4 cute little babies. I made the 'cooler' nest box for her, and now there is very small mites i think crawling around the inside of the cooler. all they look like is small black speks, but i can smash them. i just cleaned her box on 6/15, and she had babies on the 17th. should i try and scoop the babies out with a spoon and clean the nest box again? both sonica and her babies seem to be fine right now? what to do?

[Herisson]

There is a lot of information under Breeding Help: viewforum.php?f=25

Originally Posted by Hedgiepets

A female should NOT be bred under the age of 6 months, nor bred for the first time over the age of one year. The gestation period is about 35 days, but can be as long as 49 days. If you happen to find that your female has given birth, DO NOT disturb her for 2 weeks, with the exception of giving her food and water. How do you know there are babies in the nest? You will hear squeaks or chirps. Take out the wheel. Do not try to clean the cage until babies are about 4 weeks old. Babies will start to eat out of mom’s food dish at about 4 weeks old. Babies will need to be weaned at about 6 weeks old. The males need to be separated from mom and sisters by 7 weeks of age.

How old should a male be before breeding? Males should be about 4 months old. But males and females alike, are capable of breeding at 7 weeks, but it is not healthy for them.

It only takes a couple of seconds for a male and female to breed, so never allow a male and female playtime together. Never house a male and female together. If they are housed together, the male will constantly be mating with the female. If they are together when she has babies, they will eat them.

Don’t breed your hedgehogs, because you want to experience babies, or you have friends that want a baby hedgehog. Breeding is not an easy, fast, money making proposition. You risk the life of your female, everytime you breed her.

[silvercat]

I think the question is not should the OP move or not move the babies in general but should they move them do to the 'unusual' situation of these little black bugs, ie. is it a health concern?

Unfortunately I have no answer though.

[scott310]

Originally Posted by silvercat

I think the question is not should the OP move or not move the babies in general but should they move them do to the 'unusual' situation of these little black bugs, ie. is it a health concern?

Unfortunately I have no answer though.

HUH???? OP?

[HedgeMom]

OP is you aka "Original Poster". What color are the bugs after you squish them? And FYI, your female should have been in optimal health before you bred her. A hedgehog with mites shouldn't be bred until the infestation is gone.

[scott310]

ahhhhh. op... okay. and yes. mom was in good health. i have 3 hedgies and none of them have had or have mites right now. i cleaned and put all new bedding in her nest box 2 days before she had the babies. and when i squish them they are brownish and smear everywhere!

[scott310]

took my other 2 hedgies (1 male 1 female) to the vet today... I guess when i bought my other female (amy) she had mites already, but wasnt itching at all so i didnt see them. Vet sadi she has mange. Got some Revolution, now i get to wait and see what happenes.