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Posted	African Pygmy Hedgehogs
09-01-2007 by joanna malton	Hi I've just started breeding African Pygmy Hedgehogs so if anyones interested just let me know. Hopefully my first litter should be born at the beginning of February.
10-01-2007 by joanna malton	just thought i'd add a few pics
10-01-2007 by joanna malton	and
11-01-2007 by girlrazor	They're very cute, but what are their care requirements?
11-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	also what part of the country are you in??
11-01-2007 by joanna malton	They need to be kept indoors, something like a guinea pig cage is ideal. As long as the temperature is above 70degrees (f) no additional heating is required. Food wise most people feed them on complete dry cat food (low fat) as the basic feed, in addition they can have insects, small amounts of cat meat, chicken, egg, cottage cheese, and a selection of fruit and veg but as a treat more than anything. They need to be handled daily and like various toys such as small balls, tubes, large wheels and will even use large rodents balls. Any other questions let me know and i'll do my best to answer them.
11-01-2007 by joanna malton	Oh and I'm based in Middlesex
11-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	ferplast do 3 ft guinea pig cages in pets at home that my mum in law uses for her ferrets.they were doing offers on them not so long ago. they are excellent as they come with a covered area at one end of the cage,with an opening, which would be excellent for hedgehogs.
11-01-2007 by jessica	I would say hedgehogs would need somthing bigger than this though when they get to adulthood though Kay, sure babies like to feel secure but as adults (especially as pairs etc) thye become more independent ; imagine living in something only about 5 times bigger than yourself all your life.
11-01-2007 by jessica	*they
11-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	your right Jessica.The bigger the better when they are older.even ferrets need 10 times as much space.the ferrets get to run around the garden though during the day.they are only kept in a ferplast cage at night and use the hideout to curl up in.
11-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	try www.bramblewood-hedgehogs.co.uk a good site on housing and advice
12-01-2007 by joanna malton	Alot of the sites i found about the hedgehogs recommends a minimum on 2ft square, however it is a case of the bigger the better. Having a wheel in the cage helps alot if the cage is a bit on the small side they will spend hours running on them. Also any additional time they can spend out of the cage is great. As far as their size they grow to about the size of a small to mediium size guinea pig and are best housed alone as they are naturally solitary although some people have had success a couple of females together though there is no guarantee they will get on ok.
12-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	EVERYWHERE IVE LOOKED ON HOUSING PIGMY'S SAYS A GUINEA PIG OR FERRET CAGE,AND HAVE SAID EXACTLY THE SAME ABOUT THEM BEING A SOLITARY SPECIES.OBVIOUSLY IF THEY CAN BE SUCCESFULLY BE KEPT TOGETHER THATS GREAT.ANOTHER GOOD IDEA IS HAVE TWO PIGMY'S IF THEY DON'T GET ON AND WANT THEIR OWN SPACE PUT THEIR CAGES NEXT TO EACH OTHER SO AT LEAST THEY CAN SEE THIER OWN KIND, AND AS YOU SAID LET THEM ROAM FREE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THIS SHOULD BE ALLOWED WITH ANY ANIMAL.
12-01-2007 by joanna malton	Thats where i find the rodent balls come in useful as you can allow them to explore in the knowledge that they're not gonna get into too much trouble or disappear down any hole they can find. The main thing you have to be careful of with the cages is the spacing between the bars as they will climb up and poke their heads through the bars, my female has done this a couple of times if she decides she wants out.
12-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	I AGREE THAT EXERCISE WHEELS ARE A GREAT IDEA IN A CAGE AS LONG AS THEY ARE SOLID.I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF THE RODENT EXERCISE BALLS THOUGH.THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THE ANIMAL IS ONLY TRYING TO RUN TO ESCAPE TO FREEDOM CAUSING STRESS TO THE ANIMAL. ALSO I HAVE HAD THE NASTY EXPERIENCE OF SEEING A RAT AND A HAMSTER GET ITS FEET CAUGHT UP IN THE AIR VENTS AND HAVING ITS FOOT MANGLED UP. SOLID PLAY PENS(PUPPY PLAYPEN PANELS) ARE THE BEST METHOD OF EXERCISE,AND IN THE GARDEN IF POSSIBLE IN A NATURAL ATMOSPHERE WITH HIDEOUTS.THE ANIMAL WILL NOT GO DOWN A HOLE IF IT IS WATCHED.
12-01-2007 by joanna malton	I'd never use a wheel that isn't solid . I get yuor point about the balls, i haven't had a problem with them myself as yet though i only tend to use them when theys are being cleaned out as i haven't got anywhere to store a pen and don't have a garden i could put one in. as for them disaperain down a hole they are very determined little creature that can be difficult to stop especially when they bring their spines into play.
12-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	I BET THEY ARE GREAT CHARACTERS. AND IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THEY ARE FUN TO WATCH.ITS A SHAME YOU DON'T HAVE A GARDEN.I SUPPOSE YOU MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE GOT. YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE WITH EXERCISE IF YOU HAVE NO GARDEN.IM SURE YOU LOOK AFTER THEM WELL.YOUR PICTURES ARE ADORABLE AND THEY LOOK REALLY WELL CARED FOR AND CONTENT. IM SURE YOU KEEP A GOOD EYE ON THEM WHEN THEY ARE EXERCISING
12-01-2007 by jessica	Its not so much excerise though, yes this is important but Joanna please realise its boredom too. Just because animals can not tell you they want to do something different or escape incredible boredom does not mean they dont feel for it. Two foot as a minimum even is still way to small, no adult hedgehog should be kept in this. 4 foot should be the minimum. REMEMBER this animal is spending all its life in this cage. They did not ask for life in a cage so at least give them a nice one in it. Im not trying to attack you verbally its just a subject i feel strongly for. We all know boredom is the worst kind of feeling around.. even worse than mild pain.. it can really stress us out. Animals are the same. If you can make it that your pet can get excerise then and also get out of its cage at least once a week, to be able to explore something different then thats a start.
12-01-2007 by jessica	Oh and Kay lol, hedge hogs are real escape artists, as soon as you look away they are gone, even if you keep an eye out/ on them one blink and they are literally gone.. these things just make a run for it. lmao
12-01-2007 by KAY GARDNER	with total respect,i know hedgehogs are escape artists and they can disappear in a blink of an eye but they should like any other animal be allowed to see a bit more freedom than a 4 foot cage or a exercise ball`if possible'. just imagine what it would be like to be looking at nothing but 4 walls for the rest of your life and not breathing outside air.it is not good for us or any animal and can be extremley depressing and mentally draining and stressful. there are always ways and means of making a extremely tough,secure and large outdoor enclosure (on a patio if they dig)so they are able to experience outdoors,obviously totally supervised.
13-01-2007 by jessica	exactly what ive been saying Kay.
14-01-2007 by joanna malton	I wan't saying i keep them in a cage that is 2ft square just that that is the minimum recommended size on alot of the hedgehog sites. Iactually keep them in guinea pig cages that are about 2ft by 3-4ft square. Along with there wheels i get them both out for an hour to an hour and a half each (every day) during which time they are with me on the sofa free to do whatever they like. They have a variety of toys in the cage with them and like nothing more than running round with a tube on their heads. As for their characters the mest descriptuion i've found is that they are like little clowns.
14-01-2007 by jessica	Im sure theyre very happy with yuu joanna We didnt mean anything towards yuu, just the idea of 2ft minium is abit on the small side. Pet owners should offer as much space as they can.It sounds like theyre quite funny animals to watch Might get a pair myself?
15-01-2007 by joanna malton	That's ok no offence taken. They are great to watch they keep me amused for hours when they're out and about. Can't wait till the babies arrive.
15-01-2007 by jessica	I bet. think i might grab a few myself one day haaa
19-01-2007 by danielle	hello, i have been looking for these for ages and so far the best breeding seller i came across is all out...and then i found you lol...so could you please email me at dannielle_dickison@hotmail.com with info maybe a pic and prices please thankyou... p.s: i am on a low budget as i am poor-ish so if they are really exspensive i MAY not be able to...(also i live in the uk *south glostershire* and have no transport as my mum is disabled.
19-01-2007 by danielle	i found that pic on internet how cure!
22-01-2007 by joanna malton	Hi Danielle I've just sent you an e-mail with some of the information you requested i will send more information later. If you don't recieve the e-mail let me know and i'll try again. Those hoglets are very cute.
26-01-2007 by Liz Hambley	yes please I would love 1 or 2 even pls let me know when available cost etc etc I will need all your tips on keeping them too please. Mean while I read up on them kind regards Liz
29-01-2007 by joanna malton	I'm hoping they will be due either later this week or next week. Price will be between £100 and £150 (depending what colour, sex etc). If you send me an e-mail (j.malton@ic.ac.uk) I will send you what info i have.
13-02-2007 by shiresteve	good luck with your litter please email me with details britishgiants@aol.com best regards steve
19-02-2007 by joanna malton	I have 1 male African pygmy hedgehog left fo sale he looks as though he's going to be a chocolate colour and will be available in 6 weeks. He's £125 and can be reserved with a £10 deposit.http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o285/bracken27/9days2.jpg