Northern Plains Hedgehogs

• Hedgehogs should be kept at a temperature in between 70-85 degrees.   If the temperature falls below 70 degrees, there is a chance your hedgehog will go into hibernation, which is turn can result in it getting sick or even dying. 
• Domestic hedgehogs normally live in between 3-7 years old.  This varies quite a bit as there are diseases and other things that factor into this.
• In the wild, hedgehogs can run up to 13 miles in search of food.  Domestic hedgehogs are not able to do this, so a wheel must be provided to ensure to hedgehog gets enough exercise.  Depending on the hedgehog, the wheel should be cleaned regularly.
• Hedgehogs are naturally insectivores, meaning they eat crickets and meal-worms.  These can usually be found at a pet store, alive or dead.
• Adequate housing must be provided for the hedgehog.  It is recommended that the cage be large enough to provide enough space to house a wheel, igloo or house, a litter box if you so choose, and space to move.  We use the ferret nation 142, double stack cages.  They are 2 x 3 feet and our hedgies have all of the above items in their cage, plus a pvc tube to crawl in.  Please go to our set-up page for more information on Our Cage Set-up
• In the wild, hedgehogs keep their toenails trimmed by running, digging, and finding food.  Pets need to have their toenails trimmed for them.  It is recommended that you trim your hedgehogs toes once a month, depending on your hedgie.   A good time to do it is bath time, as you can wash their toes prior to trimming them.  You must take care not to trim to short or they will bleed.
• Hedgehogs are normally solitary animals.  You should always keep your hedgehogs in separate cages to prevent territorial fighting. Males should never be kept together under any circumstances.   Females can sometimes be housed together, such as a mom and her daughters, but once mom kicks them out of the igloo, it is time to separate them.
• Hedgehogs can be fed a variety of items.   We feed a blend of three different cat foods to give them variety in their diets that includes Wellness Indoor, Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck, and Blue Buffalo Weight Control.  We also offer mealworms, and also fruits and veggies depending on the hedgehog.  Our also get fresh water daily.

Burrowing

Hedgehogs are for the most part, nocturnal animals.  They will sleep for the majority of the day, and be most active from dust to dawn.   During the day, they should be provided with a small animal igloo, a pvc pipe tube, an old t-shirt, fleece strips, or anything else that they can burrow or hide in.  Along with our fleece liners, we also make hedgie bags that they can crawl and burrow in.

Defenses

As stated in the facts, if you own a hedgehog, you will get poked from time to time.   Hedgehogs will usually raise their quills when they are startled, hear loud noises, when they are woken up, or if they are just not very sociable.  We have one female in particular like that, and that is the way she came to us, a ball of spines.  She comes out every now and then, but only for certain people.  Hedgehogs like her can take a long time to grow accustom to a new family and new surroundings.   Hedgehogs can also bite.  Usually it is when they smell something new, they will start to lick you, and eventually will bite you to see if you are food or not.  The key is not to let them keep licking you.

Sounds

Hedgehogs have a variety of sounds that all mean different things.  They also have a very keen sense of hearing that should be taken into consideration at all times.  Here are a few sounds that we have heard out of our own hedgehogs:

1. Snuffling - This is when the hedgehog is naturally curious and is completely out, not balled up.
2. Huffing/Growling - Usually a sound you hear when the hedgehog is scared and does not want you around.
3. Squeaking - This is usually heard from newborn hoglets after they are born.
4. Crying - When a hedgehog is in pain or some type of distress
5. Squealing - When a male is introduced to a female for breeding
6. Purring - A very content, satisfied hedgie

Self Annointing

Self annointing is an often discussed part of hedgehog ownership. Many first time hedgehog owners post panicky messages to mailing lists or hedgehog friendly forums with concerns of seizures, vomiting, ect.  None of these are to be worried about; self annointing is a completely natural behavior of hedgehogs that is displayed by a particularly interesting new scent or taste.

It begins with a hedgehog chewing or licking on a foreign substance, which can be almost anything that is new to the hedgehog. They then usually chomp their teeth a few times, and begin to produce a white foamy spit. Then, they bend into amazingly impossible contortions and wipe this saliva onto their quills. Typical target areas are going to be the rump or the sides, but I have seen hedgehogs that were capable of annointing right in the middle of their backs above their shoulder blades. Often, the animal will fall completely over onto their sides or back while vigorously spreading the foamy saliva as far as the tongue can reach.

Self annointing itself has no risk or danger to the hedgehog. It is not a sign of illness, nor likely to cause an illness. However, some substances that your hedgehog may find fascinating or desirable are not safe. You should not allow your hedgehog to come in contact with cleaning products, other chemicals, spoiled foods, or other animal feces. Annointing can make nasty messes on your hedgehog quills, depending on what they prefer to annoint with, but these can almost always be cleaned up with a good bath. In my opinion, the lighter colored the hedgehog, the more likely they are to annoint. I am not sure if this observation is simply because annointing splotches show up more on albinos and light hedgehogs, or if they actually DO annoint more to help camoflauge themselves.

More information will be added to this page in time.  Please keep checking back.