How to care for a hedgehog at home

The hedgehog is an omnivorous mammal that belongs to the hedgehog family. The natural habitat of these animals are forests, clearings, floodplains, plains. In Eurasia, hedgehogs are distributed almost everywhere, but in some regions they are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species.

Life in the wild

The breeder should understand that the main thing in caring for the pet is to recreate the conditions of the natural habitat as much as possible. How do hedgehogs live in the wild?

Nutrition
Hedgehogs are a family of omnivores. The opinion that these animals feed only on mushrooms and fruits is a myth. In fact, hedgehogs eat arthropods and rodents. In addition, the animal needs fruits and berries.

In conditions of prolonged starvation, hedgehogs are able to eat earthworms and even snakes, including poisonous ones. However, such a diet for the animal will not be useful.

Lifestyle
Hedgehogs live in shallow minks, which are tightly closed in the cold season. They hibernate when the ambient temperature drops below 15 ° C. In this case, the mammalian heart rate is reduced to 20 beats per minute, and the respiratory rate is reduced to one.

Hedgehogs mate in spring after hibernation. A female can have up to 8 cubs in a litter; pregnancy lasts 40-49 days. Life expectancy in the wild rarely exceeds 5 years.

How to choose a hedgehog

Before buying a hedgehog, you should carefully examine it. The animal should be mobile, its skin and needles should look healthy, and its eyes should not have crusts or mucus. The first manifestation of many diseases in hedgehogs is excessive loss of needles and sour eyes. The most reasonable solution is to consult a veterinarian before purchasing.

Hedgehog adaptation

Hedgehogs get used to the area in which they live, quite strongly. When a pet is bought and transported to a new place, it is stressed. This is due to the fact that the hedgehogs have poor vision, but excellent sense of smell and hearing. In a new house with unfamiliar odors, the animal will feel in constant danger until it gets used to the environment. How to facilitate the adaptation process? There are a few simple tricks:

1. Take the hedgehog often. This is not to say that these animals need constant company, but the pet needs to get used to the new owner.
2. Feed the animal from the hands. This is the best way to attract any animal. Show that you are friendly.
3. Eliminate the effects of strong aromas. It should be removed from the room where there is a cage with a hedgehog, air fresheners, perfumes, cigarettes and other sources of smell.
4. Put your unwashed clothes near the cage. Hedgehog will quickly get used to the owner, if he constantly feels his presence.
5. Do not place the animal in a noisy room, this will only increase stress.

Cell selection

Hedgehogs - animals are very mobile, they like to run, because the cage should be large enough. It is important that it closes securely, as these pets are true escape masters. Do not select bunk cells.Pets have poor eyesight, and it is difficult for them to climb to the second floor. In addition, the hedgehogs' bones are fragile, scrambling and tangling in the rods, the pet can damage the foot.

There must be a litter in the cage, it should be made of natural materials: wooden sawdust or grass. Hedgehogs like to hide, they definitely need a mink. Replace it at home can a small but closed house. Another required component is the running wheel, otherwise the hedgehog will suffer from physical inactivity.

You can try to accustom your pet to the toilet tray. To do this, it should be filled with materials other than bedding. Suitable for these purposes is a regular cat litter. However, it must be borne in mind that hedgehogs do not lend themselves well to such training and relieve the need wherever they want.

Nutrition

The most common captive hedgehog disease is obesity. It becomes the cause of their premature death, so it is worth balancing the pet’s diet as much as possible.

In pet stores you can buy special food for hedgehogs. In case of its absence, dry cat food is suitable, the taste preferences of animals are largely similar. In addition, the hedgehog should be fed meat, fish, eggs and fruits.

As a complementary meal, low-fat boiled chicken or fish, boiled eggs, non-acid apples, ready-made peas are suitable. Food cannot be salted while cooking, nor can raw meat be given. There are a number of foods that are forbidden to feed hedgehogs, these include: tomatoes, grapes, raisins, milk, avocados, alcohol, sweets, bread.

The pet's feeder should be low enough and wide so that the hedgehog can climb inside. Thus, it will be more convenient for him to eat. At the same time, it must be heavy so that the pet cannot turn it over.

A few basic rules

1. Keep an eye on the ambient temperature. When it drops to 15 ° C, the hedgehog will hibernate. This condition is often perceived by the owners as death, but in fact the pet is alive. Already at 22 ° C, the hedgehogs become sluggish, dynamic, there is a risk of pneumonia.
2. Two males cannot be placed in the same cage. In these animals, there is a fierce struggle between the representatives of the stronger sex for the territory, they can cripple each other or even kill.
3. Always close the cage and check for leaks. Hedgehog will take every opportunity to escape and can cause a lot of problems because of this.
4. Release the animal periodically so that it can run around the room. In the wild, hedgehogs have a fairly large territory.
5. Feed your pet in the evening, because its activity increases at night and energy is needed at this time.
6. Needle dropping is a normal process, however, if the needles do not grow back and bald patches remain, contact your veterinarian.

With proper care, the life of a hedgehog in captivity can reach 12 years. It is necessary to adhere to the basic rules, and the pet will delight you with its presence for a long time.

Video: how to care for hedgehogs