Care Sheet - Hedgehogs
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While the internet is very useful for researching animal care, it can also be dangerous as there is plenty of MISINFORMATION on the web. We prefer that you come to us with questions rather than Facebook groups or the like. Your breeder is your best resource and there is a reason you chose us.

This guide is provided as a convenience to you so that you are not being misled by incorrect information found on other webpages. Always feel free to call should you have further questions or find this sheet does not cover your particular situation.

Hedgehogs are exotic animals and require more care than your average domestic pet. The purchase includes lifetime breeder support, advice and guidance, so please contact us at any time if you have any questions or concerns regarding your new baby.

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Basic Info

• Species name: African Pygmy Hedgehog, also known as the White-Bellied Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)
• Lifespan: average 3-5 years, but can live up to 6 years with proper care and nutrition
• Adult size: 5-8 inches long and 0.5-1.25 pounds

Required Supplies

Provided below are recommendations of items that have worked best for us.

Supplies may be ordered online ahead of time using the links provided or through your chosen retailer. If ordering supplies on your own, you must show photo proof of APPROVED setup before your hedgehog baby will be released to you. NO EXCEPTIONS. Use of unapproved or not recommended items will void all health guarantees. Please inquire if you have any questions or concerns.

Always shop around!!! Sometimes Amazon and the like will change prices before I notice and edit these links. But always make sure you read our notes on safety and health requirements with any alternative you find. Be aware that unapproved caging will void any warranties.

Your Hedgie's Home

Hedgehog safe cage or bin
- No wire cages, no ramps, no levels; Hedgies can climb up, but get stuck or fall down!
- Make sure the sides are at least 12" higher than your tallest hides / toys; They can use those to escape.

Sterilite 110 qt or similar; larger is even better

Heating Equipment (Critical for Hedgies!)

Heater Thermostat Controller

- This one is listed first because it is the important and often overlooked!
- Your Thermostat will ensure your Exotic friend is the right temperature year round.

Such as the Century Thermostat Controller

Heat Lamp Fixture

- Do not buy the 5.5 inch! Many new owners have bought too small and had to replace to keep their hedgie warm enough. Use 8.5 inch or larger.
- Ensure it is made for the heat bulb you buy. Not all lamps can handle 100W!
- One clue is that it should have a ceramic bulb socket so it won't melt or catch fire (safety first!).

We have used Fluker's 8.5" Clamp Lamp successfully for decades.

- Do NOT purchase the heat kit from Amazon. The plastic-socketed lamp is a safety concern.

The Heat Source

- Ceramic Heat Emitter Bulbs are really the only way to go; under cage heat sources / pads are known to burn bellies of sleeping hogs!

This 100 Watt 2-Pack is a good choice. (always have a back up!) If your home runs on the cool side consider a 150 watt bulb.

NOTE: The Thermometer that comes with many bulb sets is NOT a Thermostat (See Heater Thermostat Controller, above).

Essentials in the Cage

Watering Device

- You have to ensure your Hedgie has constant access to water, and a water bottle is an easy way to do that.

See this one from LIXIT.
**This is the only hedgehog-safe water bottle that we use, approve, and recommend.**

Some babies will choose to wean to water bowl. So please ask, although we are typically quick to let you know.

Feeding Bowls

- Since most hedgehogs are free fed, you will need to have plenty of fresh food in the cage at all times.
- There really is no way to stop them from spilling / knocking over any bowl or plate you use, but if you get a ~1" deep ceramic bowl, that will usually minimize spills

Substrate / Bedding

- There are several commonly used choices out there including shavings, paper products, and pellets.
- Please ensure you get an option that is safe and non-toxic. The best options are those used most commonly by other Hedgehog parents.
- We do NOT recommend the use of felt or fleece liners for cage bedding.

We recommend buying your bedding online to lessen the chance of mites being brought in. Pet stores have animals that carry things you'd otherwise not see on one of our babies.

Carefresh NATURAL (nothing colored) can be a great choice (though some babies will eat it so watch closely) especially mixed with Kaytee Brand Aspen Shavings.

Recommended Supplies:

-Stand for your heat lamp / bulb for added safety

Look for one with a large base to hold the stand in place such as this XL Stand on Amazon

-Hide(s):
Igloos, 3" PVC pipe parts, crinkle paper, strips of fleece. The Hideaway Home is a popular choice.

The Kaytee Igloo is also a favorite.

We do not recommend fabric houses/hides for babies during the bonding process.

-Toys:
Nothing with catnip or holes/bells that could get grab toenails or whole toes!
Dig boxes, mint chews, crinkle balls, Pom Poms, and more
(see our selection at pick up)

-Additional Cuddle Sacs
(We often have these available for purchase or Etsy)

*** We recommend not buying a wheel until we talk about enrichment options at your Go Home class ***

-Wheel
DO NOT PLACE WHEEL IN CAGE until baby has been home for a few weeks and is done quilling. We discuss this at the go home talk as well.
Etsy for the Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel or GIANT 12 inch
Kaytee Comfort Wheel (*Loud)
Consider getting the larger wheel from the beginning. We seem to be producing some very robust babies
❤️

- Carrier Choices
Hedgies love car rides
(just ensure you keep temperatures in comfortable ranges!)
Bissap Small Animal Carrier
Kaytee Take Me With (Md)
Kaytee Come Along (Md)
Living World Small Animal Carrier (Lg)

Very Basic, Minimum Bin Cage Example

This is a basic cage and heat set-up and the accessories are up to your creativity. Smallest acceptable size is the Sterilite 110qt. If you use a flat top hide hut you will need to get something deeper or make a lid so they don't climb out! Remember the babies bring a cuddle bag with them from our home to your's for easier transition.

Shop smart, Shop safe and always feel free to ask questions!

Habitat Notes

The Supplies list above provided the detailed information and links to get you started in purchasing your cage and supplies.

Your hedgehog will require temperatures between 76-80°F. Housing your hedgehog at any less than 76°F can cause your hedgehog to fall into a false hibernation, which can lead to death. The recommended heat source is a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) with a clamp lamp. Thermostat with automatic shut off / power on is also required so that it never gets too hot or too cold for your hedgehog. Do not use a heat lamp bulb that emits any light, as hedgehogs are nocturnal and a 24/7 light source would be a disturbance to your new pet. We also recommend the light stand as an added safety for you and your hedgehog; juggling extremely hot lamps is dangerous and unnecessary.

There are many cage options out there for hedgehogs. We recommend that you choose a bin style cage, Sterilite or similar brand, 110 qt or larger. Whichever style you choose, you must make sure there is a solid bottom/sides and no wire grate flooring, as your baby’s feet can get stuck and injured in the wire. Please also make sure there is adequate ventilation. Tall ramps and platforms are also not safe. Hedgehogs do not have excellent eyesight or depth perception and may fall off and injure themselves. Hedgehogs are excellent at climbing up, but cannot safely get back down!

Our recommended bedding of choice is Carefresh Natural and Kaytee Brand Aspen mixed. While we do not recommend fleece bedding there are a few notes necessary. Fleece bedding needs to be cleaned daily! You must watch for nails, skin irritation and urine burns. Also, you must use a free and clear detergent, no dyes or fragrance. "Organic" does not mean hedgehog safe. If in doubt run it by us. We in fact find that regular blue Dawn works well in the washing machine for cuddle sacs and likely would work well with fleece bedding as well. Do NOT use cedar shavings! They are toxic to your hedgehog as well as many other small animals, and they cause respiratory and allergy issues.

Hedgehogs can run for miles at night, so a hedgehog-safe wheel at least 11” in diameter is recommended for many. Kaytee Silent Spinner is NOT an acceptable wheel; hedgehogs have been known to lose toes with this wheel. Carolina Storm Bucket Wheel and Kaytee Giant Comfort Wheels are the recommended wheels for your baby. Note: Wheels are not a good choice for all hedgies; some are easily obsessed and will run all night without stopping to eat! Get to know your baby and how often (every night, twice a week, never) they can handle it.

They also need a place to hide and sleep, such as a cuddle sack, plastic igloo, etc. Remember we provide a cuddle sack with your baby to get you started. It is important to watch for loose threads and remove lost quills daily. We do recommend a hide in addition to the cuddle sack. Oddly enough we have found that even our largest adults prefer the smaller Kaytee igloos. It is quite entertaining when they turn them into turtle shells!

Nutrition

Pet hedgehogs can be prone to obesity, which is why it is important to evaluate the nutritional content as well as the amount of the food you are feeding them. We find that the best staple diet for a hedgehog is a mix of high-quality cat kibble with the right fat and protein contents. A mix of different cat kibbles provides a good variety of protein to our hedgehogs.

Commercial “hedgehog food” is generally not a good food source for pet hedgehogs. Please do not feed “hedgehog food” to your baby.

We feed about 2 Tbsp of our high-quality nutritional mix to each hedgehog per evening. Adjust the amount accordingly depending on the body condition of your hedgehog. Our mix consists of several high quality cat/kitten foods

Base Diet: Purina One Sensitive Skin and Stomach

If your hedgehog is an avid wheeler or needs to gain weight, you can mix in Royal Canin Mother and Babycat

Our recommendations are based on years of experience and information from other long-term, successful breeders. We also want to temper the current excessive use of peas, potatoes and legumes in an attempt to make foods “grain free”. We hope to lessen the chances of seeing the same issues we see in dogs currently from “boutique foods” that read well to human eyes but aren't aligned to Hedgie needs.

Your new baby will currently be eating our Premium Baby Mix. When purchasing a hedgehog from us, a free sample bag of the Premium Baby Mix will be provided. The sample should last you about 2-4 weeks as you switch him or her to your mix.

Switching your baby too early and/or too quickly can cause digestive issues, among other problems. We recommend what has worked successfully for us, producing healthy babies.

DO NOT use hedgehog specific foods. That industry is not large enough to be reliable.

Hedgehogs are insectivores. They do very well on cat food, but will thrive with the addition of insects. You can find any of these common feeder insects at your local pet store. Another option is Rainbow Mealworm or another feeder insect distributor (think: the Amazon of bug delivery). If you are brave and have the stomach for some of the more interesting bug choices, send us a pic. Actually always send us Hedgie pics!

Favorite "treats" include live insects such as mealworms, super worms, Dubia roaches and crickets. Keep dried insects to a minimum as they can cause impaction if overused. Do not feed wild caught or bait store bugs. They can be unsafe due to parasites and pesticide / fertilizer contamination.

In a pinch canned buggies are a yummy diet addition, too:

Other healthy high-protein treats include unseasoned cooked lean meats, moist cat foods, frozen raw cat diets such as Oma's Pride or Stella and Chewy's, freeze dried treats and food, and even scrambled eggs. If in doubt, just ask!

Grooming

Hedgehogs require regular nail trims. Use pet nail trimmers or regular nail clippers to carefully trim the tip of your hedgehog’s nails. Be careful to avoid cutting into the quick of the nail, as that part of the nail is vascular and will bleed if cut into. If you accidentally cut into the quick, apply a little pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding. Some people like to trim their hedgehog’s nails during or after a bath. You can also bring your baby back to one of our Spa Days for nail trims.

Hedgehogs do not require regular baths. However, you may give them a bath if they got into something dirty or for relaxation and bonding. Place your hedgehog in a small sink or a container and fill up to their belly with warm water. Use one of the recommended Antiseptic washes, below. Rinse any soap out well and dry your hedgehog completely with soft towels. We also recommend returning them quickly (but dry) to their heated cage, as you do not want your hedgehog to become hypothermic.

Again, you are welcome to bring your baby back for one of Spa Days so we can do it for you.

Recommended Shampoos

We have two recommendations. Read below about the Hibiclens and CVS Health options that have performed best with our hedgies over the years.

Hibiclens Antimicrobial, Antiseptic Soap and Skin Cleanser

This 4% CHG soap is an excellent choice easily found in most local stores and on Amazon.

CVS Health Antiseptic Skin Cleaner

It has the same ingredients as popular pet shampoos but we find it to be less drying. We’ve used this on our own pets for several years and do not experience excess dry skin; and we love the smell.

Bonus: They both decrease bacteria and fungus loads that are inherently part of being a low-to-the-ground mammal!

Text/Call

214-789-6899

Links

www.quillowhedgehogs.com

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