fairfarmhand Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 My dd17 really wants a hedgehog. My dh is seriously considering it. What are we going to get ourselves into? We’ve never even had an indoor cat. I can’t believe this is even on the table! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) DD's best friend has a hedgehog. We've watched it a few times while the family was out of town. This particular one is mean and hissy. It's also pretty boring (sleeps all day, runs in his wheel and knocks his water bottle over all night). Also, DD's room smelled of hedgehog (stink + wood shavings) for over a week after it went back home. Idk how important early socialization is vs. individual temperament; this hedgie was a rescue. (So maybe just this one is mean and antisocial.) The cage set up was pretty contained (also portable) and care was fairly easy. I think they require special veterinarians. Edited February 10, 2019 by alisoncooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 My friend’s hedgehog’s eyeball popped off. Apparently this is a weakness that’s not entirely unheard of. 😱 He lived out his days as a pirate. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Hedgehogs can carry salmonella. That's all I got. Oh, and random point of trivia with animals... you can get leprosy from armadillos. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 And they actually are kind of prickly. DD's friend has a special bag (like thick flannel) that she holds the hedgehog in, so he doesn't poke. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 We got a hedgehog about nine years ago. She died a few years ago at a ripe old age (for a hedgehog, anyway 🙂). Hedgies require a large cage with lots of room to roam. They need a heat lamp with a thermostat , hedgie-safe bedding, and an igloo or tunnel that they can sleep in during the day. An exercise wheel is a must and it has to be a hedgie wheel, not a rodent wheel. They are nocturnal and run on their wheel all night and make all kinds of of noise while you are trying to sleep. They poo a lot and yes, it smells bad. The cage needs to be cleaned every day. They poo while they are running on their wheel and it gets very, very messy. You have to scrub the wheel with hot, soapy water every day, which is a gross job. Sometimes their feet get covered in poo and you have to give them a bath. Ours ate dry cat food (has to be a certain kind), veggie and fruit scraps, and live mealworms that we ordered from Amazon. We got our hedgie as a baby and she was socialized at an early age, but she only ever tolerated us at best. Hedgies are not affectionate pets, for the most part. And oh yeah - make sure there is a vet in your area that treats hedgehogs, because those can be hard to find. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 First, going to be honest and say I adore hedgehogs but ........I would really think about this because I would think if it was easy I would know lots of people in England with hedgehogs as pets. I know someone who has taken injured ones to the vet but no one with a hedgehog for a pet and catching one would not be hard because we sometimes save them from themselves, they fall off curbs and get trapped in roads and need to get scooped up in shopping bags to be emptied in a safe spot......I love hedgehogs and honestly can’t imagine one as a pet beyond making one really comfortable in my garden. I am a former parrot owner so am willing to do exotics but cannot imagine I would get much sleep with one in the house. They wander around their area all night. They make nests under things like leaves and eat the rabbit’s food, dig a bit in the garden...... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 41 minutes ago, perkybunch said: Hedgehogs can carry salmonella. That's all I got. Oh, and random point of trivia with animals... you can get leprosy from armadillos. I was just going to post about the salmonella. I only learned about it recently when it popped up on a news website. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 39 minutes ago, Æthelthryth the Texan said: Also, I'm just saying, the rabbits have EXCELLENT names that they aren't attached to, so feel free to change them to anything you want. They are too dumb to know their names. We have Peanut, and the incomparable Valentina Ballerina Belle. Seriously. You couldn't fit a name like that on a hedgehog. And they are TOTALLY salmonella free. They're Rexes from Texas and are like petting clouds I've been told. I mean who wants a prickly, one-eyed , salmonella carrying pirate?!?! Just think about it, that's all I'm saying. 😉 She keeps trying. 🤣 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 29 minutes ago, Selkie said: We got a hedgehog about nine years ago. She died a few years ago at a ripe old age (for a hedgehog, anyway 🙂). Hedgies require a large cage with lots of room to roam. They need a heat lamp with a thermostat , hedgie-safe bedding, and an igloo or tunnel that they can sleep in during the day. An exercise wheel is a must and it has to be a hedgie wheel, not a rodent wheel. They are nocturnal and run on their wheel all night and make all kinds of of noise while you are trying to sleep. They poo a lot and yes, it smells bad. The cage needs to be cleaned every day. They poo while they are running on their wheel and it gets very, very messy. You have to scrub the wheel with hot, soapy water every day, which is a gross job. Sometimes their feet get covered in poo and you have to give them a bath. Ours ate dry cat food (has to be a certain kind), veggie and fruit scraps, and live mealworms that we ordered from Amazon. We got our hedgie as a baby and she was socialized at an early age, but she only ever tolerated us at best. Hedgies are not affectionate pets, for the most part. And oh yeah - make sure there is a vet in your area that treats hedgehogs, because those can be hard to find. Gosh, hedgehogs sound so charming and cuddly. No. No, they don’t. I blame Jan Brett and her adorable Hedgie the Hedgehog for making me love hedgehogs. But now I don’t want one. EVER. I will continue to adore their cute little faces from afar, but that’s as far as it will go 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I had one. They do not make great pets. They prickle and gave me a rash every time I touched them. They like to cover themselves in saliva. But worst of all, they poop while running on their wheel. So...they get their poop all ground into the wheel and into their feet. EVERY NIGHT. Every morning you have to scrub dried poop off the wheel. it's gross. And you can't use a wire one, for their safety you are supposed to use a solid surface wheel. Never again. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I know next to nothing about hedgehogs but let us know how it pans out. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 I’m thinking a kitten might be better. I adore cats. And we have had cats for years. And they don’t poop on their feet. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 5 minutes ago, fairfarmhand said: I’m thinking a kitten might be better. I adore cats. And we have had cats for years. And they don’t poop on their feet. Cats are 100 percent better. I have had both. No comparison. Cats will snuggle, they will play, and they don't poop on their feet or eat worms. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 1 hour ago, fairfarmhand said: And they don’t poop on their feet. I think this might be the best reason I have seen for getting a cat. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Would she consider a different small and exotic pet? I have sugar gliders, and they are way cuter and more fun than my friend's hedgehog or my other friend's bearded dragon. They live a lot longer as well, usually 10-12 years versus 4-6 years for hedgehogs. They are also nocturnal wheel-poopers, but ours are always up in the evening and morning (they tend to adjust to the household schedule to some extent, and mine are generally pretty happy to see me at any time of day provided I have a treat in hand). Their wheel isn't solid so much easier to clean. It is really recommended to have two of them, they are high energy and keep each other entertained. They are tiny and travel easily, we take ours back and forth to our camp pretty often. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Life as a pet doesn't sound like a good fit for hedgehogs. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrulySusan Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I don't know anything about hedgehogs. I know about allowing 17 y/o to get a pet. The 17 y/o goes away to college and then YOU have a pet. Signed, the lady who has to feed snakes and other reptiles because I didn't say no. 7 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 31 minutes ago, TrulySusan said: I don't know anything about hedgehogs. I know about allowing 17 y/o to get a pet. The 17 y/o goes away to college and then YOU have a pet. Signed, the lady who has to feed snakes and other reptiles because I didn't say no. Which for a cat wouldn’t bother me. But washing poopy hedgehog feet? No thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 1 hour ago, TrulySusan said: I don't know anything about hedgehogs. I know about allowing 17 y/o to get a pet. The 17 y/o goes away to college and then YOU have a pet. Signed, the lady who has to feed snakes and other reptiles because I didn't say no. This is what I was thinking too. With a 17 yo, you’d need to make sure whatever pet comes into the house at this point is one *you* are willing to have as a pet, because it could very likely be all yours in a few years!😊 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 9 hours ago, katilac said: Would she consider a different small and exotic pet? I have sugar gliders, and they are way cuter and more fun than my friend's hedgehog or my other friend's bearded dragon. They live a lot longer as well, usually 10-12 years versus 4-6 years for hedgehogs. They are also nocturnal wheel-poopers, but ours are always up in the evening and morning (they tend to adjust to the household schedule to some extent, and mine are generally pretty happy to see me at any time of day provided I have a treat in hand). Their wheel isn't solid so much easier to clean. It is really recommended to have two of them, they are high energy and keep each other entertained. They are tiny and travel easily, we take ours back and forth to our camp pretty often. That is some serious cuteness right there!!!!!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Thank you for all the laughs this morning. I know nothing about hedgehogs, but I saw some cute chocolate ones at the store yesterday. Regards, Kareni 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 5 hours ago, TrulySusan said: I don't know anything about hedgehogs. I know about allowing 17 y/o to get a pet. The 17 y/o goes away to college and then YOU have a pet. Signed, the lady who has to feed snakes and other reptiles because I didn't say no. Which for a cat wouldn’t bother me. But washing poopy hedgehog feet? No thanks. my dd wants to know what hedgehog poop is like. Is it squishy like cat poop or hard pellets like mouse poop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selkie Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 19 minutes ago, fairfarmhand said: Which for a cat wouldn’t bother me. But washing poopy hedgehog feet? No thanks. my dd wants to know what hedgehog poop is like. Is it squishy like cat poop or hard pellets like mouse poop? It is squishy. When they poop on their wheel, it gets smeared all over and then dries and has to be scrubbed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawnmoscato Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I've had hedgehogs my whole life. They are NOT for everyone. In fact, I think they are not for most people. Hedgehogs require socialization with their owners from a vey early age. Hedgehogs don't change behavior past 22 months (or around), so whatever habits and behaviors they have will be set by then. Hedgehogs anoint themselves which means they basically cover their bodies in foamy saliva. They can get mites and fleas. They require Revolution treatments like cats and dogs. They can bond with one person and reject all others. They can be finicky with nutritional needs. A lot of the hedgehog people online are misinformed and, unfortunately, have created a culture around hedgehogs that is really damaging. They are not pets in the way other animals can be. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawnmoscato Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 11 hours ago, happi duck said: Life as a pet doesn't sound like a good fit for hedgehogs. Agreed. I had hedgehogs as pets as a kid and then started taking in rescues as an adult. It's horrifying how neglected most of them are. The hedgehog culture is super dangerous. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanin Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I think a kitten is a great idea 🙂 I begged my mom for a hamster once, and she finally gave in. Turns out hamsters are cute, but really boring. They don't like people (at least mine didn't). The wheel squeaked all night. The cage was stinky, and I didn't want to clean it. If I were you, I'd tell my daughter she could have a hedgehog when she gets her own place in a few years, if she still wants one 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonflower Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Yeah, this doesn't sound like a great life for hedgehogs, tbh. Spend all night stuck in a cage, running off your energy on a wheel that goes nowhere, pooping all over your feet? Sorry, but I'd trade possible predation, uncertain food supply, possibility of disease, and a lot more in order to have the natural hedgehog freedom of running around over grass and under bushes, pooping on the ground (not my feet!) and finding a hedgehog wife and smelling the fresh air and looking at the stars. Some animals just aren't meant to be domesticated. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 15 hours ago, TrulySusan said: I don't know anything about hedgehogs. I know about allowing 17 y/o to get a pet. The 17 y/o goes away to college and then YOU have a pet. Signed, the lady who has to feed snakes and other reptiles because I didn't say no. THIS!!! I ended up with a lap horse aka English Mastiff for this reason. Never again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 11, 2019 Share Posted February 11, 2019 I second/third everything Sekle and Fawnmoscato said. They are cute to look at but don't generally make good pets. They are one of those pets that people think they will like and that they won't really mind the clean up and care they require. They seem to think, they are small sized and small means 'small work' but nope, from everything I have read they are short on cuddly traits and big on care and their poop is gross to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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