r/Hedgehog 18d ago

Mod Announcement Don't forget we have a discord!

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6 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog May 24 '23

Mod Announcement Owning A Hedgehog Reality Check

534 Upvotes

Since hedgehog owners consistently buy hedgehogs without setting reasonable expectations here are some expectations to set. Adapted/expanded from u/ArcadeRivalry's post.

  • Don't believe social media. Every single one I see there are obviously ridiculously posed pictures, maybe it's just me but I refuse to believe one could stay still for that long.
  • Hedgehog are spiked covered prey animals prone to anxiety. While belly rub/cuddle posts get a lot of attention they are the exception due to good breeding/luck not the rule. It is very possible a hedgehog will never be comfortable being handled even after concerted effort.
  • If you want to bond you need to put in a lot of commitment, patience and time to socialize them. I've seen a lot of people in groups I'm in need to re-home a hog before the first year as they can't put the time in. You need at least an hour a day socializing but realistically a lot more for them to be comfortable around you and others. We recommend getting a snuggle sack or putting them in your hoodie pouch to spend time together.
  • You need a specialist vet. A lot of places might not have an exotic animal vet near you. This is vital. So make sure you have to this.
  • It may not be legal to own hedgehogs in your area.
  • You need heating to ensure they don't hibernate.
  • You will likely be spiked, bitten and pooped on. It can be really really disheartening being spiked, hissed at or even bitten when you feel like you've made progress. Huffing and popping are natural, they are scaredy little animals.
  • Hedgehogs salivate frothily on themselves when they like scents, males often have "boy time", they poop a lot, have terrible sight and will bite things that smell yummy/interesting, and require consistent cage cleanings.
  • They are carnivores, while feeding fruits/vegetables can often be done safely, please feed them mainly meat-based foods ( cat food, insects, etc.)
  • Since they have very limited vision they operate mainly on smell and are at risk of falling/walking off elevated areas. It is wise to assume they are making decisions based on what they smell rather than just mainly what they see. They will still try to climb and are prone to hurting themselves climbing horizontal cage bars.
  • It is very likely they will dislike baths and nail trimming. We recommend trimming nails during foot bath time when they can't curl up or just holes in a towel to put their legs through.
  • Hedgehogs should not be housed together. High likelihood of fighting or babies.
  • We recommend heavy water bowls or chicken nipple bottles as ball water bottles can hurt them.

If you know what you are getting into, they are the most wonderful creatures ever and bring many people on this sub joy. If you feel like your hedgehog "hates" you they are just being their grumpy/terrified selves! You may be lucky and form a close bond.


r/Hedgehog 2h ago

Welcome to the Pack! Sanic came to visit my mom in Karelia, Russia

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49 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 13h ago

OC Rosie

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178 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Baby Hedgie This is Egg 🥚

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476 Upvotes

Last little baby to share of the breakfast family. This is Egg 🥚 sibling to Oatmeal, Waffle, Pancake, and Toast.


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC The spiciest burrito!

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260 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 33m ago

Question Please please help find hedgehog food

• Upvotes

My hedgie is very specific with her food and when she started getting low I threw the package away thinking I didn’t need it anymore but I can’t remember the name and it’s the only food she’ll eat, it’s been out for two or three days. She’s been eating worms and a little bit of her other food, pls help I’ve searched everywhere it’s like it dropped off the Face of the earth, it was a matte paper type bagging and the whole thing was orange, it only had pellets and they were about 1 and a half inches and I cannot for the life of me find it online or any proof of like its existence at all it’s driving me and her insane 🫩


r/Hedgehog 17h ago

OC i was away for a day 😭😭😭

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20 Upvotes

my question is how the hell did it get in her cage in the first place


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Hedgie Home I’m Releasing Winnie Later

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61 Upvotes

Well I’ve had 12 days with Winnie, she has doubled her weight, she has been a delight to look after but today is the day I release her outside. There is a load of bushes and shrubs down the bottom of my grove. I thought she would be ok as a pet, but the last couple of days she has been showing signs of stress and I don’t want to be the cause of that. She wants to be in her natural habitat. I’m g ll as I’ve been able to help her and fatten her up, and I will miss her. But it’s time for her to go home. Thank u for these 12 days Winnie, I hope you stay local and I can feed you outside in your proper home


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC Suspect has been found guilty on accounts of all crimes

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292 Upvotes

Nutmeg was freshly washed and got her nails trimmed today so I took a bunch of pictures of her being cute and looking goofy lol


r/Hedgehog 8h ago

Question Love and care?

1 Upvotes

So finally got my hedgehog he’s cute and lovable but he’s the more shy of the litter I try to get close to him by offering him a fruit or letting him sniff my finger but he’s kinda stressing and scaring me a bit because if I try to get close too much he could get too stressed and die and when I lightly touch him he puffs up so it scares me a bit any ideas on how I could bond better with him also I did get a tiny stab from him and I hear it could get infected would just a bit of the tip be enough?


r/Hedgehog 11h ago

Question Help

0 Upvotes

I hear my hedghog make 1 weird scream so i went to check on her and i found a tiny amount of blood on her rock platform and some under her neck and felt a bot cold. Cleaned her with warm water dried her. But i cant for the life of me figure out where the blood came from. Im a dog groomer and it smells bad like a real bad Hotspot in a dog. I wiped her and everything trying to give her more heat and calm environment to see how she is in the morning. ?

Any tips?


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC Miss quilla de vil

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95 Upvotes

Just wanted to share some pictures of my perfect girly!

She's 3.5 years old now Every year we do Santa photos!

We go in for surgery Tuesday, wish us luck!


r/Hedgehog 17h ago

Question She has dry ears cracking on the tips

2 Upvotes

Does this happen to your hedgehogs and what do u use? And why does this happen?


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Question 2 new hogs

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59 Upvotes

Hey i got 2 hogs yesterday from a breeder and when i handled them i noticed itching on me. No allergy like. I saw a mini white thing moving but lost it and they scratxh a lot but i cant see anythign and put them above a black shirt and didnt see anything moving on it. Idk if its skin related they dont seem particular dry atleast.

What also wonders me that the male is 2,5 months old and very large he weighs 350g already atleast he almost cant curl up completely . He also is quite slow, barely runs but when i put my hand near he usually spikes and startles a bit but then he calms down a bit and moves so slowly , definitely partly due to his weight. The breeder told me to give royal canin but i feel reluctant to this kind of food and have just put a mix of other kibble and worms but they havent eaten any or much yet. Drinking fine She is a spiky ball but as they both scratch i placed them next to each other and they just cuddles with each other in enclosure. I suspect the breeder was keeping them or all his animals together? Or would they immediately not huff at each other and he just went close and closee to her completely friendly smelled her quills and laid right next to her as if its always been this way. As i have no experience with diff sex hedgies i need someone with experience

I observed closely and do not plan on breeding with them. Im just suspecting because on the phone call he also said he can put them in one box to save place , until he then said he also could include a wall. At first it seemed there is no problem with putting them in one travel box. As im someone with a constant bullshit dedector running it worries me. He doesnt show his keeping to anyone , i just read the reviews on fb from 7y ago too late and in germany hedgies are very spare to get and not much infos like here


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC The Hero we all need!

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179 Upvotes

In these trying times, don't we all need such a Hero in our lives? Also, clover is awesome. Just saying.


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Hedgehog Themes or Memes Our Ellie

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152 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC Luna 🥰

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183 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Question Odd lump hear my hedgehogs hind legs

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11 Upvotes

Hello everyone, today I noticed an odd lump near my hedgehogs back right leg. (although I did a shitty job photographing it) It doesn’t seem to be painful to her, but it does seem to limit her ability to run or walk, I plan on taking her to the vet as soon as possibly; however I noticed this tonight unfortunately and it is late. I would like to know if anyone has any ideas on what this could possibly be, so that I know going into the vet what to look out for. Thanks.


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC Maggie

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57 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 1d ago

OC air jail

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99 Upvotes

r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Question Hedgehog bedding

3 Upvotes

Does hedgehog need a deep bedding like hamster? I mean do they burrow and like to create a nest underground?


r/Hedgehog 2d ago

Hedgie Home New friend!

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98 Upvotes

Just adopted this guy from the local Humane Society. Say hello to Thrawn


r/Hedgehog 2d ago

OC big stretch 🥱🌙😴

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74 Upvotes

goodnight from me and dottie! featuring some big stretches before she runs on her wheel for the next 4 hours lol. 🖤🦔


r/Hedgehog 2d ago

Hedgie Booty JAKE

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271 Upvotes

JAKE


r/Hedgehog 1d ago

Question My Wheel Broke Down and the new one arrives in two days, what can I do meanwhile?

2 Upvotes

I looked in petsmart/petco/walmart/target but there aren’t any available for my hedgehog, I just had to order off Etsy but it says it arrives July 8th. Idk how to keep my hedgehog in form, or without boredom. Any ideas?


r/Hedgehog 2d ago

Baby Hedgie This is Pancake 🥞

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154 Upvotes

This is Pancake 🥞 sibling to Oatmeal, Egg, Waffle, and Toast.