Congrats on getting a hedgehog!!!! Post some pictures!!!
Get a liner.
How big is the wheel exactly? It is big enough if it has at least an 11 inch diameter.
In the afternoon after my classes I come home and get Herisson out of his cadge to let him sit (sleep more like) on my lap while I do the massive amounts of homework I got that day (he loves to snuggle under my shirt especially).
About twice every week after I am done with my homework I take out the dirty liner and put the clean one in. I put Herisson back in his cadge and go wash the liner I just took out.
First I go outside and shake off as much of the hedgehog crap as I can. Then I go into the bathroom and rinse the liner in the bathtub. I will leave the liner to soak for a minute while I get some landry soap. After I bring back a small scoop of soap (my family uses the dry kind) I drain most of the water and then wash the liner by hand with the soap. After I have scrubbed for about 5 minutes I rinse the liner very well and then hang it on the shower to dry.
After I am done with the liner I get Herisson to give him a bath (foot or full depending on how dirty he is) in the bath tub.
If your hedgehog has really dirty feet (poopy boots) you will want to give it a foot bath. Plug the drain and fill the bathtub with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. Put hedgie in tub. Let your hedgehog walk around in the water for a while to help soften the poopy boots and possibly get some of it off. Then Gently scrub the bottom of your hedgehog's feet with a tooth brush. After you are done with the foot bath take your hedgehog out of the water and wrap him/her in a towel. Don't return your hedgehog to its cadge until he/she is completely dry.
Full Baths
Plug the drain and fill the bathtub with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. Put hedgie in tub. Let your hedgehog walk around for a while you brush him/her with a wet toothbrush. Next lather up some Aveeno Baby Wash or Shampoo and spread it over your hedgehog's quills. (Aveeno has colligated oatmeal which is great for hedgehogs' skin. Almost all hedgehog owners use it.) You may also want to get some Aveeno on your hedgehog's belly. Be careful to not get too much on the quills near forehead so it doesn't get in the face or ears. To rinse the Aveeno off it helps if you elevate the front of your hedgehog by carefully putting his/her front paws on your hand and lifting a few inches. Then you can rinse using a cup and poring water down your hedgehog's back. To get the Aveeno off of the quills near your hedgehog's face use a wet toothbrush. After you are done with the bath, take your hedgehog out of the water and wrap him/her in a towel. Don't return your hedgehog to its cadge until he/she is completely dry.
Some other great treats are baby food (especially banana and sweet potato flavors), bananas, waxworms, crickets, unseasoned cooked chicken, unseasoned cooked hamburger, and unseasoned cooked eggs. You may want do double check in the diet and nutrition section before trying anything else.
Go slow when introducing new foods. Only introduce one new food a week to avoid an upset stomach.
and wipe it dry with a paper towel. You can do the same with the toys and house (what your hedgehog sleeps in is its house).
paper bowels (never use plastic or foam)
cat balls (be wary of holes and sharp edges that can hurt hedgehog tongs)
plastic dump trucks
Easter eggs
I hope my information was helpful. If you need to know anything else feel free to PM me.
Check out this it has a list of hedgehog quality cat foods. http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15newhedgiemom said:
do you mean newspaper on the bottom used as bedding? If so you will want to switch to a bedding like a liner, CareFresh or Aspen shavings. Note that you will hate CareFresh or any other loose bedding. It gets EVERYWHERE!!!newhedgiemom said:
Get a liner. How big is the wheel exactly? It is big enough if it has at least an 11 inch diameter.
Every day first thing, even before breakfast I clean the wheel. I find the best way to do this is to run it under hot water for a minute. After most of the crap has come off it I spray it with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution and let it sit while I put more food in the food dish and clean the water bowel and put new clean water in it. After Herisson has food and water again I go back to the wheel and run it under hot water again. Usually all of the crap comes off easily after being sprayed with the 50/50 vinegar/water solution but if it doesn't I wipe it off with a paper towel. To finish the wheel I spray it with the vinegar/water solution once more to disinfect it and dry it with a paper towel.newhedgiemom said:
In the afternoon after my classes I come home and get Herisson out of his cadge to let him sit (sleep more like) on my lap while I do the massive amounts of homework I got that day (he loves to snuggle under my shirt especially).
About twice every week after I am done with my homework I take out the dirty liner and put the clean one in. I put Herisson back in his cadge and go wash the liner I just took out.
First I go outside and shake off as much of the hedgehog crap as I can. Then I go into the bathroom and rinse the liner in the bathtub. I will leave the liner to soak for a minute while I get some landry soap. After I bring back a small scoop of soap (my family uses the dry kind) I drain most of the water and then wash the liner by hand with the soap. After I have scrubbed for about 5 minutes I rinse the liner very well and then hang it on the shower to dry.
After I am done with the liner I get Herisson to give him a bath (foot or full depending on how dirty he is) in the bath tub.
Foot Bathsnewhedgiemom said:
If your hedgehog has really dirty feet (poopy boots) you will want to give it a foot bath. Plug the drain and fill the bathtub with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. Put hedgie in tub. Let your hedgehog walk around in the water for a while to help soften the poopy boots and possibly get some of it off. Then Gently scrub the bottom of your hedgehog's feet with a tooth brush. After you are done with the foot bath take your hedgehog out of the water and wrap him/her in a towel. Don't return your hedgehog to its cadge until he/she is completely dry.
Full Baths
Plug the drain and fill the bathtub with about 2-3 inches of lukewarm water. Put hedgie in tub. Let your hedgehog walk around for a while you brush him/her with a wet toothbrush. Next lather up some Aveeno Baby Wash or Shampoo and spread it over your hedgehog's quills. (Aveeno has colligated oatmeal which is great for hedgehogs' skin. Almost all hedgehog owners use it.) You may also want to get some Aveeno on your hedgehog's belly. Be careful to not get too much on the quills near forehead so it doesn't get in the face or ears. To rinse the Aveeno off it helps if you elevate the front of your hedgehog by carefully putting his/her front paws on your hand and lifting a few inches. Then you can rinse using a cup and poring water down your hedgehog's back. To get the Aveeno off of the quills near your hedgehog's face use a wet toothbrush. After you are done with the bath, take your hedgehog out of the water and wrap him/her in a towel. Don't return your hedgehog to its cadge until he/she is completely dry.
Hedgehogs are pretty easy to hold. You can take them out of their cadge with their blanket (it is a great idea to keep a 6 by 6 inch fleece cloth in your hedgehog's igloo/hedgie hat/what ever your hedgie sleeps in for a blanket). You can let them walk on your hands and arms. You can also let them crawl around on your lap when you are sitting. My hedgehog loves to crawl under my shirt when I read.newhedgiemom said:
Most hedgehogs love mealworms. However Herisson won't touch them.newhedgiemom said:
Some other great treats are baby food (especially banana and sweet potato flavors), bananas, waxworms, crickets, unseasoned cooked chicken, unseasoned cooked hamburger, and unseasoned cooked eggs. You may want do double check in the diet and nutrition section before trying anything else.
Go slow when introducing new foods. Only introduce one new food a week to avoid an upset stomach.
Hedgehogs are not like dogs and don't do tricks. The only thing you can sometimes train them to do is use a litterbox. Corner litterboxes filled with rabbit Yesterdays News (a brand of litter) works great. Simply put all of the hedgehog poos in the litterbox and he/she should get the idea. Herisson is still working on this one.newhedgiemom said:
I already went over washing liners in my weekly routine. To wash the cadge its, self empty it out and spray it with a 50/50 vinegar/water solution (this is a hedgehog owners best friend :lolnewhedgiemom said:
and wipe it dry with a paper towel. You can do the same with the toys and house (what your hedgehog sleeps in is its house).A linernewhedgiemom said:
paper towel rolls cut long ways so your hedgie can't get his/her head stucknewhedgiemom said:
paper bowels (never use plastic or foam)
cat balls (be wary of holes and sharp edges that can hurt hedgehog tongs)
plastic dump trucks
Easter eggs
That noise is a sound they make when they are surprised or nervous. They usually do it when you first wake them up. New hedgies make this noise all the time.newhedgiemom said:
I hope my information was helpful. If you need to know anything else feel free to PM me.
