Hedgehog Care

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It is Critical to Care for a Hedgehog, but What Are the Minimum Things to Do to Keep Them Happy and Healthy?

Once you’ve begun to prepare for your new hedgehog, it’s time to learn how to take care of him!

In this section, we’ll discuss all of the areas of hedgehog care, including diet and food, cleaning, play, and exercise.

Hedgehogs are pretty sensitive to temperature, certain foods, and even smells. Because of their sensitivities, it is essential to become familiar with the right foods and diet and proper bathing, cleanliness, and care techniques.

Hedgehog Food and Diet

Hedgehogs are insectivores with a diverse diet. Avoid sugary or fatty treats. Fresh water should always be available. A proper diet supports their health and prevents obesity.

Hedgehogs are insectivores with a diverse diet. In the wild, their diet is composed primarily of insects such as mealworms and crickets (though they aren’t too picky and will eat plenty of other things).

When they are domesticated as pets, they do not rely on insects only. A balanced hedgehog diet includes high-quality dry cat food (1-2 tablespoons). Even though you have to avoid sugary foods, you could occasionally provide fruits like apples and bananas in small portions.

Another fact is that they do like to eat some foods as snacks. This is good to bring some variety into their diet.

Despite the above, they also have several dietary restrictions that you should be aware of to avoid causing harm to them.

Read More: learn more about proper hedgehog diets.

Bath and Grooming

While hedgehogs don’t need to be bathed frequently and can self-groom, giving them baths typically around once a month is recommended because of their sensitive skin (prone to dryness). To help you find out the options to avoid issues with their skin, I highly recommend the shampoo options listed on our hedgehog bath and grooming page.

One good thing about them is that they are excellent swimmers and typically enjoy their bath time.

One thing that some people do is dry their quills with a hairdryer – don’t. For that, use a soft towel.

Nail clipping is required to prevent overgrown, but this is when living in a domesticated habitat, not in the wild, so clip your hedgie’s nails about once every three weeks so they don’t get caught on any fabrics or materials.

Last but not least, do not wash their face.

Hedgehog Cage Cleaning

Like any other living animal that requires a healthy and clean environment, part of the care requirements is to keep their cage clean to eliminate germs from their living area.

A few points to consider:

– Clean their water bowls every 2 days.

– Replace their bedding every 2 times as a minimum, especially if they have been outdoors.

– It’s recommended that you spot clean and remove all the depositions from his cage at least every 2 days.

– When cleaning the cage and other elements, use a pet disinfectant rather than a multi-purpose product.

Read More: best ways to clean your hedgehog’s cage.

Play and Exercise

As with many mammals, hedgehogs can become obese quickly and also require mental and physical stimulation. This is a critical aspect of taking care of a pet hedgehog.

The best way to ensure your hedgie gets enough exercise is to get a small animal exercise wheel inside his cage. Allow also other toys to engage their curiosity, such as balls and tunnels, and if possible, provide a medium to big size cage for more interactive games like hiding treats.

Lastly, you should take them out of the cage every day (at least) for about a half-hour or more to allow a social life and engagement with others around them. This will also enrich their mental health.

Read More: Tips on play and exercise for your hedgie.

Lastly, as they are nocturnal mammals, it would be essential to let them rest during the day.

Hedgehog Care for Different Personality Types

As you become more comfortable caring for a pet hedgehog, you will become familiar with their personality and temperament.

In our article about hedgehogs as pets, you can read about their different personalities.

You’ll find that their personalities can be very different from each other; some are social, while some could be grumpy and avoidant.

The care you’ll have to provide depends significantly on their personality because grumpy or antisocial hedgehogs prefer less socialization than more energetic or friendly ones.

Some hedgehogs love to explore outside their cage, which is excellent if you keep a close eye on them; other hedgehogs are very cuddly and will enjoy cozy play time on your lap.

Try your best to get it accustomed to you and be taken out of his cage, but don’t force him to be too social if this is uncomfortable for them.

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