The Hedgehog – General Advice

Origin and General Characteristics

The hedgehog is becoming an increasingly popular pet in Quebec. It belongs to the Erinaceidae family, with several subspecies, the African hedgehog and the European hedgehog being the most well-known. Naturally shy and solitary, the hedgehog can still be quite endearing. With a highly developed sense of smell and hearing but poor vision, it is well adapted to its nocturnal lifestyle.

An often overlooked point, the temperature of your vivarium should ideally be between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius. When you have males it is best to have only one per cage as they can fight excessively. Females generally behave well in groups. The hedgehog can adopt a particular behaviour called self-anointing, this means that when it smells an object, it can salivate excessively and spread the saliva produced on its spikes. These fall out approximately every 18 months and grow back continually.

Housing

The cage should be at least the size of a 30-gallon aquarium and should have smooth sides, as hedgehogs are excellent climbers. The bedding should be made of either recycled paper or aspen wood shavings (both available at Anima-Plus Veterinary Hospital). Avoid cedar and pine, as they can cause respiratory problems.

The cage must be cleaned frequently because hedgehogs are prone to contact dermatitis from exposure to their feces and urine. It is important to provide small hiding places, such as a cardboard box or a PVC pipe, where the hedgehog can sleep during the day. An exercise wheel without bars is also recommended to help maintain a healthy weight.

Since hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, feeding in the evening and removing food in the morning is ideal.

A final tip: avoid putting your favorite fleece blanket in the dryer. Static electricity can cause fleece fibers, especially lower-quality ones, to form small threads that may wrap around a hedgehog’s toes and cause injuries.

Lastly, we recommend purchasing a precise scale (accurate to the nearest gram) to monitor weight on a weekly basis.

Nutrition

Diet A

• 2 to 3 tablespoons of hedgehog diet
• 8 in 1 Hedgehog Diet, Ultra-Blend Select
• Advanced Nutrition Dietetics, Ultra-Blend Select
• Select Diet Hedgehog food, Hedgehog G-FM (Avian Super Premium Hedgehog Food. Avian Pet Products)
• A tablespoon of fruits and vegetables mixed with multivitamin supplements.

Diet B

• 3 to 4 tablespoons of insectivore diet
• Reliable Protein Products, Rancho Mirage
• A tablespoon of fruits and vegetables mixed with multivitamin supplements.
• 5 to 6 mealworms or 1 to 2 crickets (to be given 1-3 times per week)

Diet C

• 3 tablespoons of high quality dry cat diet
• Adults should be given a reduced calorie diet
• Youngsters should be fed a kitten diet
• A tablespoon of fruits and vegetables mixed with multivitamin supplements.
• 5 to 6 mealworms or 1 to 2 crickets (to be given 1-3 times per week)

Diet D

• A tablespoon of insectivore diet
• One and a half tablespoons of high quality dry cat diet.
• Adults should be given a reduced calorie diet
• Youngsters should be fed a kitten diet or ferret diet.
• A tablespoon of fruits and vegetables mixed with multivitamin supplements.
• Half a tablespoon of dark green leafy vegetables and half a tablespoon of the following: carrots, apples, bananas, raisins, vitamin powder.
• 6-10 mealworms, waxworms or 1-2 crickets (feed 1-3 times per week)

* To all these diets, a small amount of Timothy hay can be added once a week.

As with all other animals, a pre-purchase examination carried out by an AnimaPlus veterinarian and then an annual examination is recommended.

References:

Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, Quesenberry P. Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery Includes Sugar Gliders and Hedgehogs, Elsevier Health, 2004.  

Johnson-Delaney C, Harrison L. Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians. Éditions Lake Worth , FL : Wingers Pub. 1996.