[Sakura]

Hi there! I have posted one other thread, but I thought I'd do a proper introduction for the sake of it.

My husband and I are caregivers to several furry and feathery critters and both of us are interested in adding a hedgehog to the mix someday (soon?). I have loved hedgehogs ever since I was a little girl and went to a 4-H with my family and was allowed to handle a baby hedgie. So cute! Hubbs was ogling and giggling at a hedgehog photo on Cute Overload when he suddenly blurted out, "I want a hedgehog." :shock: Since I am usually the one begging for more wee ones, this was a surprise! We are not ready just yet as we are moving next month, so we're hoarding all of our extra money and there is just no reason to rush out and get one and cause it undue stress due to 2 moves in less than 30 days. Plus I am not done researching!

This site has already been an invaluable wealth of information. I have thoroughly enjoyed browsing the cage thread and seeing everyone's cool cages! I was also happy to see suggestions for improvement and rules laid out about what is safe and what is not, which I hope will help me to get it right the first time depending on what I choose for our cage. I also thank everyone who helped me fix up my food list so that I could have a good outline on what I am going to feed.

If anyone has anywhere they want to point me, any tips they want to give, anything at all I am always most grateful. All of our animals are very spoiled, loved and well cared for and the hedgehog that joins us someday will get the same treatment as everyone else!

 

[Hedgieonboard]

Welcome to HHC It's so great that you are doing the research before you get your hedgie and you guys will be great hedgie parents. For tips/things I'd share these are some of my top ones
Making sure you have a heating plan to make sure the hedgies temperature can be around 75 (may be slightly more or slighly more depending on the hedgie)

Fleece is such an awesome bedding choice and I love how clean the cage stays with it

Most will drink more from a water bowl. When getting dishes if you get small heavy crocks then it will be less likely they may decide to go to the bathroom in one (some never do this but it has happened)

You'll want a cage that gives at least 2sq feet as a minimum after the accessories are in there. I use a Ferret Nation and my favorite thing about it is its sturdy and the doors open so wide that cleaning is a breeze.

The cake topper wheels are so wonderful to clean and quiet.

Im sure I may think of more later but these are some of the top things I can think of Welcome to HHC and I can't wait to see pics when you get your new addition

 

[Lilysmommy]

Welcome to HHC! Glad you guys are so dedicated to giving your little friends all good homes, and doing the same with a hedgehog! It's always so nice to see people who are doing all of their research before just grabbing up a hedgehog and dumping it in a tank with shavings and some random food.

Really, if you're just going through the site and reading posts, that's the best way to learn a lot. The stickies in each section are a huge help too. The most important things to figure out before hedgie comes home is food and cage setup, as well as making sure you have at least one exotic vet with hedgie experience nearby. I know you've already worked out a feeding plan, so you're doing great!

 

[Sakura]

Thanks you guys! I have sugar gliders too and I spent months researching them before I got a pair. I am doing the same thing as I did before I got them - I make a binder full of print-outs! So far I have the food list and highlighted the 3 foods I am going to use [which is subject to change per hedgehog's taste], the Hedgehog First Aid Kit article, the Hibernation article, the age chart, and driving directions and phone numbers to the 2 closest vets to us.

I have been doing lots of reading around here and will continue to do so even after the future hedgehog comes home. Thanks again!

 

[Lilysmommy]

I just want to say, on behalf of your future hedgehog...thankyouthankyouthankyou!!

 

[Sakura]

I appreciate that Kelsey!

I impulse bought a guinea pig when I was young. I had it in an aquarium with a wheel and several other bad things. It was a nightmare! I got the help of a woman in a guinea pig rescue via the web, but I learned a lot that day about being impulsive when it comes to ownership of a pet. Now I always make sure I am read up and I frequently enlist the help of more experienced owners well before and after I bring a new baby home. After my big guinea pig-scapade I built a huge C&C cage, took away the wheel and got safe toys, some g-pig buddies, good food, hay, etc. I learned my lesson! I also later realized that guinea pigs were not for me. I took very good care of them up until they all passed away [I even saved one from death row], but I knew that I had made a mistake and that they would be my last guinea pigs.

Now I make sure I know as much as I can before I bring a new baby home. There is no such thing as "too prepared". I'm so glad someone pointed this site out to me. A regular godsend!

Thanks so much for the warm welcome.

 

[Lilysmommy]

I had kind of the same thing happen, only it was with my hedgie Lily. She's my first personal pet, rather than a family pet. I did some research, mostly on the site of the breeder I was going to buy from (lucky all of her information was mostly up to date), but I know now I didn't do nearly enough. After I got her, I found this site, and started reading up more on equipment, food, and cages. Since then, her living area's been upgraded to a bigger cage, a wheel that's easier for me to clean (So that purchase was more for me than her, but she likes it!), a few different cat foods rather than the one hedgehog food I had (Spike's Delight), and a CHE set up, which makes it SO much easier to keep her cage warm. I'm just glad that none of my information was incorrect enough to cause her harm before I learned better. Like you, I've definitely learned my lesson as far as doing enough research before buying an animal. I've been wanting to get sugar gliders, but I know I don't have the money, time, or room to take care of them right, plus I'm a bit intimidated by the diet issues with them and what's best. I won't be getting them for a few years yet!

Also like you, I have a binder where I keep Lily's info, vet records, and a section with general hedgehog info in case I have to leave her with a sitter. I like this so much that I've decided I'll probably end up keeping something like this for most of my future pets! :lol: My friends think I'm slightly insane, but...I've already accepted that I will be the Crazy Animal Lady when I get older, so I suppose I might as well embrace the role early!

 

[Sakura]

Your friends only think you're insane because all they'll ever have is dogs or cats and maybe a hamster. Exotics are a whole new world and I have found keeping binders is a great way to keep your things organized. One of our pups was born with a very serious illness, so he has a huge binder chock full of all of his vet records. It also helps if I have to get a new vet [if I move or don't like my current one, etc.] to have all of his information in one place, esp. having his and our other dog's rabies vaccination certificates right on-hand with date and all. It just makes sense.

And then with exotics it's nice to have emergency and general information at your fingertips. What happens if you're traveling and can't access the internet? You'll need to add to your binder, before you leave, directions and phone numbers to all exotic vets on the way! You can't just stop at any old vet. They also tend to have much more complex needs. Sugar gliders are not as intimidating to feed as one may think. I follow the easier of the 2 most popular diets. It ain't no thang. I understand not feeling ready though and waiting until you are. I studied up for many months, but still lost my 1st pair within 6 months. It was many years until I got my boys that I have now. It is always important to know when the time simply isn't right. I am sure you will adore them when you get a pair, though!

 

[gonard]

Hi there! I have hedgies and I just love them. They are super sweet. In my experience, the males have been more aggressive and antisocial. They would always curl up in a ball. My females are much more outgoing and love to come out and explore. They will eat out of my hand.

 

[nikki]

out of my 10 hedgies the 2 friendliest, the ones that NEVER curl up are 1 male, 1 female. My 2 grumpiest ones are both female

 

[SnufflePuff]

Hi there! I have hedgies and I just love them. They are super sweet. In my experience, the males have been more aggressive and antisocial. They would always curl up in a ball. My females are much more outgoing and love to come out and explore. They will eat out of my hand.

That's interesting cause I'm finding the opposite, my two girls (one who I got as an older hedgie and one I got as a baby) are the unsocial ones and that my new hedgie Oakley ( the boy) is incredibly friendly and he's never even been handled much before me. I think it's the personality not the gender that counts. Just remember quillig can turn even the friendliest babies unsocial, as happened with my Chloe.