Are hedgehogs low maintenance?
How much time and money does it really take to care for a hedgehog properly?
All animals require time and commitment and a pet should never be purchased on a whim. I’m happy to report, though, that hedgehogs ARE a low maintenance pet.
Cage Cleaning
Expect to spend about fifteen minutes to a half hour per week cleaning your hedgehogs’ cage, food bowl, water bottle, wheel and other toys. The wheel will require the most “work.” I have a lot of wheels to clean, so I’ve found that just putting them in a bucket or sink to soak for about 10 minutes works the best for me. Hedgehogs WILL go potty on their wheel. There are very few hedgehogs that I’ve ever seen that keep a fairly clean wheel. Usually, those hedgehogs just aren’t using the wheel very much.
Time Commitment
Hedgehog playtime is what you make of it. Since hedgehogs are solitary animals, they will not get depressed or angry if you do not have loads of time to spend with them. It is important, however, to get your hedgehog out every day to be sure he is not ill or injured. I recommend getting a collapsible type of small animal playpen to allow your hedgehog to have out of cage time without the worry of watching him every second. (They are quick to run for a nice dark hiding spot under the sofa.) Hedgehogs do bond with you and enjoying spending time with you, but they won’t be angry if you don’t have hours to spend with them.
Food and Water
You will need to feed your hedgehog daily and refill the water bottle every couple of days. Treats can be fed a few times per week. Treats are not necessary. My hedgehogs are all fed Purina One Beyond Chicken and Whole Oat Meal Recipe cat food with mealworms occasionally as treats. The food is easy to find at any pet store.
Heating
Temperature is one concern with hedgehogs. You will want to purchase a small animal heated pad to place under your cage since hedgehogs are most happy and healthy at temperatures in the upper 70s. Hedgehogs will attempt to hibernate if the temperature drops. I personally like the K&H Small Animal Heated Pads.
Hedgehogs and TemperatureI get a lot of e-mails and phone calls when temperature begins to fluctuate, especially during the Fall and Spring months. It seems that hedgehogs are not really happy when the temperature isn’t fairly stable for them. It can really stress them out and lead to things like quill loss, grumpiness, loss of appetite, weight loss and more serious things such as respiratory infections and attempted hibernation.
Hedgehogs enjoy burrowing down into their bedding. If you think about it, a heated pad under the cage is the most natural way for them to get some extra warmth. In the wild, hedgehogs burrow down to a temperature that is comfy for them. In captivity, heated lamps or space heaters are not the best solution for heat. The heat is more difficult to keep stable and hedgehogs do not go out in the sun to bask like reptiles. For that reason, heated lamps are best suited for reptiles.
In the wild, hedgehogs are out and about during the coolest part of the day. It can actually get chilly in their natural habitat during the nighttime. For this reason, I feel it is important to create a warmer sleeping spot. If you place a small animal heated pad under their igloo, they will really appreciate it.
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What is a sugar glider?
A sugar glider is a small, omnivorous, arboreal, and nocturnal marsupial. The name refers to their preference for sugary foods like nectar, and ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel. They are colony animals, so they must live in at least pairs.
Sugar Gliders are fragile, but they can be easily handled. They adapt well to humans and develop strong bonds with their owners. They are communal animals that need and crave attention from you, the owner, and other Sugar Gliders. How close your newly adopted pet bonds to you will depend on the time you spend together. An average of 2 hours a day is recommended, but more time is always better. If you hold them daily they will become familiar with your scent and more trusting. You can carry them around the house in a loose shirt pocket or on a shoulder. Make sure they have a place to crawl into if they feel insecure of just need to rest. They can live up to 12 years, possibly longer.
Before you buy any cage, you should consider the following: food placement, bedding, shelter, and exercise area. Make sure food holders are large enough to keep food in but too small for your pet to sit in and possibly soil the food as they eat.
Always replace perishable items on a daily basis as spoiled food attracts bugs and can make your pet ill. Sugar Gliders also need a next box to sleep in during the day and protect them from the sun. This is important since prolonged exposure to sunlight is not good.
Your Sugar Glider should have a cage that will allow plenty of room for exercise. The wire spacing should be no more than 1”x 1⁄2” wide. This is to keep babies in. Overall the cage should be at least 20” x 20” x 30”. Large bird cages make excellent glider homes. There should be a wire bottom to allow droppings to fall through.
Bird toys or other small animal toys that your pet can climb, push, or carry around are wonderful. For the best reaction, place new things high in the cage. Do not use cloth materials. They may eat loose threads or become entangled in them. Some owners use natural woods, toxic branches. Remember, trees that bear pit containing fruits are NOT safe woods to use. These include; Apricot, Avocado, Cherry, Nectarine, Peach, Plum, etc.
Other unsafe woods include (but are not remotely limited to); Box Elder, Boxwood, Cedar, Oak, Pine, Red variety Maples, Walnut, etc.
Food & Supplements: Fresh fruits and vegetables. A good source of protein is required, such as cooked chicken, tofu, cottage cheese, or yogurt. Live in s like mealworms and crickets as well as raw unsalted nuts that can be given as treats. A calcium supplement is also needed.
Gliders require a solid 75% fruit/vegetable and 25% protein diet. You need to keep their fat intake to minimum. It can result in health problems later on and in any babies. Canned fruit is not an option because it contains preservatives and refined sugar which are harmful.
There are many diets out there claiming to be the best option. I recommend researching them all and choosing what works best for you. Make sure you follow the directions and recommended supplements of whichever diet you choose.
Above: Piper, our resident standard grey pet glider.
Toxic foods: Onion, Garlic, Lima Beans, Chocolate
Rhubarb, Pits, Seeds, Chocolate and human processed and junk foods.
Sugar Gliders can also be peculiar about what they eat. They each have their own personality and tastes. It will just take time to found out what they like. You also need to make sure you give your pet fresh water every day. Some people suggest feeding once a day at dusk, while others will feed twice a day. we feed in the evening, but leave out kibble all day to snack on.
Bonding with your Sugar Glider is the easiest part of owning one. The time frame for bonding can take anywhere from immediately to a few months. Carry your new pet around in a bonding pouch all day or as much as possible. You can give small treats to help speed things up (called “Pocket Training”). During the day you can pet and bond with your Sugar Glider even if he is asleep. He will get used to your scent and touch at the same time. If you do carry him in your shirt pocket be careful not to lean against anything that could possibly cause injury. Sugar Gliders tend to bond closer to their main caretaker. They can and will accept other people but tend to stay with their main handler