African pygmy hedgehog ebook

An enclosure with wire walls is also an option, but make sure the wire spacing is one inch or less to prevent the hedgehog from squeezing through. Do not use an enclosure with wire floors, as this can hurt their feet.

Include a box or other hiding spot where the hedgehog can go to feel safe and sleep. Some hedgehogs also enjoy playing with toys, such as small balls, and they tend to enjoy tunnels. Unlike some small animals, hedgehogs do not tend to use litter pans, so expect to do a lot of cleaning. Aspen shavings and recycled paper alternatives are commonly used bedding options, as is kiln-dried pine. Avoid cedar shavings, as the scent can be toxic to small mammals. Some African pygmy hedgehog owners use indoor-outdoor carpeting or fleece fabric to line the cage instead of using loose bedding material.

These options are more sustainable, as they can be washed and reused. However, if you choose carpeting or fabric, make sure to clip loose threads that can tangle up your hedgehog, and always have a backup piece for easy cleaning and replacing.

In the wild, hedgehogs are primarily insect-eating mammals. High-quality cat food—supplemented with mealworms, crickets, and other treats—used to be the go-to food choice for pet hedgehogs.

Nowadays, the pet industry sells high-quality hedgehog food that provides the exact nutrients your prickly pet needs. If you choose to feed it cat food, make sure it is a grain-free variety.

Being that hedgehogs are nocturnal, it's best to feed your pet at night when it is most active. Use a small bowl with low sides for its commercial diet. Dispose of any remaining food from the previous day, and add a fresh day's worth of food to the bowl.

In addition to the staple diet, provide around 1 teaspoon of chopped fruits and veggies per day in a separate small bowl. Check with your veterinarian for appropriate fruits and veggies to feed. Furthermore, you may offer insects, including mealworms and crickets, a few times a week. Chasing live insects mimics foraging efforts in the wild and provides mental stimulation for captive hedgehogs. Supply water in either a water bottle or a small bowl.

Some hedgehogs might need both until they get used to using the bottle. Whatever you choose, make sure to change your hedgehog's water daily or more often if it gets dirty , and check regularly that the bottle tip is working.

Some common health conditions that affect hedgehogs include:. Not all veterinarians have experience with hedgehogs. Before even acquiring one as a pet, make sure there is a vet nearby who will be able to treat your animal. The most common training hedgehogs respond to is being hand-tamed. At first, this discerning animal might curl into a spiky ball when you try to pick it up.

Be patient and cradle the ball in your hand, allowing your hedgehog to unroll itself and start exploring in its own time.

When your hedgehog realizes you mean no harm, it will get more active and its spines will flatten. African pygmies like to exercise, and they need it to prevent obesity and other health issues. In the wild, they travel great distances daily. Provide an exercise wheel for your hedgehog to get active. The wheel should be open-sided and have a solid surface rather than bars, which can cause injury. It should be at least 10 inches in diameter to allow your hedgehog plenty of room to run in place.

A hedgehog will generally groom itself. Regular purchases of essentials for your hedgehog will include a quality diet and fresh bedding. Some additional costs you might incur include treats and toys. Plus, they can be an interesting and entertaining companion.

Please get in touch if you can give a great home. Hedgehogs square measure remarkably cute very little animals. Their backs square measure lined with prickly spines referred to as quills, and their bellies square measure soft and hairy. Hedgehogs like to explore and cavort. Our baby hedgehogs begin exchange from mamma at around half-dozen weeks older and square measure then handled daily and liberal after they square measure sent to their new homes at weeks recent.

Is that a baby porcupine?? Associate in Nursing African Pygmy Hedgehog is Associate in Nursing insectivore, not a gnawing animal just like the gnawer. African Pygmy hedgehogs have a thick coat of spines, varied in color. Hedgehogs square measure plain sailing, non-aggressive and not attention seekers. Learner Tutor. What is a Hedgehog? Is that a baby porcupine?? They look very similar, but they are not even related. An african pygmy hedgehog is an insectivore, not a rodent like the porcupine.

Alfabetas grammatik read African Pygmy Hedgehogs As Your New Pet ios Hello Hedgehog is a website that will help you decide if an African Pygmy Hedgehog is the right pet for you and if so we can direct you to the best breeders and products for your new little friend. As a breeder of these beautiful creatures for the past 10 years, we have developed this booklet. Wild hedgehogs have been living in Africa forever but only in recent years have they been kept as pets.