|
|
Back Home
SiteMap
|
How Do I Choose a Hedgehog
Once you’ve found a hedgehog breeder, the battle has only just begun. When you walk in and see all of those adorable faces, you will want to take them all home. So, how can you choose the right hedgehog to bring into your home?
The first thing that you want to look at is the health of the hedgehogs. A healthy hedgehog has clean fur and quills, is free of injuries, is free of sores and scabs, and does not have dry skin. He will have very clear eyes, and be very alert. Do not buy into the claim that the hedgehogs are hibernating. Most domestic hedgehogs do not hibernate at all, and if they do, this hibernation period is quite short, and they should become alert when you wake them up.
The hedgehogs should be between the ages of six and eight weeks, and they should be round in appearance. If the hedgehog cannot roll into a ball, he is overweight. On the other hand, if he has a long and lean appearance, this is an indication that he is underweight.
Take a look at the hedgehog’s feet. Are they in good shape? The nails should be trimmed, and should not be curling under. Watch the hedgehog walk to ensure that he isn’t limping or favoring any one of his paws.
Since you are a stranger to the litter, they will most likely be shy, but within a few minutes of your presence, when they realize that you don’t present a danger to them, they should loosen up, and even become curious about you. Don’t let anyone tell you that one sex is better than another when it comes to a hedgehog’s temperament. This simply isn’t true. However, it is true that female hedgehogs will get along well with either sex if they are sharing a cage with other hedgehogs, while males get along better with females.
Once you’ve determined that the hedgehogs are healthy, you need to start asking questions. Ask the birth date of the litter, or the age of the hedgehog that you are considering. Ask what the hedgehogs eat, and make sure that they are weaned. Ask what type of bedding the breeder uses, so that you can use the type of bedding that the hedgehog is used to. Ask to see the parents of the hedgehog. Ask for the names of the veterinarian the breeder uses and recommends…get his or her number.
Ask if the breeder is USDA licensed. Most are, but there are some who are not, and claim to be. There is one way to tell for sure…a USDA licensed breeder will require you to fill out paperwork, while one that isn’t won’t. The paperwork must be submitted, by the breeder, to the USDA, and will have their license number on it.
When it is all said and done, the chances are good that you will go home with the exact hedgehog that you imagined yourself owning. However, it will be very hard to leave those other cuties there and walk away from them. Be careful, or you could end up with more hedgehogs than you bargained for!
Check out PetAlive for terrific pet health tips and information as well as 100% safe, effective and unconditionally guaranteed pet health remedies!
Learn how to care for your pet hedgehog
Next Article: First Aid for Hedgehogs
|
|
