Should you be interested in a new pet, yet you are unsure as to what you want why not consider a small African hedgehog. These cute and friendly little critters will easily win you over with their friendly personality and charm. These small bundles of quill can make for an excellent pet, there are just like all other pets however many things to consider when looking at a hedgehog for domestic purposes.
You will need to make accommodation for this animal and its natural traits such as climbing and its nocturnal nature. The best way to keep a hedgehog would be to place it in a minimum of a 20-gallon glass or plastic tank. It should be rather tall as hedgehogs like to climb, and you do not want this little critter escaping and you loose them. By placing a hedgehog in a 20 gallon tank you will be able to watch them and they will feel more comfortable in their surroundings without them becoming stressed out or scared.
Considering the fact that hedgehogs are more often than not very shy, it would not hurt to place some sort of house within the 20-gallon tank. Old flowerpots or cardboard boxes make great hedgehog homes, and will keep the hedgehog happy for the span of its life. Hedgehogs are very active in the evening, and love to run and play. For this reason it is not a bad idea to place a small hedgehog approved running wheel in the tank to keep them busy at night. A hedgehog approved running wheel is not like the standard hamster wheel as there are no grooves or rungs for the hedgehog to get their feet caught in. hedgehogs are also avid swimmers, should you elect to have you hedgehog take a dip ever now and then, it would not be out of the question for you to put a small area that is filled with fresh water in the tank. This will make them very pleased and they will be happy little critters if you do.
When considering a hedgehog as a pet, it is always best to keep one hog per dwelling. They are very shy animals and realistically are not all that social towards other animals including other hedgehogs. The practice for placing more than one hedgehog in a dwelling is more for mating purposes only. Once the mating is complete the male and female will be separated again. This is not to say that it is impossible for you to house more than one hedgehog in a tank, should you wish to try it would be best to place a pair that are of the same sex in the tank, as the transition will be less stressful to all involved. It is never recommended that you place a male and a female in the tank on a permanent basis, chances are one or both of the hedgehogs will die through conflict.
When mating and pregnancy is concerned, the male has nothing to do with the pups, and the pups would only be in danger of being eaten should you keep the male in the same tank. Unfortunately same goes for the female, she will if stressed eat her young so it is advisable for you to move the pups to a new location once they are weaned off of the mother.
This popular choice of pet in North America is a very shy creature by nature; it may take some time for the little hog to warm up to its owner. This will include being held, where this is clearly a patience issue that both parties will have to exhibit in order for they’re to be trusted. A little time and some gentle handling will have your hedgehog happy and spirited within a relatively short period of time. If you rush the issue of handling you could easily set yourself back several months, or the hedgehog could not trust you at all. Take your time and do it right, this way you will see much in the way of appreciation from your new little friend and they will make it a point to show you appreciation through playfulness and active living.
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