Hello from rainy Mexico City, friends!
I've been living with a 7-week hedgehog for three full days already (well, the poorly lit parts anyway). I'm bubbling with excitement, this is the very first pet I have (touchable, the rest were betta fishes).
Here's a picture of Mr. Piquete de Ombligo (belly poke or belly ticke).
[attachment=0:26nl3fa1]piquete.jpg[/attachment:26nl3fa1]
I've been reading tons and tons of stuff about hedgies and as I have free time to devote to Piquete, I've been thinking about lots of stuff to do for him.
Questions and ideas, in random order. Please stop me before I attempt something stupid.
1) Winter time! Mexico City is generally warm, but there's a long month with temps below hedgie-comfy, specially in an apartment. I'm looking at alternatives to heat an area of the cage. Have any of you tried these USB warmers? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.17299 I'm a computer geek, so I'm always looking at chinese computer delicacies
You can connect this stuff to an iPod wall charger and not run it from the computer. Second alternative would be a 5-7 watt lightbulb inside a tin can (Altoids or pipe tobacco can), attached to the roof of the cage so it irradiates -some- heat downwards. Unexpected alternative: this morning I've been to a huge pet market and found a ridiculously priced lizard heater (not ceramic, but the thin film type). I'm thinking about placing it on a wall of the cage instead of on the floor, because it may be a little too strong (the packaging says it generates around 40º C). I'll place it close to the den, so it becomes the "safe haven" in case of extended cold days.
2) I'm totally in the DIY mood and found a 11" wheel made of wire. I bought a rubber/vinyl band of the same width of the wheel and weaved it through the bars, leaving four bars outside and one inside all around to fasten the band. I don't know where I read it first, but I used soft aquarium tubing to cover the bars/spokes of the wheel, to soften the impact should it happen. I've been thinking about his nails and instead of lining the full inside of the wheel with sandpaper (dangerous for the soft feet), what about using the kind of adhesive tape used to fix slippery stair steps? that way I can place abrasive bands here and there instead of covering the whole surface.
3) I'd also like to breed regular mealworms, but I'm somewhat discouraged by the sheer size of the tubs and boxes everybody recommends and use. Does anyone breed mealworms in a smaller setting? I'm thinking 3 or 4 1qt plastic boxes, Tupperware style, to hold the different stages of growth. I wouldn't mind having to restart the colony a couple times, but for the 3-4 mealworms a day a hedgehog can enjoy, there should be an easy way of breeding.
4) The little guy is shy. I try to handle him and talk, but all I get is a spiky shoulder and/or heavy snortling. I played the t-shirt card, I'll report back on the results, but for now I think this makes him as nervous as my big head looking down on him. I gave him a carrot strip and he chewed on it while I held it between my fingers. he then proceeded to anoint but after that he spit(spat?) the carrot. A while later the smelled my hand a couple times, but no anointing then.
5) I scooped some poop from last night and placed it near a corner with some pine shavings to start litter training him (I know, there's too much stuff happening at the same time!). That's exactly where he's sleeping tonight. Heh, if he doesn't change his sleeping habits, I DON'T want to pick him up tomorrow. The den-box where he slept last night lays empty in the opposite end of the cage (a big rubbermaid container for now, on sunday I'm going shopping for the hog).
6) The breeder gave me the idea of putting a stone on the cage, to help trimming the nails (the hedgie seems to know when he needs a nailcut and uses the stone). As soon as I added it to the cage, the hedgie started the anointing ritual, but this time it involved biting the stone! I made some noise and distracted him, but I'm thinking of taking back the stone before he loses a tooth!
Well folks, this is me and my hedgehog, I hope the excitement continues and we become best friends.
Have a great day,
Andres B
I've been living with a 7-week hedgehog for three full days already (well, the poorly lit parts anyway). I'm bubbling with excitement, this is the very first pet I have (touchable, the rest were betta fishes).
Here's a picture of Mr. Piquete de Ombligo (belly poke or belly ticke).
[attachment=0:26nl3fa1]piquete.jpg[/attachment:26nl3fa1]
I've been reading tons and tons of stuff about hedgies and as I have free time to devote to Piquete, I've been thinking about lots of stuff to do for him.
Questions and ideas, in random order. Please stop me before I attempt something stupid.
1) Winter time! Mexico City is generally warm, but there's a long month with temps below hedgie-comfy, specially in an apartment. I'm looking at alternatives to heat an area of the cage. Have any of you tried these USB warmers? http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.17299 I'm a computer geek, so I'm always looking at chinese computer delicacies
2) I'm totally in the DIY mood and found a 11" wheel made of wire. I bought a rubber/vinyl band of the same width of the wheel and weaved it through the bars, leaving four bars outside and one inside all around to fasten the band. I don't know where I read it first, but I used soft aquarium tubing to cover the bars/spokes of the wheel, to soften the impact should it happen. I've been thinking about his nails and instead of lining the full inside of the wheel with sandpaper (dangerous for the soft feet), what about using the kind of adhesive tape used to fix slippery stair steps? that way I can place abrasive bands here and there instead of covering the whole surface.
3) I'd also like to breed regular mealworms, but I'm somewhat discouraged by the sheer size of the tubs and boxes everybody recommends and use. Does anyone breed mealworms in a smaller setting? I'm thinking 3 or 4 1qt plastic boxes, Tupperware style, to hold the different stages of growth. I wouldn't mind having to restart the colony a couple times, but for the 3-4 mealworms a day a hedgehog can enjoy, there should be an easy way of breeding.
4) The little guy is shy. I try to handle him and talk, but all I get is a spiky shoulder and/or heavy snortling. I played the t-shirt card, I'll report back on the results, but for now I think this makes him as nervous as my big head looking down on him. I gave him a carrot strip and he chewed on it while I held it between my fingers. he then proceeded to anoint but after that he spit(spat?) the carrot. A while later the smelled my hand a couple times, but no anointing then.
5) I scooped some poop from last night and placed it near a corner with some pine shavings to start litter training him (I know, there's too much stuff happening at the same time!). That's exactly where he's sleeping tonight. Heh, if he doesn't change his sleeping habits, I DON'T want to pick him up tomorrow. The den-box where he slept last night lays empty in the opposite end of the cage (a big rubbermaid container for now, on sunday I'm going shopping for the hog).
6) The breeder gave me the idea of putting a stone on the cage, to help trimming the nails (the hedgie seems to know when he needs a nailcut and uses the stone). As soon as I added it to the cage, the hedgie started the anointing ritual, but this time it involved biting the stone! I made some noise and distracted him, but I'm thinking of taking back the stone before he loses a tooth!
Well folks, this is me and my hedgehog, I hope the excitement continues and we become best friends.
Have a great day,
Andres B
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