Daughter wants a hedgehog---what are we in for?

[Fritzo]

She went from getting C's-D's in 8th grade to getting A's-B's in high school, so I'm thinking she deserves a reward for her turn around. She wants a hedgehog, but I have no idea what's involved in owning one. Anyone have one?

 

[mrCide]

100% guess that it's something like caring for a rabbit.

 

[Sinsear]

I hear they like shiny gold rings.

 

[Gibson486]

fast little creature......

 

[BrokenVisage]

I'm confident Dr. Robotnic will be terrorizing your neighborhood now, capturing small woodland animals in his wake. Just prepare to start collecting gold rings is all I'm saying.

 

[SunnyD]

I believe all you'll need is some oil and a nearby electric outlet.

Sounds like she'll end up with a nicely sculpted yard. She is getting to just about that age after all. Oh, and pics?

 

[Gibson486]

I guess you should be happy she does not want the rabbit.

 

[nublikescake]

Say no and suggest something else?

 

[Beev]

They're super easy to take care of. Probably even easier than a rabbit. They don't smell at all either iirc. Make sure you read the legalities here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_hedgehog

 

[nboy22]

Ronald Jeremy Hyatt (born March 12, 1953), usually called Ron Jeremy, is an American pornographic actor. Nicknamed "The Hedgehog."

You see where this is going.

 

[PingSpike]

I can understand why she wants one. They own hard. Did you see that picture from the wikipedia entry of the one in a flower pot? Admit it, you want one now too.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

From what I've heard hedgehogs really do make great pets. However in my state they're not legal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_Hedgehog

 

[polarmystery]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH88G6wgnBo

 

[Aharami]

I believe all you'll need is some oil and a nearby electric outlet.

Sounds like she'll end up with a nicely sculpted yard. She is getting to just about that age after all. Oh, and pics?

i laughed. im going to hell

 

[Fritzo]

They're super easy to take care of. Probably even easier than a rabbit. They don't smell at all either iirc. Make sure you read the legalities here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_hedgehog

This is why I was interested. They don't have any musk glands, are very clean, and make no noise. Sounds like the perfect pet! She had guinea pig before, and it worked pretty well, so I'm assuming it's similar care.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

This is why I was interested. They don't have any musk glands, are very clean, and make no noise. Sounds like the perfect pet! She had guinea pig before, and it worked pretty well, so I'm assuming it's similar care.

Just remember, not herbivores. Keep them away from rings.

 

[IronWing]

There won't be as much room in the hedge. You do have a hedge?

 

[Beev]

This is why I was interested. They don't have any musk glands, are very clean, and make no noise. Sounds like the perfect pet! She had guinea pig before, and it worked pretty well, so I'm assuming it's similar care.

The only concern you should have is regarding their health. They have to be fed correctly and you have to make sure they exercise.

 

[Fritzo]

The only concern you should have is regarding their health. They have to be fed correctly and you have to make sure they exercise.

The breeder in our area has food supplies and recommendations on multilevel habitats that employ tubes to get from one level to another. (I guess they have poor eyesight and will climb, but can't back down, so they tend to fall off of ramps).

Not usually a pet person (other than dogs), but these little guys sound fun.

 

[PingSpike]

They should be better than rabbits or hampsters since they eat other animals. Rabbits are boring, they basically just sit there and poop every once and awhile. It's not like they needed much of a brain when their species survival strategy is to keep all predators so full of rabbit meat they couldn't possibly eat all of them without having an obesity related heart attack.

 

[Newbian]

I hate to say it but I kinda laughed at this:

In 2006, McDonald's changed the design of their McFlurry containers to be more hedgehog-friendly.[14] Previously, hedgehogs would get their heads stuck in the container as they tried to lick the remaining food from inside the cup. Then, being unable to get out, they would starve to death. Domesticated hedgehogs display this behavior by getting their head stuck in tubes (commonly, lavatory paper tubes) and walking around with the tube on their head. Hedgehog owners often refer to this as "tubing" and promote the behavior by supplying clean tubes. Most owners are considerate enough, however, to cut the tubes lengthwise so as to prevent the hedgehog from remaining trapped against their will. Curiously though, some will still knowingly get themselves stuck for a few hours.

I just imagine one of the spiky guys running around with a toilet paper tube stuck on it's head.

 

[Ns1]

dude, my friend had a hedgehog. NOT WORTH IT.


cool for the first 5 days and then it becomes a PITA. all it does is shit, and eat. and shit some more. They had a wheel in there to give it exercise - it ran. and shit. AT THE SAME TIME. So eventually the wheel became caked and covered with shit.

their shit smells too and is not in pellet form like rabbits.

 

[highland145]

The only concern you should have is regarding their health. They have to be fed correctly and you have to make sure they exercise.

The breeder in our area has food supplies and recommendations on multilevel habitats that employ tubes to get from one level to another. (I guess they have poor eyesight and will climb, but can't back down, so they tend to fall off of ramps).

Not usually a pet person (other than dogs), but these little guys sound fun.

Here's a NPR link, part of which, is about pet insurance. The woman has a hedge hog with some psychosis, iirc. Wut!?! Anyway, she has insurance so she can give him a pill every day so he'll be well adjusted. Wut!?!

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/392/Someone-Elses-Money

 

[uhohs]

Ooo chili dogs

 

[thescreensavers]

dude, my friend had a hedgehog. NOT WORTH IT.


cool for the first 5 days and then it becomes a PITA. all it does is shit, and eat. and shit some more. They had a wheel in there to give it exercise - it ran. and shit. AT THE SAME TIME. So eventually the wheel became caked and covered with shit.

their shit smells too and is not in pellet form like rabbits.

I loled at this post