All About Hedgehogs

hedgehogsHedgehogs are one of the cutest animals around. They resemble little fluff balls with a pointed nose and beady eyes. However, then you touch them and everything changes. You discover that they more closely resemble a bristly hairbrush or a cactus, depending on their mood at that moment. The truth is, there are many things you need to know about if you are considering a pet hedgehog.

Hedgehog Care

Hedgehogs cat food dishesHedgehogs are wild animals. They generally come out at night and have a diet that includes a lot of different things. To successfully own one, you must keep all this in mind.

A well-rounded diet of low-fat, dry cat food is fine. It should be supplemented with mealworms, crickets, and vegetables to ensure they stay healthy. They also need plenty of room to run during the night when they are most active. This means that a large cage with a flat bottom is best.

Hedgehogs are a little high maintenance in certain temperatures. They have to be kept warm. They thrive in temperatures that are between 75-85 degrees. If the temperature goes too much cooler or two much warmer, they may enter a state called, “torpor”, which means they are lethargic. To counter this, you need to provide an external heat source such as an under-tank heater or a heat bulb.

Hedgehog Quills

As previously stated, quills are something you will have to love when you own a hedgehog.

Flat Quills. At times, these quills may be flat. This typically indicates that they are calm. Basically, everything in their world is good at this moment.

Raised Slightly. If you see the quills begin to come up, this means that they are a little uncertain of their current situation. They are on alert.

Spiky Quills. When your pet is alarmed or spooked, their spikes can become impenetrable.

Personality of Hedgehogs

hedgehog petNot every hedgehog is created equally in personality traits. Some love to climb all over their humans and others are more stand-offish. Some are feisty while others are calm. They may try to steal shoelaces and other treasures.

However, most do enjoy being around new smells. If they find a scent that they enjoy, they may attempt to camouflage their own scent using this new and exciting flavor. When “re-scenting” they will vigorously lick the item that smells “right” and then basically spit it all over their quills.

Night-Time Marathons

To hide away from predators, hedgehogs use the cover of darkness to shield them. Therefore, you should be prepared for your prickly friend to wake up about the time the sun goes down.

This is the best time to socialize with them, but you should also be prepared for them to play long after you are ready for sleep. In the wild, these critters will run several miles. They are very active. Wheels, toys, tunnels, and other things are ideal solutions to keep them entertaining throughout the night.

When playing, they are not going to consider the fact that you need your beauty sleep. Plan accordingly. They may tear up their home every night so that you have to clean it the next morning.

As the sun comes up, they will want to rest up for the night ahead. You have to give them a “safe” place to sleep. A large box or plastic storage container that fits well in the cage is perfect.

Custom Colored Epoxy Creations For Hedgehog Cages

hedgehog cageOne of the greatest things about having pets is that you can customize their space, especially if they live in cages or aquariums. Most pets, especially the type that would be in this environment, do not care what is there once you get past their basic needs. Food, water, and maybe a few toys. Therefore, you can add things that you feel are pretty or decorative. If you have fish, you may choose bright plants, the treasure chests, and fancy rocks. If you have a hedgehog, you can also do things such as create custom colored epoxy creations for hedgehog cages.

Necessities for a Hedgehog Cage

wooden platformBy nature, hedgehogs enjoy expressing their curiosity. Therefore, when planning a cage, you need to provide food, shelter, water, and a few toys. Toys may include wheels and anything made of cardboard. These animals love to chew and arrange their space to be their home.

They will also need bedding and other basic things. Hedgehogs are very easy pets to have according to some, but they do require a clean home, whether they are in a cage or an aquarium. Once you have these basics covered, it is then that you can add in color and style that makes you happy as well.

Customizing Your Furry Friend’s Home

resin rockYou are allowed to have fun with your pet’s cage. We promise he or she will not mind. There are no rules against adding a few fake rocks, logs, bushes and other fun things to your pet cage. As a matter of fact, we can come up with a variety of fun things to include, such as wooden platforms and wooden bridges.

When adding things to your hedgehog’s home, you have to keep in mind that nibbling may occur. Many fake rocks and such can be molded or cast from epoxy and foam. To create a beautifully colored rock, you simply have to figure out how to color epoxy resin and find a mold that captures your attention.

Wooden bridges and platforms may not require you to use epoxy, but it could still add decoration to the cage. Epoxy is food-safe and therefore safe for pets of all kinds as long as you have allowed it to cure properly.

Providing a “Home Sweet Home”

Our hope and our goal are to help you see that you can provide a wonderful home for your pet that you can both consider “home sweet home”. Taking care of a pet can be challenging, but it can and should also be rewarding. They depend on you for their needs. They are not free in the wild and able to climb over the mountains. You have to provide a mountain for them to climb.

You can keep it simple or you can create a world of tunnels and fun things to explore. They will love it if you take time to occasionally add new stuff and take away old stuff. As a bonus, with creating your own fun items, it won’t cost you a small fortune to do it!

Camping with Hedgehogs

wild hedgehogHedgehogs are very cute creatures that are wonderful as pets for some people. However, when raising hedgehogs, you have to keep in mind, that by nature, they are wild. They are domesticated because we have them as pets, but they are also wild animals that long to be back in the wild. This is proven in some of the natural things they do. This is also why it might be fun to consider camping with hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs Gone Wild

hedgehog gone wildIn the wild, hedgehogs are native to specific regions. They can be found in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and even central Asia. At one time, it is believed that they may have also been found in the Americas, but it was long ago.

Today, there are approximately 17 different known species of Hedgehogs. They thrive in grasslands, woodlands, and meadows. They tend to prefer dry, warm areas, but it depends on the way they have adapted to specific areas. If they are in a colder region, they can hibernate during the winter.

As a general rule, they may live near people, but not in the exact location where people are moving around. They may nest or burrow in a hedge that is near a farm where they feel protected from preditors.

Getting Back to Nature

hedgehog burrowMost hedgehogs show their “wild” side in the way that they behave. They may spend a lot of time rolled in a ball or bite things when they are spooked. They may spend a lot of time creating a den for themselves in their cage or eating the bedding that you provide to them. When startled or unsure of a situation, they can huff and puff. If they like the smell of something, they may self-anoint. Most will choose to sleep all day and stay awake to drive you nuts all night long. These are all-natural behaviors that they would do when in the wild.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you let them “sew their wild oats?” Perhaps take them on a camping trip and make sure you take along the generator for camping to keep yourself, and your pet comfortable?

Going Camping…

It is very possible that your beloved little hedgehog would enjoy visiting their native lands, or at least something similar. You wouldn’t want to turn them loose or they may take off running. However, if you go out camping in a reasonably safe area, it may not hurt to take them (and a safe playpen) along with you.

If you do this, it will be your job to make sure that they can enjoy a few fresh snacks. Worms, snails, slugs, and insects are all meaty treats that they will enjoy on their camping trip. However, if you want them to be able to “forage” for foods, you may also give them a chance to find some vegetables.

You also need to keep them safe while they are foraging. Give them a hiding spot or a burrow to go to if they feel threatened by their new environment.

Best Place To See Hedgehogs In The Wild

playful hedgehogsHedgehogs are wonderful little creatures to have. However, this does not mean that there are not challenges of owning and loving them. If you have dreams of seeing one in the wild, you may face a unique challenge. The best place to see Hedgehogs in the wild may be more of a trip than you are expecting.

Where Do Hedgehogs Live?

cute hedgehogsThey thrive in warmer clients, but this does not mean they cannot handle a little coolness. However, in the cooler areas of the world, they may hibernate during the winter since they do not enjoy cold temperatures.

These not so furry creatures are native to areas such as Africa, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand. In these areas, they can thrive in savannas, deserts, suburban gardens, forests, and all other types of habitats. The key to their survival is whether they can find or build burrows for themselves. These burrows will need to be up to 20 inches deep. Typically, they are made from leaves, branches, and other similar vegetation.

Do You Have to Go Abroad?

hedgehog burrowsTypically, hedgehogs do not naturally live in Australia, South America, or North America, but they are in those areas. They have been introduced to these continents both in captivity and in the wild. So far, they are able to thrive in any area, although they do prefer to live in dryer areas where it is easy for them to get out and hunt insects for food. This also allows them to eat plants with a particular fondness for watermelons, berries, mushrooms, and more.

It is the hope that one day you will not have to travel to specific continents to see these animals. Maybe one day you will be able to see them on one of your hikes in Maui near Wailea or walking through your backyard in Florida, where they will have plenty of access to all their favorite foods.

The Future of Hedgehogs

The goal is to see hedgehogs worldwide to ensure that they continue to thrive. However, we still have a long way to go. It is illegal to own a hedgehog in some areas. You cannot own them if you live in Georgia, Washington DC, New York, Pennsylvania, California, or Hawaii at this time. This is because there is some concern about them taking over habitats and food items for animals that are native to those states. It is also because there is a concern that animals from other areas may introduce bacteria and diseases that are not there at this time.

How long will it take us to get to where we can walk outdoors and see these tiny pin cushions? There is no certain answer. However, because of their natural way of defending themselves, these little guys are not going to go away anytime soon. The hope is that they will continue to thrive in all areas of the world.