My Hedgehog
Hedgehogs
If
you have ever read Beatrix Potter stories you probably remember Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle
the old washerwoman or in Alice in wonderland the hedgehogs they used for croquet
balls.
A hedgehog is like a little porcupine but its spines do not come out of its body. Hedgehogs are native to Africa, Europe And Australia. In the U.S. the only kind of hedgehog you can have is from Africa it is illegal to import hedgehogs from Europe and Australia.
Some hedgehogs are white under their bodies and their spines are tan. Some are albino colors, which means they are white all over and have red eyes. My hedgehog is an albino Pygmy Hedgehog. They are about 6 inches long and weigh about 1 pound. They can live 8 to 10 years. They have a short pointy snout like a dog and have short legs. If they think they are in danger they can roll up in to a ball so that when an animal tries to eat it they will get a mouth full of spines. Hedgehogs are solitary animals, which means they do not like to be with other hedgehogs, they are very territorial and they will fight. Adult hedgehogs have 44 teeth. They are nocturnal, which means they are active at night and they hibernate.
They are insectivores, which means they eat insects, snails, slugs and other small rodents. I feed my hedgehog dry cat food and water and for treats I give him pieces of apple, a raisin or a peanut.
In his cage I put layers of paper and shavings. For exercise he has a hollow ball that I can put him in and he can run around the house. He has a plastic tube that he can explore and sleep in. To clean him I take a toothbrush and scrub his spines with water. To hold him you should wear leather gloves.
The babies have soft spines and their eyes are closed. There are 2 to 10 maybe more in a litter.
More to come...