HEDGEHOG CARE
FOOD
The first and most important rule to selecting a food for your hedgehog, is not to buy food that is marketed to them. Hedgehog-marketed foods are associated with low-nutrient levels and obesity. There are currently no appropriate commercial hedgehog foods available in Canada. Most owners feed their hedgehogs a high-protein cat food. I personally feed Nutro Indoor Cat Food. If looking for an appropriate food, here are the requirements that it must meet:
-28-35% Protein
-Under 15% Fat
- A meat source (i.e Chicken), as a first ingredient.
CAGE
This is where your hedgehog will spend a large part of their life so of course it's very important for it to be as safe and enriching as possible. The current minimum cage size is 6 uninterrupted square feet, although if you can provide more space filled with enrichment, bigger is always better. Cages with bars are quite controversial due to a hedgehogs nature to get their legs stuck between bars. If using a cage with bars, a 6" chloroplast liner around the sides may be needed. In the cage there should be a wheel (see wheel section), some form of bedding (see bedding section), a food and water source, toys, a heat source, and huts. Hedgehog cages should not have more than one level due to the fact that they are essentially blind, and will fall off.
WHEELS
Wheels are the most important sources of physical enrichment for your hedgehog. They'll spend a lot of time on them so its important that you select the right one for you. There are three factors you need to consider when choosing a wheel:
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- Size: A hedgehog needs a wheel that is at least 12" in diameter
-Base: A lot of wire wheels with spaced bars are marketed to hedgehogs, These are NOT appropriate. When selecting a wheel you want one that has no gaps as hedgehogs have very small nails and toes that will absolutely get caught when running. The popular silent spinner is also inappropriate because of this. The best wheel on the market in PEI is the large blue full cheeks wheel at petsmart.
-Cleanliness: 90% of the time, a hedgehog will go to the bathroom on our around their wheel. You want to select one that you will find easy to clean because of this. (another reason the silent spinner doesn't work for hedgehogs)
BEDDING
There are 3 good options available for hedgehog bedding:
- Wood Chips: Wood bedding is probably the most popular option. It is the best at concealing smell, and it is the most cost effective. While most pet stores do sell cedar and pine bedding; Aspen is actually the only safe option for hedgehog's sensitive skin and respiratory system. The biggest con that comes with wood chips is the possibility of mites, the simplest solution to this is to place your bag of bedding somewhere cold for 24 hours before using in order to kill any potential bugs.
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-Fleece: Many hedgehog owners use fleece as a more convenient, and eco friendly alternative to regular bedding. When choosing an appropriate cage liner, please make sure to check for any loose threads. I have actually seen hedgehogs lose legs due to getting them caught in threads when their owners aren't around.
When washing fleece liners, caution must be taken to only use vinegar or scent free detergent in the washing machine so as not to upset the hedgehog's respiratory system. Fleece also does not always contain smell as well as other options.
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Paper Bedding; While this is not as cost effective, or as good at containing smell; paper bedding is the option that carries the least amount of risk, There are many brands on the market with varying colours and textures.
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