[Beth_Davies94]

Hello!
my name is Beth, and im kinda new to the world of Pygmy Hedgehogs. I have always been a lover of wild hedgehogs, and when i was little i used to sit out in the garden with them! I was wondering if any of you could give me some information on what i am supposed to know? i have researched them, but different websites say lots of different things, so i wanted to know what other people say about caring for them. Also, does anyone know of any breeders near Newport, South Wales? Thankyou

 

[krbshappy71]

Welcome!

I would start with the Housing & Accessories section, the Health section, just keep plugging along and read everything you will need for startup before you get your little one.

 

[Bengall77]

This website is a wealth of knowledge. To start, go through each forum reading the different sticky threads. Lizardgirl also has a thread where she has posted her hedgehog care manual that she created for all new hedgehog owners. Here are some links for you to check out.

http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54
http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3877
http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=13
http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4579
http://hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1860

 

[Kalandra]

It may be easier if you tell us what you have found that is conflicting or doesn't sound right.

There is a lot of outdated information out on the internet about hedgehogs. Stuff that was written a long time ago. Many things have changed over the last 15 years of hedgehog care taking. For instance, there are many things I did when I got my first hedgehog over 14 years ago that we now know is just not advisable.

There are also a lot of varying opinions about what is right and wrong.

 

[skinnyj0e]

here read this
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=4163&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
it will help you greatly with your first hedgehog
oh post some pics of your new buddy we like pictures

 

[LarryT]

Hello!
my name is Beth, and im kinda new to the world of Pygmy Hedgehogs. I have always been a lover of wild hedgehogs, and when i was little i used to sit out in the garden with them! I was wondering if any of you could give me some information on what i am supposed to know? i have researched them, but different websites say lots of different things, so i wanted to know what other people say about caring for them. Also, does anyone know of any breeders near Newport, South Wales? Thankyou

The hedgies in your garden are European not African there is a big diffrence in the too.

 

[Beth_Davies94]

thankyou, you're all so nice!
i wont be getting a Hedgie until around june/july time, as i have my GCSEs and wont be able to care for him/her as well as i would want to, so i thought i would wait until my exams were over before getting one =)
i'd like to do a lot of research before though, and this website is amazing!
one thing i am confused about it where to keep my Pygmy Hedgehog. Some websites say that a rabbit hutch is fine, but others say that Hedgies need quite a lot of room. also, should the cage have different levels or not? i dont want to hurt him/her!
thankyou

 

[HedgeMom]

African hedgehogs are not outside pets unless you live in Algeria. They are tropical animals who must be kept warm (75*F or better). This makes a rabbit hutch entirely unsuitable. In addition, the hedgehog foot is designed to walk on solid surfaces. They do not have a grasping foot like a rodent nor do they have the same foot as a rabbit.

While a 4 sq foot cage is acceptable, hedgehogs are very active at night and must either have a solid-surface wheel to run on or be allowed some free-range time to work off their energy.

Read the pinned information on this website. It will give you everything you need to properly care for your hedgehog.

 

[Jennewbury]

Hi, I read your post. When you said Newport, South Wales, you meant that you were in the UK? I am guessing so as you were talking about wild hedgehogs and your GCSE's (good luck on those by the way!)

If this is right then you might want to look at some different cage ideas. This forum is great but if you are in Wales then I am guessing you don't have as much space as our lovely North American friends The UK forum talks a lot about 'vivs' (http://pygmyhogsuk.forumandco.com/) which are converted furniture. I also read a lot about the humidity being different in the UK than it is in North America.

A UK style rabbit hutch would actually work out really well, if you kept it indoors. The sleeping side of the cage would be perfect as it would keep the heat in and be snug, in a sense it would act like an igloo The main part of the cage would work too, the only thing I would be worried about is the wire mesh, but if you put up some bored at the bottom so he/she couldn't climb it would work. As for ramps they work if you are careful. I am guessing you don't have tons of room so it may be a good idea. If you put up sides so the hedgehog can't fall off, or even use tubing that you can get for your dryer (the small vent ones). I saw some cool vivs that were made out of TV entertainment centers where they use the draw as a hideaway and used vents to get around the rest of the entertainment center.

Be careful when you get a Hedgie in the UK. They have become a huge fad recently and are now known as purse animals, which is horrible considering they have to be kept at 23 degrees.

I met a lady who breed hedgehogs and who was on blue peter with her hedgies But she is all the way over in England by Northampton, which is a bit of a drive

Good luck!

P.S I live in the US now and miss the wild hedgehogs