Hedgehog as a Pet: What You Need to Know Before You Adopt

Image by SarkaPlasilova from Pixabay

When considering a hedgehog as a pet, one of the most important factors in their care is providing the right environment. Hedgehogs are sensitive creatures that require specific conditions to thrive. Temperature is a critical aspect to focus on, as hedgehogs are highly sensitive to both heat and cold. The ideal temperature for a hedgehog is between 74 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is crucial to never let the temperature dip below 72 degrees or exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the room is too hot or too cold, hedgehogs may become stressed, which can affect their health.

Humidity is another factor to consider when caring for a hedgehog. If the humidity is too high, the temperature will feel warmer than it actually is, which can be uncomfortable for your pet. On the other hand, low humidity can dry out their skin. For optimal well-being, humidity levels should be kept between 40% and 50%.

Hedgehog Housing and Cage Requirements

For housing, wire cages are an excellent choice for hedgehogs. These cages provide plenty of ventilation and visibility for your pet. However, the floor of the cage must be solid, as hedgehogs are known to climb the wires, which can potentially harm them. To ensure safety, line the bottom and sides of the cage with rigid plastic materials, and choose a cage with small gaps between the wires. This prevents your hedgehog from poking their head through and hurting themselves.

As for the size of the cage, a minimum of 4 square feet of space is required. However, like with all small pets, the larger the cage, the better. Hedgehogs are active creatures that need plenty of room to explore, run, and burrow. A multi-story cage can provide additional space without taking up too much floor area in your home. Just be cautious with ramps or tunnels between the levels. These features can be fun for your pet, but if they are not carefully constructed, your hedgehog could fall or get stuck, causing injury. It's also essential to ensure temperature control is maintained in multi-level cages, as it can fluctuate between the levels.

By setting up the proper cage and maintaining the ideal temperature and humidity, you can create a safe and comfortable environment for your hedgehog to thrive as a pet.

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

The diet of a wild hedgehog consists of bugs, plants, and roots.  You can get hedgehog food from the pet store for a hedgehog as a pet. You can also feed them dry cat food with a low-fat content. Your hedgehog might not like the smell of a fish-based cat food, and if they do eat it, the hedgehog poop might smell like fish.

Be careful of feeding your hedgehog too many mealworms.  Hedgehogs LOVE mealworms, but this food does not provide them with a lot of nutrition. Mealworms have too much phosphorus, which can deplete the calcium levels of a hedgehog if too many are eaten. So they should not eat mealworms often. Phoenix worms or black soldier fly larvae are good treats for a hedgehog.

Always provide them with water from a bowl or bottle.  Make sure they can drink from a bottle before that becomes their only source of water.

Photo by Anna Bondarenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-holding-a-hedgehog-6730150/

Hedgehogs like to be solitary, so it’s best to have only one. You can train them to enjoy being held.  They curl up into a ball when they are frightened, which makes their spines stick out which can hurt your hands. You might want to buffer yourself by holding them in a towel. They don’t bite though

They need space to run around, both in their cage and outside of it. Make sure any area they are in is hedgehog-proofed and that they can’t climb too high.  If they fall from a big height they could really injure themselves.

Hedgehogs are active at night. Just before you go to bed is the best time to play with your hedgehog. A solid floor exercise wheel is a great addition to their cage to make sure they get enough running. They like digging, climbing, and swimming.

Hedgehogs will do a behavior called self-anointing. They will twist their bodies, start foaming from the mouth, and leave that foaming spit on their spines by extending their tongues really far. Nobody knows exactly why hedgehogs do this, but it is pretty entertaining to watch, once you are reassured that it is a normal behavior and they are not having a seizure or are rabid.