anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Jul 27, 2016 6:21:24 GMT
Wow. It would be illegal in the UK to keep a hedgehog as a pet, unless it is an African Pygmy hedgehog.
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Post by leftturnonly on Jul 27, 2016 6:28:11 GMT
I vote Gratildzel.
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Post by khaleesi on Jul 27, 2016 12:31:32 GMT
I vote Matilda and second the other who said she would call her Tilly I have no experience with hedgehogs but I would imagine with patience and consistency she will come out of her ball. She's so cute!
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Post by woodysbetty on Jul 27, 2016 12:46:53 GMT
How adorable....I vote Hazel!! Enjoy!!
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,760
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
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Post by scrappert on Jul 27, 2016 14:41:21 GMT
Oh so cute. I love all those names, so I am no help.
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,728
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
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Post by purplebee on Jul 27, 2016 14:47:00 GMT
Oh she is SO cute! I like Hazel best. Hope she becomes more sociable, keep us posted!
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Post by gryroagain on Jul 27, 2016 14:53:45 GMT
She is so cute! But, I hate to tell you this, our hedgehog never warmed up, in 4 years. She was still very young- bought at a pet store in Korea, only a few months old when we got her, family wanted to rehome her, I thought hedgehog, awesome!! Only, not so much. They are carnivores so their poo smells bad. They like to eat their food and then spit it on themselves, necessitating baths. Many like baths...ours not so much. Ours was terribly scared of people and handling despite daily hours long handling sessions. We took her to a vet to have her nails clipped (I couldnt manage it) and the vet insisted hedgehogs are friendly domestic pets and implied we didn't handle her enough, but we honestly did. She had to be gassed for nail trims as she would not come out of her ball at all. She just never came round. It was really disappointing to my girls.
The family we passed her to had no more luck than us (I think they thought they would, but I'm not surprised). She was terribly adorable and we loved watching her, but compared to rats and other companionable rodents our hedgehog experience was pretty bad.
Henceforth I will leave hedgehogs in the wild and now we have a rescue guinea pig who is sweet and makes happy noises at us!
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Jul 27, 2016 16:55:52 GMT
With regards to clipping her nails. Once she warms up to you and doesn't ball up all the time get her use to you touching her feet and legs. See if she will lay on her back in you lap and you can rub her tummy.
For bathing use a baby shampoo.
yes them spitting on them selves is a lovely thing
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Post by melly on Jul 27, 2016 16:55:54 GMT
From my cousin: Clean the spikes up immediately. It really hurts when you step on one. Ouch! Noted! That video is SO cute!! You can change their schedule to day time. I've had two. My first one was so social. My second no matter what I did was not. Unfortunately I developed an allergy so I had to give him away. But holding her will hopefully get her comfortable. She will get to know your scent. You can litter train as well Wow, I didn't know you could change their schedule! Interesting. I am trying to litter train her, that would be awesome! squeeeeee!!! she is so cute!!! I have always had a soft spot for them; that little nose and eyes, and those teeny, tiny little feet!! In order of my most-to-least favorite names for her: Matilda, Hazel, Gretel I don't think hedgehogs are allowed as pets in Arizona... so I'll just have to exclaim over the cuteness of your pics! I hope she comes 'out of her shell' (or ball, lol) with you soon. eta: she didn't freak out with the cats looking at her like that?? lol!! Suprisingly, she doesn't mind the cats! I do put the cats in a different room when I get her out, though. In her last home, the cats would jump in to her open cage and use it as their litter box... Maybe she is just happy that the cats can't get in, now! Lol
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Jul 27, 2016 16:56:25 GMT
oh mine was an escape artist so you might want to watch for that
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Post by melly on Jul 27, 2016 17:12:45 GMT
Yep! I have a hedgehog! She's my 7th one. It will definitely take time, hold her daily for at least 1/2 hr, and she should come around. Couple things I like to tell new hedgie owners. 1) they need to have a wheel as they run up to 5 miles during the night. A bucket wheel is best, nothing with holes in it. 2) temperature is very important, it should never get less than 72 degrees Fahrenheit or they can go into hibernation and die. 3) their nails have to be trimmed or they will curl under and grow into their feet, this is easiest done when giving them a bath. 4) if you need an idea on food, I give mine a mixture of chicken soup for the cat lovers soul- adult lite mixed with authority (Petsmart brand) lite adult. 5) aquariums are not acceptable cages because of humidity and air circulation. I recommend large storage tubs, I cut a hole between 2 tubs and connected with PVC pipe, 1 side has her wheel and water, the other her sleeping igloo, food, another water dish and a few toys. I keep a thermometer in her sleeping area to keep track of the temp in her cage. PM me if you have any questions:) congrats! 7th, wow! So cool! Thank you for all the tips I ordered her a bucket wheel that is supposed to get here today, I'm excited to get it! Thanks for the food suggestion, that is helpful! I did some research on it, and there are so many different opinions and options, hard to know what to go with! I don't have a petsmart near me but I'm sure I can find something similar. About the cage- what tool did you cut the tub with? How did you secure the PVC pipe so it didn't slide out? Do you have to do something to make sure the cut ends of the pipe aren't sharp and dangerous? And...her toenails are long, but when I'm near her she is tucked into such a tight little ball, I can't even see her feet. I'm going to give her a bath soon because she has itchy skin, maybe I will be able to see a foot while she swims. After reading the post about trimming their toenails during a bath, I now have the cutest visions of giving a hedgehog a bath!! (not true at all, of course, but what I picture is a teeny shower cap, a long-handled bath brush, and a tiny fuzzy chenille bathrobe, lol!) --and up to 5 miles on the wheel in a single night?? for a little teeny thing like that?? That's really impressive! (I can barely do 2.5 miles on the treadmill, lol!) lol! That's an adorable thought. I know- 5 miles?! With those tiny feet? That is some crazy endurance!
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Post by melly on Jul 27, 2016 17:24:09 GMT
Wow. It would be illegal in the UK to keep a hedgehog as a pet, unless it is an African Pygmy hedgehog. She is an African Pygmy hedgehog I'm not sure if it is legal around her to keep other kinds as a pet, or not. Now there's an idea! Haha! She is so cute! But, I hate to tell you this, our hedgehog never warmed up, in 4 years. She was still very young- bought at a pet store in Korea, only a few months old when we got her, family wanted to rehome her, I thought hedgehog, awesome!! Only, not so much. They are carnivores so their poo smells bad. They like to eat their food and then spit it on themselves, necessitating baths. Many like baths...ours not so much. Ours was terribly scared of people and handling despite daily hours long handling sessions. We took her to a vet to have her nails clipped (I couldnt manage it) and the vet insisted hedgehogs are friendly domestic pets and implied we didn't handle her enough, but we honestly did. She had to be gassed for nail trims as she would not come out of her ball at all. She just never came round. It was really disappointing to my girls. The family we passed her to had no more luck than us (I think they thought they would, but I'm not surprised). She was terribly adorable and we loved watching her, but compared to rats and other companionable rodents our hedgehog experience was pretty bad. Henceforth I will leave hedgehogs in the wild and now we have a rescue guinea pig who is sweet and makes happy noises at us! Sorry your Hedgie experience didn't go so well! I hope I have better luck! At this moment, I can't see her ever letting me get near her nails, but I hope it doesn't come down to having to take her to the vet for it! Sounds like you guys tried everything, she must have just been a naturally grumpy hedgehog! I'm glad you have a friendly guinea pig now, it's nice when your pets like you! With regards to clipping her nails. Once she warms up to you and doesn't ball up all the time get her use to you touching her feet and legs. See if she will lay on her back in you lap and you can rub her tummy.
For bathing use a baby shampoo.
yes them spitting on them selves is a lovely thing
She does need her nails clipped, and she really needs a bath, but when I'm near her she won't come out of a ball! I am hoping she will relax more in the water and then maybe I can get at her nails. They like tummy rubs? That's so cute, I hope she eventually lets me rub her tummy! She did the self anointing thing the other night and DH thought it was the weirdest thing ever, haha.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 5, 2024 6:20:31 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2016 17:39:45 GMT
My friend keeps hedgehogs, I think she has about 7 or 8 at the minute. She keeps them in big rabbit hutches and made them a little garden to play in. One of my lifes best moments was holding one and having it lick me I love Matilda!
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Post by micpea on Jul 27, 2016 19:52:17 GMT
She is cute! I know nothing about hedgehogs, but when I saw her, I thought "GRETCHEN"...not sure why....lol
My last name used to be HEDGES, so you can only imagine how many times my kids were called Hedgehog!!!
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Post by hookedonpeas on Jul 28, 2016 3:38:53 GMT
I cut the containers with heavy utility scissors. I just slide it through so it makes a passageway. That way I can slide it out, wash it and slide it right back in. She doesn't come in contact with the edge at all. If you peamail me you email address I'll sent pictures of her setup. I have best lunch with my female hedgie, but a couple of males have been friendly. My females are just such love bugs. I forgot to mention, I also fashioned liners for her cage. Less messy then bedding. I just shake off outside and wash in the washing machine with Dreft and vinegar and dry in the dryer without dryer sheets. A hand towel is about the same size as the bottom of each tub, I see it between 2 layers of fleece, all the loose threads are contained inside for the most part. I use Aveeno baby wash to bathe her with and a toothbrush to clean her quills good:)
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Post by bratkar on Jul 28, 2016 10:33:07 GMT
So stinking CUTE!
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