Hedgehogs
- Thread starter Whitewolf
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I think they are somewhat popular in England, so maybe try pet sites from there. Seem like gerbils a bit, burrow and hide a lot. They seem to eat insects, grubs, maggots. Will daughter have trouble with having it eat these things? Also I think have a peculiar smell, not bad but odd.
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Does that joke involve a hedgehog with poor eyesight and a toilet brush?
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Originally Posted By: Whitewolf
Does anyone own a pet hedgehog? My daughter really wants one! Opinions please!
Hedgehogs carry usually lots of fleas and they stink. If you have a garden (without chemicals and pesticides in the soil and on the plants) with some shrubs and leaves on the ground a hedgehog will feel right at home. Hedgehogs hibernate. If they wake up during warm weather, they can easily be surprised by a cold snap and die before being able to dig in. As a kid, I often had a hedgehog for a week or two. We always released them when there was a good opportunity. I wouldn't keep one as a pet, but just as a short term guest.
Does anyone own a pet hedgehog? My daughter really wants one! Opinions please!
Hedgehogs carry usually lots of fleas and they stink. If you have a garden (without chemicals and pesticides in the soil and on the plants) with some shrubs and leaves on the ground a hedgehog will feel right at home. Hedgehogs hibernate. If they wake up during warm weather, they can easily be surprised by a cold snap and die before being able to dig in. As a kid, I often had a hedgehog for a week or two. We always released them when there was a good opportunity. I wouldn't keep one as a pet, but just as a short term guest.
I kept one as a pet for a little while when I was in England. I stepped on him walking throught hedge on my way to the callbox. He wasn't very exciting, but he was probably not a happy camper either for being stepped on or being abducted after that.
I let him go after a about four days. He wasn't eating.
His quills were so sharp it was difficult to hold it. He was a cute little bugger.
I let him go after a about four days. He wasn't eating.
His quills were so sharp it was difficult to hold it. He was a cute little bugger.
Aren't they rather large, like medium dogs?
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Dude, you are thinking of porcupines!
Just found one wandering around our place just now....he seems a bit crook.We are having temps higher than Aussie in some parts of the country,and I don't think the poor little bloke is coping too well.We gave him some milk which he drank,then I dug up a worm and he took to it like a cat to a mouse.But now he is just lying in the garden like a worn out cat.I'll check up on him later when it cools down.
I hope I don't have to dig a hole for him - but I hear they are good for the garden....
I hope I don't have to dig a hole for him - but I hear they are good for the garden....
I used to sell them when I managed a pet store.
They like the quiet and calm. They get startled when anything unexpected happens, whether it's movement, sound, or really just about anything. They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal. Wouldn't suggest as a pet for any child younger than a very mature 10-12 year old. Not a good first pet, either. You can make them as tame as any other pet by just holding them and letting them get used to you. Putting a shirt recently worn by the owner in their cage overnight every night will help. It will take a couple weeks of daily holding before they become fully comfortable with humans. I've seen some very personable hedgehogs, but it does take a dedicated owner. They eat hedgehog food (8-in-1 makes a good one) which looks like dry cat food. They enjoy mealworms and grubs as occasional treats, however these should never be gathered from outdoors because of the risk of pesticide and paracite exposure. They like to hide out in a turned-over shoebox with one end cut out of it. They need a 2'x2' wire cage with pine shavings (NEVER cedar, which causes respiratory problems in all small mammals).
Main points: They are a pet that needs a calm, patient owner, they are a pet that needs constant attention to be people-friendly.
Hope that helps.
They like the quiet and calm. They get startled when anything unexpected happens, whether it's movement, sound, or really just about anything. They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal. Wouldn't suggest as a pet for any child younger than a very mature 10-12 year old. Not a good first pet, either. You can make them as tame as any other pet by just holding them and letting them get used to you. Putting a shirt recently worn by the owner in their cage overnight every night will help. It will take a couple weeks of daily holding before they become fully comfortable with humans. I've seen some very personable hedgehogs, but it does take a dedicated owner. They eat hedgehog food (8-in-1 makes a good one) which looks like dry cat food. They enjoy mealworms and grubs as occasional treats, however these should never be gathered from outdoors because of the risk of pesticide and paracite exposure. They like to hide out in a turned-over shoebox with one end cut out of it. They need a 2'x2' wire cage with pine shavings (NEVER cedar, which causes respiratory problems in all small mammals).
Main points: They are a pet that needs a calm, patient owner, they are a pet that needs constant attention to be people-friendly.
Hope that helps.
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Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal.
Wild ones are always infested with fleas. As for the smell, I guess all those years at the pet shop must have affected your sense of smell!
They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal.
Wild ones are always infested with fleas. As for the smell, I guess all those years at the pet shop must have affected your sense of smell!
My wife's had 2 of them...they're now illegal in Canada. As people have said, they can be smelly; bathing them regulary is needed. They are grumpy and touchy, but if you take the time, they can become friendly, but they are always very, very shy. Have to feed them mealworms as a supplement to their dry diet. You also have to clip their claws regularly, as they grow qick and can become a problem.
I'd look into a guinea pig. Had them growing up, and my mom always had one in her classroom when she was a kindergarten teacher. Friendly, social little critters and about the same as any other caged animal as far as maintenance and care. I think they'd be better for a younger child. They seem to be stronger and live longer then smaller caged animals like gerbils and hamsters. We had one that lived to gosh, almost 10 years as I recall. He became so old, his back threw out from old age and we had him put down.
And, if the [censored] really hits the fan, I hear they're good eatin!
And, if the [censored] really hits the fan, I hear they're good eatin!
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Drew, here is an indoor Cui Ranch that I visited in Peru. In a rare fit of good taste, I have decided to not show the dressed out ready for market Cui carcasses.
I never did get around to trying Cui, another missed opportunity. It was about 3 times as expensive as Chicken in restaurants.
I never did get around to trying Cui, another missed opportunity. It was about 3 times as expensive as Chicken in restaurants.
Cool! On Bizzare Foods with Andrew Zimmern, he's loves cui.
I believe Tony Bordain ate cui in Peru. Or was that Andrew Zimmern...
Anyhoo, they both think it's a delicacy. Then again, Zimmern thinks cow nuts are a delicacy.
I believe Tony Bordain ate cui in Peru. Or was that Andrew Zimmern...
Anyhoo, they both think it's a delicacy. Then again, Zimmern thinks cow nuts are a delicacy.
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Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
cow nuts
Uh, hmm, uh...
cow nuts
Uh, hmm, uh...
XS650,
When you were in Peru, did you see any chinchillas ?
Those rodents have extremely soft fur.
When you were in Peru, did you see any chinchillas ?
Those rodents have extremely soft fur.
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal.
Wild ones are always infested with fleas. As for the smell, I guess all those years at the pet shop must have affected your sense of smell!
Go smell a ferret cage. That's a smelly mammal. These guys aren't bad at all.
Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
They're clean and not very smelly for a mammal.
Wild ones are always infested with fleas. As for the smell, I guess all those years at the pet shop must have affected your sense of smell!
Go smell a ferret cage. That's a smelly mammal. These guys aren't bad at all.
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Everything is relative!
Originally Posted By: moribundman
Everything is relative!
Only if you're married to your cousin.
I have a chinchilla. They do have soft fur. They're also fairly boring as pets.
I've had ferrets too. They don't smell all that bad, I prefer their aroma to that of a cat litter box.
Everything is relative!
Only if you're married to your cousin.
I have a chinchilla. They do have soft fur. They're also fairly boring as pets.
I've had ferrets too. They don't smell all that bad, I prefer their aroma to that of a cat litter box.
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