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When people first encounter a hedgehog at the pet store, they are usually smitten by their cute appearance and want to immediately purchase one as their own. There are a few things you'll need to know before making such a big decision. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and some can get very irate if woken up during the day. When they are upset or angry or frightened they roll into a ball and erect their quills and may even try to stick you with them by jerking when you try to touch them. If you have small children, this is not the ideal pet to own.
If you are still interested in owning one of these sweet pets then there are a few other things you will need to know before bringing them home. You will first need to have adequate housing for your hedgehog. An aquarium will work as a good cage as long as it's roomy and has good ventilation 20-gallon size and above are best, because hedgehogs love to run. You may also want to put an exercise wheel in the cage. Hedgehogs also like to play, so you will want to supply some pet safe toys like a rubber squeaky ball for him to play with.
Hedgehogs don't usually climb, but it's still good to have a screen on the top to keep other things like insects out of his cage. For food and water, you can use a sturdy tip proof bowl for food and for water. You can also use a water bottle.
Hedgehogs are insectivores and will eat things like crickets and mealworms. You can find these at your local pet store. You will also want to purchase food that is specially formulated for hedgehogs. If there is none available in your area, ask your vet for recommendations.
Hedgehogs do need to be bathed on a regular basis. Depending on you hedgehog this could be easy or incredibly painful to you if he totally hates the water. It's best to wear gloves. Fill a sink with warm water and wash him with baby shampoo. Make sure to clean his quills with a soft toothbrush. Rinse him off well and make sure you dry him off good. Keep him out of drafts so he doesn't catch a chill. After time your hedgehog will become accustomed to getting bathed and may become less combative. You may also need to trim his nails if he doesn't get the opportunity to wear them down on his own.
Hedgehogs have a life span of approximately 6 years.
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