New Hedgehog Enclosure

[Travis K]

So we are picking up our new baby hedgehogs today from a USDA breeder in town from separate parents/litters. I took my wife, who has wanted a hedgie for ever, to look at some new babies on Valentines Day. Then my oldest daughter also wanted in on the fun and decided to fork out her own money to get one as well.

Today is the day we get to go pick them up and bring them home. I just wanted to share the enclosures I made for them with you all.

Features:
-Temperature controller
-Ceramic heat emitter
-Concealed wire/cord management
-Velcro suspended water bottle
-Custom hide

I am building a silent large wheel too but the breeder advised that we should hold of about 4-5 weeks before we let the little hedgies run on a wheel all night long. Also we made two of these setups so each hedgie will be by itself.

I will update with pictures of the new tenants later.

 

[Scott C.]

Nice. I got to play with a hhog at a scabies meet once. Cute little buggers

 

[Dark]

When did Scott C come back? Looks good man. I don't understand the wheel part, might be worth looking into so that you aren't neglecting them of exercise in case the breeder is wrong. What's that stuff in the bottom left corner (last pic)? Hope you enjoy them more than I did!

Eric

 

[truecreature]

Interesting! It almost seems more similar to keeping reptiles than other small furry critters. Is the heat just because they're very young or do hedgehogs need to be kept specially heated throughout their lives?

 

[Travis K]

When did Scott C come back? Looks good man. I don't understand the wheel part, might be worth looking into so that you aren't neglecting them of exercise in case the breeder is wrong. What's that stuff in the bottom left corner (last pic)? Hope you enjoy them more than I did!

Eric

She said they can get stressed out when they leave their mother and siblings and that it isn't uncommon for them to run on the wheel too much after they first come home cause are stressed and agitated. It seemed to make sense and by this time next month they will have wheels to run on as much as they desire.

Interesting! It almost seems more similar to keeping reptiles than other small furry critters. Is the heat just because they're very young or do hedgehogs need to be kept specially heated throughout their lives?

Adults are good down to 70*, nursing babies like it at 80*, and the first month or two after weening 75*. They are domesticated African Pygmy Hedgehogs so they are used to the cold like the European species. They are also insectivores! Good thing I have lots of six legged Dubia treats for them. ;-)

 

[lunarae]

I hope you post pictures of them. I bet they're down right adorable. The set up you have looks like they'll be very comfy indeed.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

In Italy some people used to eat hedgehogs.

Here the recipe straight from "Forbidden/Prohibited Recipes", including the description of a cruel old school method for removing the spikes, involving a live hedgehog and hot like hell water like with lobsters:
http://corrierefiorentino.corriere....ospino-sugo-1903458889691.shtml?refresh_ce-cp

Rumors saying someone still eat those behind close doors

Jesus Christ, i wouldn't. I stick with snails, frogs, horse meat etc but those

 

[Travis K]

Here is the boy. I didn't take any pics of the female last night.

 

[lunarae]

Awwww!! I'm Jelly!

 

[pyro fiend]

totally missing keeping hedgies now :'( quick someone hide this thread before he updates with more pics XD

 

[Najakeeper]

My experience with both the European and the African species is that unless you interact with them everyday, they forget you and get very skittish. Hence I didn't keep mine for long.

The EU one was a rescue anyway, an orphaned baby, which I released back to the wild.