Water dish???
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How long have you had Juniper? IMO you should have at the *very* least 2 years of interactive experience before you should even consider breeding.
That's just my opinion, breeding is a huge responsibility. Some people will jump in on impulse, and things can go wrong.
That's just my opinion, breeding is a huge responsibility. Some people will jump in on impulse, and things can go wrong.
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I don't understand HOW she could not be getting enough water from her water bottle??
All my hedgies use water bottles. The water stays CLEAN because they can't pee or poop in it, and it never gets litter or shavings in it. If her water bottle is running out of water, then you need to purchase a larger bottle. I buy the 24 oz size, like the guinea pigs use.
All my hedgies use water bottles. The water stays CLEAN because they can't pee or poop in it, and it never gets litter or shavings in it. If her water bottle is running out of water, then you need to purchase a larger bottle. I buy the 24 oz size, like the guinea pigs use.
It IS a huge responsibility, and I know this. This isn't an impluse, I've done lots of research on breeding and I'm prepared for the things that can go wrong.LizardGirl said:How long have you had Juniper? IMO you should have at the *very* least 2 years of interactive experience before you should even consider breeding.
That's just my opinion, breeding is a huge responsibility. Some people will jump in on impulse, and things can go wrong.
She was biting it and couldn't figure out how to use it. I've heard good things about water dishes, too, such as they can get more water and their necks are in a more natural postition. Also, I've heard that hedgehogs can chip their teeth and get their tongues stuck in water bottles. I've decided to use water dishes.PixiesExoticHedgies said:
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alot of hedgehogs will drink alot more if given a dish instead of a bowl. I have all 9 of mine on bowls and other than the occasional piece of shavings or food, they don't put anything in them. As long as the water bowl is kept a bit away from the food dish they rarely poop or pee in them.
Allquils: you're right about what you said about bottles
Allquils: you're right about what you said about bottles
Are you prepared to spend a thousand dollars or more to save Juni's life if there are complications. I guess I should ask if your parents are prepared to do that? How will you feel if Juni dies because your parents won't spend $1000 or $1500 on emergency vet bills.
How are you going to feel picking up baby body parts if she decides to kill the babies. How will you feel if Juni hemorrhages and bleeds out and dies in your hands. These things do happen and what if it happens to Juni. I've lost a mom and I still think about her and wonder if I'd been just a bit more experienced if I might have recognized that something was wrong soon enough to save her life. I vowed after she died that I would quit breeding but I had a very large support group of experienced breeders who helped me through it and convinced me to continue. I'm questioning it again now because I have a girl who got ill after breeding. Thankfully she is not pregnant and seems to be doing better with antibiotic but she isn't totally well yet.
I'm not trying to be mean but you are very young and have not owned a hedgehog long enough or have enough knowledge or experience to be ready to breed. You're still asking new owner questions and at your age you should be enjoying her as a pet not risking her life by breeding her.
How are you going to feel picking up baby body parts if she decides to kill the babies. How will you feel if Juni hemorrhages and bleeds out and dies in your hands. These things do happen and what if it happens to Juni. I've lost a mom and I still think about her and wonder if I'd been just a bit more experienced if I might have recognized that something was wrong soon enough to save her life. I vowed after she died that I would quit breeding but I had a very large support group of experienced breeders who helped me through it and convinced me to continue. I'm questioning it again now because I have a girl who got ill after breeding. Thankfully she is not pregnant and seems to be doing better with antibiotic but she isn't totally well yet.
I'm not trying to be mean but you are very young and have not owned a hedgehog long enough or have enough knowledge or experience to be ready to breed. You're still asking new owner questions and at your age you should be enjoying her as a pet not risking her life by breeding her.
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Yes, I've seen some of my youngsters biting at the water bottle. But, they don't typically do it for very long. Going from sucking on mom's nipples, to licking a water bottle is a learning process for them. Once they get the hang of it, then they should be able to get just as much water from a bottle, as they can from a dish. As far as the natural position drinking out of a dish......we humans don't pour our soda or drinks into a dish for lapping. We tilt our heads back and drink from the soda bottle or cup. Again, this is just my opinion, and I'm not saying that water dishes are improper.
Pixie
Pixie
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Not to be argumentative, but how would you explain the hedgies whose water intake doubles, or more, when given a water dish? Water bottles work great for rodents, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits etc, but hedgies have a totally different type of teeth and a different shaped tongue than rodents, and their teeth don't grow back if chipped on a bottle. Hedgies have teeth more like a cat than a rodent..and cats wouldn't do good on water bottles either. A hedgehogs spine in designed to curve inwards, for balling up, not backwards as they do with a water bottle. Xrays show that when using a water bottle they actually have to hyper extend their spine...like a human trying to drink with there head as far back as then can, looking up. This position makes it difficult for the epiglotis to close and prevent aspiration of water. Try it sometime.
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Again, it's YOUR personal preference. I don't know that there is a right way or a wrong way to give your hedgie water. But, your hedgie will not die nor get sick, for lack of water or dehydration, just because you are using a water bottle.
I just prefer the bottles myself. I hang their bottles low enough, so that all they have to do is stick out their tongue and lick. Thus, they don't turn their necks up to drink.
P.S. As far as our cat.....we have water bowls and water bottles (hanging on our kennel doors), and my cat prefers to drink from the water bottle any day.
I just prefer the bottles myself. I hang their bottles low enough, so that all they have to do is stick out their tongue and lick. Thus, they don't turn their necks up to drink.
P.S. As far as our cat.....we have water bowls and water bottles (hanging on our kennel doors), and my cat prefers to drink from the water bottle any day.
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I've looked at your website and you state the following:AllQuills said:It IS a huge responsibility, and I know this. This isn't an impluse, I've done lots of research on breeding and I'm prepared for the things that can go wrong.LizardGirl said:How long have you had Juniper? IMO you should have at the *very* least 2 years of interactive experience before you should even consider breeding.That's just my opinion, breeding is a huge responsibility. Some people will jump in on impulse, and things can go wrong.
It has been HIGHLY advised by several members on HHC that you NOT breed Juni. You simply don't have the experience and knowledge right now. Based on the 'list' you have posted on your site....the points you mention are just the tip of the ice berg.
Several things you SHOULD consider (if you intend to be a reputable breeder and follow the Breeders Code of Etics).....Juni came from a pet store, she apparantly (?) is not registered with the IHR, and apparantly (?) does not have a pedigree. These are 3 of the top reasons NOT to breed her.
Please reconsider and do NOT breed Juni. Keep her as your PET and enjoy her for a couple years. Then when you have more knowledge and experience, purchase yourself a good breeding quality hedgehog. AllQuills, it's great that you are reading, asking questions, and doing research. But, breeding takes a lot more than that.
Pixie
I agree with everything Pixie has said. If you had truly done enough research and are knowledgeable, responsible and mature enough to start breeding, you would absolutely not even consider breeding a pet store hedgehog with no lineage.
Whose going to foot the vet bills? Do you expect your parents to? Are they fully on board with this and realize that one emergency vet bill could be over $1000? Don't think things don't happen. My first girl ended up delivering 7 premature dead babies and had a severe uterine infection but was so weak from blood loss we knew she would not survive the surgery. For over a week, every 2 hours round the clock I syringe fed her and medicated her and willed her to survive and get strong enough for surgery. Every time I walked in the room, I expected to find she had passed. She was so weak, swallowing a mouthful or two took all the strength she had. Every other day we were in at the vet getting her subq'd and checked over. Finally she gained a bit of strength but was also at the point that she had to be spayed because the infection was not getting any better. Thankfully she survived the surgery but my first venture into breeding very quickly added up to almost $1000.
To be recognized as a responsible breeder takes time and it's even more difficult for young people to be respected. Do you want to be known as the stupid kid who bred the petstore hedgie or would you rather have people look at you as being intelligent and responsible in your choices?
Just the fact that your thinking of breeding Juni shows you are more interested in having babies than doing whats best for Juni and future generations of hedgehogs.
There are enough backyard breeders. Do you really want to become another one?
Whose going to foot the vet bills? Do you expect your parents to? Are they fully on board with this and realize that one emergency vet bill could be over $1000? Don't think things don't happen. My first girl ended up delivering 7 premature dead babies and had a severe uterine infection but was so weak from blood loss we knew she would not survive the surgery. For over a week, every 2 hours round the clock I syringe fed her and medicated her and willed her to survive and get strong enough for surgery. Every time I walked in the room, I expected to find she had passed. She was so weak, swallowing a mouthful or two took all the strength she had. Every other day we were in at the vet getting her subq'd and checked over. Finally she gained a bit of strength but was also at the point that she had to be spayed because the infection was not getting any better. Thankfully she survived the surgery but my first venture into breeding very quickly added up to almost $1000.
To be recognized as a responsible breeder takes time and it's even more difficult for young people to be respected. Do you want to be known as the stupid kid who bred the petstore hedgie or would you rather have people look at you as being intelligent and responsible in your choices?
Just the fact that your thinking of breeding Juni shows you are more interested in having babies than doing whats best for Juni and future generations of hedgehogs.
There are enough backyard breeders. Do you really want to become another one?
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