'Hedgehogs'

MissyG (64.136.27.228) -

Does anyone have a hedgehog for a pet? My son is in love with hedgehogs and really wants one. They are expensive, however, and largely nocturnal from what I read. Might not be the most exciting pet.

Any more information?

Comment #1 Bill (152.163.36.224) -

Hedgehogs perform well with other pets, including cats and dogs. They are occasionally threatened by these animals, though, but for those rare instances, the hedgehogs just rolls into a ball until the threat is gone.

The most common pet species of hedgehog are hybrids of the white-bellied hedgehog or four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the Algerian hedgehog (A. algirus). It is smaller than the European hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called African pygmy hedgehog. Other species kept as pets are the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus auritus) and the Indian long-eared hedgehog (H. collaris).

All three species prefer a warm climate (above 72°F/22°C) and do not hibernate. Attempts to hibernate are commonly fatal. They eat an insectivore diet. Commonly, this is replaced with catfood and ferret food and is supplemented by insects and other small animals.

It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some U.S. states and some Canadian municipalities, and breeding licenses are required. No such restrictions exist in most European countries.

The purchase of domesticated hedgehogs has seen a considerable increase in the last few years due to their apparently innocent and playful looks. Hedgehogs are difficult to maintain as pets due to their low resistance to climate and temperature changes, and their inability to adapt to enclosed environments.

Read more...

• Hedgehogs

Comment #2 Lucy (66.24.100.217) -

My sister and her family had hedgehogs for quite a while. Why I still don't know the answer to that. I do know that they are loud at night. I can remember watching my nephews over night and having a really hard time going to sleep because they are up all night. I think at one point they had babies but I don't know if they kept them or sold them. She doesn't have them anymore, just a dog.

Comment #3 alain from Old Country -

Why don't you try a porcupine? A lot more exotic and you can sell the quills when they fall out! Seriously, though, they do get quite tame in captivity. At the oceanarium in the South African city of Port Elizabeth, where they have a famous dolphin act, there are a couple of tame porcupines wondering around the grounds quite happily. Obviously they must be tame or there would have been some newsworthy accidents by now :)

Comment #4 Bizzy from Hamster Wheel -

I can't even imagine how loud they'd be. The hamsters are loud enough. It was the oddest thing getting used to the sound of the hamster wheel. LOL! We haven't had a hamster in about a year and I want another one now. DH thinks we should try a Guinea pig.

Comment #5 JB from Hell -

hedgehogs r awsome i breed them and sugargliders, , , and also pygmy possums if u get a really tame specimen they can be loads of fun and humorus too.

Comment #6 elliot (72.21.240.195) -

does anyone have information on pet woodchucks? particulary where i could purchase a woodchuck or marmot? thanks

Comment #7 djfjahdh (205.250.146.123) -

i would like to get a pet midget.does anyone have midgets 4 sale??????

Comment #8 Emily (75.0.43.36) -

I've always wanted a pet hedgehog and now i've decided to get one. Does anyone have a good website to give me that i could order one off of?

Comment #9 jackie (205.188.116.130) -

i got a hedgehog when i was 12 an he was my responsibility and i found him fairly easy to care for. as long a you have a reasonably sized cage and maybe one of those silent wheels, it and you should be perfectly happy. the only time mine evr woke me up during the middle of the night (he was in the same room as i)was when he got he foot stuck in the cage and man can they scream loudly.

if you go to any search engine and type "hedgehogs for sale" you should get a few legitimate hits. please make sure they are from happy, healthy homes. often if you buys hedgehogs in pet stores they may have been mistreated of not socialized.

there are also books available yo read up on owning hedgehogs that i found very useful.

hope i helped and good luck if you do get a hedgehog!

Comment #10 Damien (205.188.116.206) -

I want a hedgehog for free.Because my parents cant afford that.

Comment #11 Sarah Bryon (70.88.142.30) -

hey hey, i am sarah i am a hedgehog breeder and expecting a litter in 3 weeks and if yall are interested email me htey sell for 170$-200$ i live in dc and do not expect to ship the little ones because i do not have connections to airlines so yall would have to pick up the parents r about 5 inches long and thats expected of the hedgies as well

Comment #12 Misora (76.114.213.254) -

Sarah! My dad and i have been trying to find a hedgehog breeder near us for such a long time! please e-mail me so i can find out the details. ( strawberrysmoothie79 @gmail.com )

Comment #13 Elizabeth (70.126.90.109) -

You can visit our website for some great information and pictures of hedgehogs. I think they make wonderful pets especially ones that are hand-tamed. Some hedgehogs will wake up during the daytime if their own handles them everyday at a certain time. You can also change their sleep pattern so they can be awake during the day.

Hedgehogs actually like to be held and love to explore. Some hedgehogs like to climb up to your shoulder so they can nuzzle. I hope this helps in understanding hedgehogs as pets.

• Hedgehogs

Comment #14 Killian Piper (98.222.225.126) - Sat Jun 28 22:31:06 2008

I'm currently selling a hedgehog that Ive had for a couple years and got him when he was a a little under one.

Hes very good tempered and is fun to play with.

I live in franklin, IN

he comes with his cage.

$150

email if you are interested.

pipergears@mail.com

Comment #15 RIley Thumann (151.213.41.106) - Fri Jul 25 01:13:27 2008

Im only 11 but I have loved hedge hogs ever since i was 3.

The have always been super pricey and I dont ever have enouhg i hope I could find a hedge hog for at least 50 bucks please can someone help me out. I have been earning and saving up and Id like to find one for 50 bucks. I would like it to be a girl but I dont mind as long as I get a hedgehogs I would also like a hedgehog as young as possible!

Please HELP me out!!!!

Riley (the animal loving fool) Thumann

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