Some of you may remember this thread where I asked for advice on a new pet. I was considering a hedgehog, but decided against it when I found out how much it would cost to set up (about $200 for the animal, at least in this area, plus another $100 or so for the cage and set-up). Too expensive, alas!
So I gave up. However, one of the breeders I originally contacted e-mailed me and let me know of a free hedgehog in the area! The family who owns her is moving to Wisconson from Massachusetts, and doesn’t feel they can take care of her anymore. So I get her for free! Pictures will be forthcoming when I recieve her on Saturday. Squee!
They’re awfully adorable. But they aren’t all that great about using a litter box–ours decided it was a sand bath, instead. And the critter was decidedly nocturnal. We set it up so he had a little hedgehog corral with newspaper and access to the balcony. At night, he’d go out onto the balcony and run, run, run figure 8s. It’s hilarious–these tiny little legs coming out from the hedge-body.
There’s something about salmonella to be aware of, too, and they do love a live mealworm. Yum.
We got ours a specific hedgehog wheel, too, which he used regularly. (And pooped on just as regularly.) He loved his wheel, but it has to be one made for hedgehogs.
If he got out of the corral, he was awfully hard to track down… They’re very good at hide-and-seek.
Pardon me if you’ve researched and know all this stuff already.
I wouldn’t get one again, but oh, that adorable face…
I actually did a lot of research on it, but advice is always welcome! I know this particular one is not a very valuable animal, because originally she was supposed to be a breeding hedgie, but for some reason couldn’t or wouldn’t have babies. She is healthy, just most likely sterile, which is fine w/ me because I only want one! She is also friendly and not skittish - one of the pictures the current owners sent to me is her nose-to-nose with the family dog. Her name is Pooka!
She comes with a cage set-up, and hopefully has a hedgehog-specific wheel (I know their feet and noses can get caught in other types). If not, I will buy one. There are several local petstores here, and I know where they have them online.
What a great weekend this is going to be!! My fiance is visiting from St. Loius, AND I get a spikey little minion!