​Photo Credit: http://cf.ltkcdn.net/small-pets/images/std/173985-425x282-Pet-hedgehog.jpg

hedgehog care

(P.S- There is going to be a lot of writing in the next 2 paragraphs so, if you don't have very much time then please watch this video. ​

First of all you need to check if your country allows hedgehogs. Some places don't allow hedgehogs, and they might even be illegal. Hedgehogs can live up to 4 to 6 years. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so in the day let them sleep, you could go and try to play with them but they will be sleeping. They are spiky on top and soft underneath. When you try to pick it up from it's cage, it will curl up into a ball since it is scared. If you smell like food that the hedgehog likes, there is a chance that they will bite you. You can have grumpy hedgehogs or friendly hedgehogs. They are related to the shrew family. They like digging down. You might want to have a cage 2 to 4 square ft. Hedgehogs also need exercise, you might want to buy a wheel that they can run in.  You might want the wheel to be 12 inches, and the wheel must be plastic. If it is the wired kind, then their legs will get stuck. Hedgehogs like going under things so, you want to get a small shelter or tunnel.

It will be easier for the hedgehog to eat food if you keep in a dish, for water you might want to have the upside down water bottles, they can drink from the bottom. The bedding can be some sort of fabric, like newspapers, something that is clean and smooth will help them. Remember to wash the bedding everyday, it can get really dirty! You should not use cedar or wood chips. Toys can be toilet paper rolls, plastic balls or even ping pong balls will do. If you get a hedgehog as a pet, I say that you should not put the cage in your room, since they are nocturnal they will be running on the wheel at night. It will be loud and when they run they poop, so it will be a bit smelly. You should put the cage in the living room or somewhere where no one is there. Each month or week, you might want to use animal soap to clean the hedgehogs but that does not have tea tree oil because that is really harmful to hedgehogs. To clean the feet as they will become dirty, you can use the animal soap and a old tooth brush so the feet will become clean! You need to dry the hedgehog before you put it back in the cage.

Hedgehogs can carry SALMONELLA, which can make you really sick so, PLEASE DON'T KISS YOUR HEDGEHOG! After you play with it don't let it touch your face or eat your food. REMEMBER TO WASH YOU HANDS AFTER TOUCHING A HEDGEHOG! Hedgehog are really shy so, you should play with your hedgehog 30 minutes everyday. They will become more friendly.