Hello everyone!
I will become a new hedgie owner tomorrow and can't wait, I'm so excited! I'm very happy to have found this website and forum, I've been reading up a lot recently to prepare for my new arrival. Much thanks for so much great info!
I found a nice breeder not too far from where I live and have already made a visit there to pick out my hedgie, a baby female that seems to be in the brown range of color. She was still too small to take home last week and I'm glad I got the extra time to prepare and read up more! I was happy to meet the breeder and see her hedgies, all were in impeccable conditon, very clean and looked healthy. The babies are so adorable!!! It was so hard to pick one, lol!
She will be named Kiwi
And I'm pretty much done setting up her new home. To start with I'm using an aquarium I have on hand (30 gallons I think, 36" long, 12" wide, 16" high), my bf is making a second level for about half the tank 5-6" high with ramp. I have bought aspen shavings to use as liner but will switch to liners when the bag is finished (should be soon, 1/2 bag to line the tank!) I have set up a litter pan with some everyday fresh, got a nice big safety wheel for exercise, igloo and polar fleece blankies, food dish. After reading a few topics here, I intend to switch the water bottle I had purchased for a water bowl after work this evening.
I have a few questions that any input would be much appreciated!
Would the above setup be adequate for my hedgie when full grown? Does the extra space on the second level count for floor space needed?
Do I need to use the wire aquarium top for a hedgehog? Can they jump? from the second level, there will be at least 11" of smooth glass to the top of the aquarium. Would a hedgie be able to climb out of this? (there will be nothing along the sides of it to grab hold of)
In terms of food, the staple will be mix of cat foods supplemented with insects (mostly mealworms and crickets) and the occasional treats of fruits and veggies. Does this sound right? (approx):
70-80% staple food
10-20% insects
5% or less treats
Can they eat ofther feeder bugs such as silkworms or wax worms (occasionally)?
Thanks for any advice!
Will post pictures of Kiwi when I get her tomorrow
Anny
I will become a new hedgie owner tomorrow and can't wait, I'm so excited! I'm very happy to have found this website and forum, I've been reading up a lot recently to prepare for my new arrival. Much thanks for so much great info!
I found a nice breeder not too far from where I live and have already made a visit there to pick out my hedgie, a baby female that seems to be in the brown range of color. She was still too small to take home last week and I'm glad I got the extra time to prepare and read up more! I was happy to meet the breeder and see her hedgies, all were in impeccable conditon, very clean and looked healthy. The babies are so adorable!!! It was so hard to pick one, lol!
She will be named Kiwi
I have a few questions that any input would be much appreciated!
Would the above setup be adequate for my hedgie when full grown? Does the extra space on the second level count for floor space needed?
Do I need to use the wire aquarium top for a hedgehog? Can they jump? from the second level, there will be at least 11" of smooth glass to the top of the aquarium. Would a hedgie be able to climb out of this? (there will be nothing along the sides of it to grab hold of)
In terms of food, the staple will be mix of cat foods supplemented with insects (mostly mealworms and crickets) and the occasional treats of fruits and veggies. Does this sound right? (approx):
70-80% staple food
10-20% insects
5% or less treats
Can they eat ofther feeder bugs such as silkworms or wax worms (occasionally)?
Thanks for any advice!
Will post pictures of Kiwi when I get her tomorrow
Anny