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The most common species of domesticated hedgehog is a hybrid of the White-bellied or Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and the Algerian Hedgehog (A. algirus). It is smaller than the European Hedgehog, and thus is sometimes called African Pygmy Hedgehog. Other species kept as pets are the Egyptian long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus auritus) and the Indian long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris). Genera Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinaes and the order Erinaceomorpha. ...
Binomial name Atelerix albiventris (Wagner, 1841) The four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), or African pygmy hedgehog, is a small species of hedgehog found throughout much of the south-Saharan African countries, from Senegal and Mauritania in the west, to Sudan in the east, and it has been recorded as far...
It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ...
Hedgehog domestication began in the early 1980s. They still have much of their wild behavior, including a fear of predators - especially humans, but buying from a responsible breeder and proper handling will do a lot to ensure a friendly relationship. Since domestication began, several new colours of hedgehogs have been created or become common, including albino and pinto hedgehogs.
All three species prefer a warm climate (above 22°C , 72°F) and do not naturally hibernate. Attempts to hibernate due to lowered body temperatures are commonly fatal. In the wild they eat a diet of mainly insects, but pet owners generally prefer a diet composed primarily of high protein low fat high quality cat food, with regular treats such as mealworms, fruits, vegetables, and cooked unseasoned meats.
 A fully grown domesticated hedgehog Image File history File linksMetadata Baxter_flower. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Baxter_flower. ...
Roman domesticated hedgehog The Romans domesticated a relative of the Algerian hedgehog in the 4th Century BC. They were raised for meat and quills. The quills were used in the training of other animals, such as keeping a calf from suckling after it had been weaned. The quills were also used for card paper and dissection pins long after the Romans actively bred and raised hedgehogs. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ...
Legality Because a hedgehog is commonly kept in a cage or similar enclosure, it is allowed in some residences where cats and dogs are not allowed.
It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some US states and some Canadian municipalities, and a license is needed to legally breed them. No such restrictions exist in most European nations. Residents of the US should check with animal control before considering having a hedgehog as a pet.
The following lists refer to legal issues which will change over time. The legality of owning a pet hedgehog should be verified with the prospective owner's local animal control office.
The following is a list of locations where it is illegal to own a hedgehog. By African Pygmy hedgehog, this list is referring to the domesticated hedgehog commonly bred and sold as pets, not a specific breed of hedgehog from Africa. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ...
- California, USA
- Georgia, USA
- Hawaii, USA
- New York City, New York, USA
- Fairfax County, Virginia, USA
- Douglas County and Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Other legal issues: Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area Ranked 3rd - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²) - Width 250 miles (400 km) - Length 770 miles (1,240 km) - % water 4. ...
Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area Ranked 43rd - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 km²) - Width n/a miles (n/a km) - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km) - % water 41. ...
New York, New York redirects here. ...
Fairfax County is a county in Northern Virginia, in the United States. ...
Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. ...
Nickname: Motto: (Latin) Courageously in every enterprise Location in Nebraska Coordinates: , Country United States State Nebraska County Douglas Founded 1854 Incorporated 1857 Government - Mayor Michael Fahey (D) - City Clerk Buster Brown - City Council District 1: Jim Suttle District 2: Frank Brown District 3: Jim Vokal District 4: Garry Gernandt (Council...
Nickname: Motto: The river and the land sustain us. ...
- Finland: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. African Pygmy hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.
- Austria: European hedgehogs are protected and cannot be kept as pets. African Pygmy hedgehogs may legally be kept as pets.
- In Arizona, USA, a permit is required; the permit is very difficult to obtain.
- In Idaho and Oregon, USA, European hedgehogs are illegal. African Pygmy hedgehogs are legal.
- In Maine, New Jersey and Wyoming, USA, a permit is required.
- In Pennsylvania, USA, hedgehogs may not be imported into the state, but hedgehogs in the state as of 1992 and their descendants are at least theoretically allowed. In practice, enforcement of this law has been rumored to be arbitrary and ill-informed. [1]
- In Quebec, Canada, European hedgehogs are illegal. African Pygmy hedgehogs are legal.
There are no laws banning domesticated hedgehogs in: Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ...
Official language(s) English [1] Capital Boise Largest city Boise Largest metro area Boise metropolitan area Area Ranked 14th - Total 83,642 sq mi (216,632 km²) - Width 305 miles (491 km) - Length 479 miles (771 km) - % water 0. ...
Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area Ranked 9th - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²) - Width 260 miles (420 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 2. ...
Official language(s) None (English and French de facto) Capital Augusta Largest city Portland Area Ranked 39th - Total 33,414 sq mi (86,542 km²) - Width 210 miles (338 km) - Length 320 miles (515 km) - % water 13. ...
Official language(s) English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area Ranked 47th - Total 8,729 sq mi (22,608 km²) - Width 70 miles (110 km) - Length 150 miles (240 km) - % water 14. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area Ranked 10th - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²) - Width 280 miles (450 km) - Length 360 miles (580 km) - % water 0. ...
Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²) - Width 280 miles (455 km) - Length 160 miles (255 km) - % water 2. ...
, Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Pierre Duchesne - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² (595...
Enclosures In the wild, a hedgehog will cover many miles each night. Keeping this in mind, a hedgehog requires as much room as possible. Without room, a hedgehog will show signs of depression, such as excessive sleeping, refusal to eat, repetitious behaviour, and self mutilation. Due to their small size obesity is a very dangerous problem and hedgehogs require a fair amount of exercise to avoid liver problems due to excess weight.
Pet cages with a floor area measuring 5 square feet or more are suitable for pet hedgehogs. Cages with wired floors are dangerous for hedgehogs because they can easily slip and get a limb caught in the wire. Multi-level ferret or rabbit cages can allow a hedgehog more room to explore without taking up extra floorspace, but when using multiple levels, keep in mind that a hedgehog has poor eyesight, can climb easily, but has difficulty descending and often does not seem to understand heights, so it is highly recommended that ramps and levels be completely enclosed to prevent a fall. Some people use large glass aquariums but these can be heavy and awkward to clean and offer little ventilation. Very large steralite storage bins are a common DIY cage and are inexpensive, easy to clean, and versatile, but they must be of a considerable size and must be ventilated properly.
A wheel is necessary to provide hedgehogs with exercise. Some hedgehogs refuse to run in a wheel, so other forms of exercise must be substituted. When choosing a wheel, it must have a solid floor. If an open-wire wheel is used, the hedgehog will continually fall between the bars and possibly break a leg. Wheels with crossbars can also cause facial injuries as hedgehogs have been known to look sideways out of the wheel while running. For this reason "bucket" type wheels are preferred by many hedgehog owners, and they are available from many breeders. DIY articles are also readily available for those wishing to attempt making one themselves.
Vellux blanket material is preferred for bedding by many because it does not fray and is easy to clean up. This is a plushy velour-like material often used for hotel blankets. Strings from frayed edges on blankets have been known to wrap around hedgehog's legs, causing amputation, so any frayable fabric that is to be near the hedgehog must be checked thoroughly to avoid problems. Fleece blankets can also be used, but the edges should be sewn so that there are no stray threads in which a hedgehog could catch itself. Recycled newspaper beddings are also popular. Cedar and pine bedding have wood oils that are dangerous to hedgehogs and can cause lung issues and even sores. However aspen shavings contain no such oils and are safe for use in hedgehog enclosures. Some beddings can be dangerous due to dust content or propensity to clump up on the hedgehog, others may even get stuck in the hedgehog's genitals. Careful research is necessary before using any unusual bedding materials.
The enclosure should be kept above 70°F (21°C) or the hedgehog will attempt to hibernate, which is commonly fatal for domesticated hedgehogs.
Food In the wild, a hedgehog is opportunistic and will eat many things, but the majority of the diet comprises insects. Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera...
As insectivores, hedgehogs need a diet that is high in protein and low in fat. They also require chitin, which comes from the exoskeleton of insects; fiber in the diet may substitute for the chitin component. There are prepared foods specifically for pet hedgehogs and insectivores, including foods made from insect components. Also available are alimentary powders to sprinkle on other food which provide chitin and other nutrients. Hedgehog caretakers should read labels on packaged food to ensure a basis of protein, rather than a basis of carbohydrate. Any organism with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures is an insectivore. ...
A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ...
A polyunsaturated triglyceride. ...
Structure of the chitin molecule, showing two of the N-Acetylglucosamine units that repeat to form long chains in beta-1,4 linkage. ...
An exoskeleton is an external anatomical feature that supports and protects an animals body, in contrast to the internal endoskeleton of, for example, a human. ...
Fiber or fibre[1] is a class o f materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. ...
Structure of the chitin molecule, showing two of the N-Acetylglucosamine units that repeat to form long chains in beta-1,4 linkage. ...
Lactose is a disaccharide found in milk. ...
A dry cat-food mix can serve as a daily base food. Most caretakers mix several high-quality, low-fat cat foods to ensure nutrition and aim for a protein content of higher than 30% and a fat content of less than 12%. Approximately 10 to 12% fiber is also suggested. Normal cat food is high in fat and iron so indoor or light formulations are generally more appropriate. “High-quality foods” means foods in which the primary ingredient is meat, not a meat byproduct. Most breeders suggest foods derived primarily from chicken. There are hedgehog foods available at many pet shops, but as of the time of writing most do not seem to be good quality formulations and will not provide the quality and level of nutritional contents necessary for a healthy hedgehog. Always check the ingredients list for good quality ingredients and nutritional information for protein and fat content. Kinnikuman character, see Meat Alexandria. ...
A by-product is a secondary or incidental product deriving from a manufacturing process or chemical reaction, and is not the primary product or service being produced. ...
Pet hedgehogs may eat such table foods as cooked, lean chicken and turkey and beef or pork (in moderation due to fat content). Hedgehogs will often eat small amounts of vegetable and can be given small amounts of fruit as treats. Baby food is a common way to feed treats. Hedgehogs are lactose-intolerant and will have stomach problems after consuming most dairy products, though occasional plain lowfat yogurt or cottage cheese seem to be well tolerated. Sugar intake should be restricted to fruits, avoid any treat with added sugar. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
A plate of vegetables Vegetable is a culinary term which generally refers to an edible part of a plant. ...
For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ...
Lactose is a disaccharide that consists of β-D-galactose and β-D-glucose molecules bonded through a β1-4 glycosidic linkage. ...
A dairy farm near Oxford, New York in the United States. ...
Fresh, canned, or freeze-dried mealworms, waxworms, and crickets are appropriate as limited treats though in moderation as many feed insects are high in fat. Many pet stores carry these feed insects. Hedgehog caretakers should avoid bait-shop or wild caught insects, which may be contaminated with insecticides. Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle. ...
Waxworms are the larvae of the wax moth. ...
Subfamilies See Taxonomy section Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as true crickets), are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets (order Orthoptera). ...
Fodder growing from barley In agriculture, fodder or animal feed is any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. ...
Bait is any substance used to attract prey, e. ...
Hedgehogs can easily become obese. If a pet hedgehog appears to be gaining too much weight, it is important that the hedgehog’s caretaker cut back on high fat foods and increase exercise. Hedgehogs vary in size so there is no "goal weight" for a hedgehog, but if they can no longer roll completely into a ball it is a pretty clear sign of obesity. Many people believe that there is a relation between a high-fat diet and fatty-liver disease in hedgehogs.
Due to their mouth shape hedgehogs should not be fed any nuts. Nut butters are acceptable, but are very high in fat so they should probably be avoided. Hedgehogs should never be fed avocados, onions, raisins, chocolate, any raw meat or eggs, or any canned or processed food.
Allergies Many people who claim to be allergic to cats and dogs are actually allergic to the dander produced by them. Hedgehogs do not produce dander. It is possible to be allergic to items surrounding the hedgehog, such as the hedgehog's food or bedding, but it is rare that a person would be allergic to the hedgehog itself. Dander is material shed from the body of various animals, similar to dandruff. ...
After handling hedgehogs, some have claimed that pink dots on their hands is an allergic reaction. This is more likely caused by small pricks from the hedgehog's quills. If a hedgehog is not clean, the pricks can become infected. The infection is from contaminants on the hedgehog or on the surface of your hands, not from an allergic reaction to the hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are commonly allergic to wood oils. Wood bedding should be avoided, specifically cedar.
Sickness Hedgehogs are prone to many diseases: cancer and wobbly-hedgehog syndrome are two common ones. There is no cure for either disease. Cancer spreads quickly in hedgehogs. Wobbly-hedgehog syndrome is possibly a genetic disease similar to multiple sclerosis, though not yet proven. Other possible causes of WHS are attack by virus and diet lacking in calcium. Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these to spread, either by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion, or by implantation into distant sites by metastasis (where cancer cells are transported through the bloodstream or lymphatic system). ...
Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS) is a disease found in hedgehogs that is closely related to multiple sclerosis (MS). ...
Hedgehogs usually react to stress with temporary digestive disorders that include vomiting and green feces. In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. ...
The term disease refers to an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs function. ...
Vomiting (also throwing up or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. ...
Horse feces Feces, faeces, or fæces (see spelling differences) is a waste product from an animals digestive tract expelled through the anus (or cloaca) during defecation. ...
See also Genera Atelerix Erinaceus Hemiechinus Mesechinus Paraechinus A hedgehog is any of the small spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinaes and the order Erinaceomorpha. ...
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