Prickles n' Quills Hedgehogs

FAQ

Are hedgehogs rodents?

No, they are insectivores. This means that their main diet in the wild is insects. They are also nocturnal, which means they are awake at night and sleep during the day.

 
Is that a porcupine?

The picture on the left is a porcupine and the right is a hedgehog.  Porcupines weigh 15-25 lbs and hedgehogs usually around 1lb.  Hedgehogs eat insects and porcupines eat bark and leaves.  Porcupines are rodents, while hedgehogs are insectivores.  There is a big difference in between these 2 animals!

 
Can I keep a pair of hedgehogs?

Well, sometimes. Sometimes female hedgehogs actually enjoy the company of another female, but other times they can hardly tolerate living together. Males should never be housed together, as they will almost always fight for their territory.

 

Housing a male and female together is a total disaster. Unless one of them is infertile, the female will become pregnant and having the male in there will cause her to become very stressed and kill the babies. If she doesn’t kill them, the male will and it isn’t a pretty sight. So, all that said, only house females together and only if you are sure that they get along!

 

Why a Hedgehog?

Are you wondering why someone would even own a hedgehog?  Well here are a few reasons why....

• They don't need yearly vaccinations.
• They don't need to be walked.
• Most people who are allergic to dogs and cats aren't allergic to hedgehogs.
• They are easy to care for.
• They don't stink very much and can be trained to use a litter box.
• They are great for people who work all day, as they are most active at night and early morning.
• They make great pets for people who have limited space.
• They are ADORABLE!
• They are very unique!

Why can't I just get one for my local pet store?

Well, 1st of all pet stores must be USDA licensed to sell hedgehogs.   Most pet stores get their hedgehogs from dealers.  In order for the breeder to make money selling to dealers, they have to mass produce hedgehogs.  These breeders are equivalent to a puppy mill.  So these hedgies are often not pedigreed, over bred, malnourished and improperly cared for.  This results to unhealthy and often diseased (including genetic) animals.  Many hedgehogs can carry genetic, often fatal diseases, so that's why the pedigrees are so important!