[heather]

I've decided to name my new hedgie Snuffy after Mr. Snuffleupagaus from Sesame Street

I've gotta drive about an hour and a halfish after work to get him so I'm not anticipating being home until after 8pm. I already have the cage set up with everything, we're just missing our hedgie.

So tonight- should I just let him explore his new house or can I try to hold him or give him snacks? I know that hedgies can go on hunger strikes with a change in environment so I want to do all I can to keep him calm and as stree-free as possible.

Thanks!

 

[Nancy]

I'd just put him in his new cage and leave him alone to get used to his new surroundings. Count the kibble you put in his dish so you'll know for sure how much he is eating.

I don't recommend anything new in the way of snacks or food for the first 2 weeks and then only if his poops are normal and he seems comfortable. Keep him on what the breeder had him on.

I suggest taking a bottle so you can get some of the breeders water so you can change his water gradually. Remember to keep the water in the fridge as it will go skunky just sitting in the bottle.

Good luck. I'm sure you're excited.

 

[heather]

Thanks, Nancy!

How much do you guys put in the food dish every day? A few tablespoons?

And the breeder that I'm getting him from makes her own food "blend". I'm going to get a couple of pounds to start with but the gradually switch him over to either Blue Buffalo or the Chicken soup brand (if I can find it :? )

I figure a couple of pounds will last a while, but how soon should I start incorporating a little bit of the new food? I'm guessing a couple of weeks?

 

[Nancy]

Babies can be pigs, usually not the first night though but just in case, I'd give him a couple of tablespoons.

It's best to wait at least a couple weeks before starting a new food. You want any stress related poop issues from moving to a new home to be over.

 

[AllQuills]

Congratulations! Please post pictures when you get them. I held my Juni for a few minutes when I first got her, but after that I let her just explore for about 24 hours before I started really interacting with her. You shouldn't change the hedgehog's diet or give it new foods for at least 2 weeks. When I first got Juniper she was eating Iams- a very bad brand for hedgehogs- and I had to buy a bag of it and use it up. Now she eats Royal Canin, though.
Good luck! Can't wait to hear more updates.

 

[heather]

O


M



G

He is such a PIG!!!!!!! I really don't think he's had any problems adjusting, at all. He's a spaz. When I woke up the morning after getting him I thought a tornado went through his cage....food all over the place, water bowl knocked over, the fleece half off the bottom of the cage, and he was snuggled deep inside the sleeve of a shirt I put in his cage for him.

I'll post pics ASAP. I'm on vacation this week so I'm really lazy. I'm still recovering from overindulging with a couple of girlfriends Friday night. I now remember why tequila is BAD. I'm getting too old for bars :roll:

 

[HedgieNewbie]

haha he sounds like fun and perhaps a bit of a handfull.