Hi guys,
There's a possibility I will be getting a hedgehog soon, depending on whether or not my landlord permits me to have one.
Anyway, I have a few questions about their care.
1. Is there a specific type of fleece/material that needs to be used as liner, or is any type okay? Would I be able to buy a cheap fleece blanket and use that?
2. Can I get some kind of price quotes on supplies when starting out? I will not be buying a cage, as I already have either a bin or a different cage I can use. I will need to buy a heater for the winter, too, what are types/prices? (Or would it better to just use a little plug-in heater in my room, since it works pretty well?) How much will I spend on what and overall starting out price, not counting the hedgehog's price?
3. Can I get a price quote on after starting out? How much do you spend on a single hedgehog per year? I know that depends on how much toys you buy and if you choose bedding vs. liner, but what about food and the other costs that don't really vary per year?
4. How easy are they to transport, not counting temperature? My commute to college is a six hour drive, and I go home on holidays. So the hedgehog would have a six hour drive a few times a year. Would I be able to transport him in his cage, or would I need to have a little kennel?
5. Are they noisy? Besides the wheel, is there anything that makes very much noise?
6. Will there by any difference in bonding if I adopt a hedgehog from somewhere like Craigslist vs. a pet store? Any difference in bonding if the former owner did not provide adequate care? Before saying yes to any hedgehog, what are the signs of a healthy hedgehog? If he has mites, should I say no, or should I "rescue" him? Is there any difference for bonding as to the hedgehog's age/is it easier to bond with a baby?
7. What is the purpose of the light on for 12 hours a day? What do you mean by the question "has he quilled yet"?
Sorry for the overload of questions, and sorry if the answers are somewhere on the forum. I've looked around already but haven't had the time to look super deeply yet, and my internet is pretty limited right now.
Thank you!
There's a possibility I will be getting a hedgehog soon, depending on whether or not my landlord permits me to have one.
Anyway, I have a few questions about their care.
1. Is there a specific type of fleece/material that needs to be used as liner, or is any type okay? Would I be able to buy a cheap fleece blanket and use that?
2. Can I get some kind of price quotes on supplies when starting out? I will not be buying a cage, as I already have either a bin or a different cage I can use. I will need to buy a heater for the winter, too, what are types/prices? (Or would it better to just use a little plug-in heater in my room, since it works pretty well?) How much will I spend on what and overall starting out price, not counting the hedgehog's price?
3. Can I get a price quote on after starting out? How much do you spend on a single hedgehog per year? I know that depends on how much toys you buy and if you choose bedding vs. liner, but what about food and the other costs that don't really vary per year?
4. How easy are they to transport, not counting temperature? My commute to college is a six hour drive, and I go home on holidays. So the hedgehog would have a six hour drive a few times a year. Would I be able to transport him in his cage, or would I need to have a little kennel?
5. Are they noisy? Besides the wheel, is there anything that makes very much noise?
6. Will there by any difference in bonding if I adopt a hedgehog from somewhere like Craigslist vs. a pet store? Any difference in bonding if the former owner did not provide adequate care? Before saying yes to any hedgehog, what are the signs of a healthy hedgehog? If he has mites, should I say no, or should I "rescue" him? Is there any difference for bonding as to the hedgehog's age/is it easier to bond with a baby?
7. What is the purpose of the light on for 12 hours a day? What do you mean by the question "has he quilled yet"?
Sorry for the overload of questions, and sorry if the answers are somewhere on the forum. I've looked around already but haven't had the time to look super deeply yet, and my internet is pretty limited right now.
Thank you!