Well Fine then!

[Julie]

I hit Hubby up about getting a rabbit...in all honesty I knew it was a long shot. Hubby has some deep seated hatred of them from some childhood thing or something.

But I have done one better hubby said "I'd rather get a hedgehog than a stupid rabbit or a guinea pig" So YEAH I'm now researching local breeders.

A hedgehog is something Ive wanted to have for many years, but never could because of small kids/small dog.

[Legs]

Hedgehogs are adorable, congrats!

Are you my Mommy?
:hedgehog:

[Johnny Pneumatic]

Just be sure not to just reach down and grab them when they're in their ball mode resting. They do this quick upward jerking movement and will jab you with their quills. You wake them up with a stick or something like that. Thick leather gloves aren't a bad idea for holding one either, but I'm not sure if they're thick enough to just reach down and wake one up with.

[livius drusus]

Wow, that's a great deal you struck. Hedgies are so precious. :aww:

[Julie]

LOL JP I think your thinking of http://www.nps.gov/grsa/resources/images/photos/porcupine.jpg Porcupines

Not http://hedgehogcentral.com/color/drkgrey001.jpg hedgehogs.

And I think i've found a great breeder that is only 4 or so hours away from us!
(Plus my favorite vet in the world is highly recomended hedgie vet too. but I'm not suprised, he's amazing as a small animal vet. he's highly recomended by Dog breeders cat breeders, Is the ONLY avian vet around...plus hes a great Dad. I used to babysit his kids years ago)

[Johnny Pneumatic]

LOL JP I think your thinking of Porcupines

Not hedgehogs.



Nope, hedgehogs. I've held one and seen what they do when you wake them up: they give a little jerk upwards with those quills pointing up. I don't know how bad it would hurt, but given how stiff and sharp those hairs are when I felt them when it was resting in my hand I'd imagine it'd be like getting a mass of needles jabbed into your skin. Not fun. Go ahead an get one, I'm not discouraging you, just be careful how you interact with them.

[ms_ann_thrope]

Oh Julie, that is so awesome! Hedgehogs are supercute. Especially BABY HEDGEHOGS!!! :hyper:

[viscousmemories]

I had no idea anyone kept hedgehogs as pets.

[Johnny Pneumatic]

I had no idea anyone kept hedgehogs as pets.

People keep anything as pets. Even rocks.

[Julie]

They are great pets, amazing attitudes and only take 2-3 on average to litter box train.

And no they are nice to hold, bushy like a hair brush.

I can't imagine anyone saying to poke an animal with a stick!

[Johnny Pneumatic]

And no they are nice to hold, bushy like a hair brush.

I can't imagine anyone saying to poke an animal with a stick!

I don't know what to tell you, the one I held looked just like what you had in the bottom photo but its hair was quite a bit sharper than a hair brush.

Not hard, just a tiny tap to wake them up. LOTS softer than what you'd do when tapping on someone's shoulder. You just want to use the stick because it doesn't have your nerve endings in it.

[Legs]

You wake them up with a stick or something like that.

I think someone needs to wake you up with a stick. :thwap:

Julie, OMG they are so adorable, especially the babies

[Johnny Pneumatic]

I think someone needs to wake you up with a stick. :thwap:



Happens all the time.

[pescifish]

Excellent negotiation!

[godfry n. glad]

Oh Julie, that is so awesome! Hedgehogs are supercute. Especially BABY HEDGEHOGS!!! :hyper:


OOOOOOOOooooooo.... Cuteness overload!

Do they like slugs?

[Julie]

no I think only the british kind do. These are African White-Bellied Hedgehog
(Atelerix albiventris)

Diet in the Wild

Beetles
Ants
Termites
Grasshoppers
Moths
Centipedes
Earthworms
Diet in Captivity
Dry Cat food
Mink and Ferret food
Cooked poultry (never raw meat)
Cooked egg (never raw)
Diet Supplements (treats)
Insects (mealworms, crickets, etc)
assorted fruits and vegetables

[Sock Puppet]

How adorable! It's been a long time since I had a pet I could feed crickets to.