The Story of a Hedgehog (part 1)

Hedgy Spice. Photo by Patricia

Hey Greensters,

It’s me Vanessa. It has been a while since I write anything, but anyways I'm back! Today I'm going to talk about how to take care of hedgehogs as pets. I have 8 hedgehogs, 2 parents and 6 kids. Now I'm going to tell you guys how to take care of hedgehogs. let’s start!

Some facts and how-to's about Hedgehogs:

1. Hedgehogs are nocturnal. 

Nocturnal means they sleep in the morning and afternoon, but they are active at nigh

2. You have to make them know your scent. 

A one-year old Hedgy Spice

Hedgehogs cannot see clearly. They have poor eyesight. But they have a great sense of smell and hearing. So, in order for them to know you, everyday you play with them until it knows you. If not, then they will hurt you with their 5,000 spines!

3. How to know if the hedgehog knows your smell. 

When you touch it and it curls to a ball, shivers, and makes hissing noises, then it means it doesn't know you yet. It takes 2 weeks until it knows your smell and familiar with it. 

The baby hedgehog is called 'Hoglet'

4. Always change the shredded wood in the cage.
Always change the shredded wood in the cage once or twice in a week. It would be much better if you can clean its cage regularly by picking up its poops and wet shredded woods because it pees. Wear a washable rubber glove to do this or wrap your hand with a plastic bag but this means you will throw away the plastic bag or else you have to wash it also. I clean the cage twice everyday in the morning and at night. Everytime you change the shredded wood in the cage, you have to wash the cage also.

5. According to animal facts I read, there are 17 different species of Hedgehogs. My hedgehogs are "Salt and Pepper" and "Brown" varieties. And they are categorized as African Pygmy Hedgehogs. Hedgehogs have reproductive cycle to gestation for only 35 days. They are ready to get married when they are 6 months old (but, mine was still so young that time and we didn't know it yet!).

6. How to take care of them

• Put clean shredded wood in the cage. 
• Put a box in the cage. Make sure the hedgehog can get in and out! You can use the used tetra pack boxes to make this. The box is for sleeping and hiding (they need a dark place to sleep).
• Use a heavy bowl to put the food. Make sure they can reach it! I use a glass ashtray for this. 
• They eat cat food, but the size should be small so they can eat it. 
• Don’t give too much food or else you overfeed them and they can die. They eat at night when they are awake. So, only feed them once a day at night. 
• Use a hamster bottle and hang it at the side of the cage. Make sure they can reach it!
• They drink normal water. Make sure they always have enough water in the bottle.

One thing that you must remember that Hedgehogs (and other animals) need our L-O-V-E. 

If you take care of them with pure love, then they will grow healthy and have long lives. 

And that's how i take care of a hedgehog! thank you so much for reading! Goodbye! 

Best Regards, 

Vanessa Monica

Co-founder of Green Team Indonesia