New Pet!

[Pickalilly]

Hi,

I will be getting a baby African Pygmy Hedgehog on the 5th.. I can't wait! I've been wanting one for a while because they seem the perfect small animal to have with a cat. I used to have a hamster and really missed cleaning the wheel, having the bedding, the crepuscular animal etc. after she passed however weird it seems!! I don't feel like I could ever have another hamster that could be remotely as perfect as her, plus hedgies live for much longer and are very interactive and clever. There's something I just adore about small, vulnerable animals!

He is a gorgeous little 7 week old Chocolate boy who will be about 8 weeks old when I get him... Which is unfortunately when the quilling nightmare will start and I will need to socialise most with him! I am fixed on the name Albert (Albie for short).

Have any of you ever had pygmy hedgehogs?

:D

[alexgirl73]

How lovely :D I've wanted one of them for some time now, but I think if we brought any more pets in either my hubby or the cats would leave home (I'm willing to take the chance if it's only hubby :p). Looking forward to seeing lots of pics :D

[angieh]

I know nothing about them and am keen to hear about Albie and see photos of him!

[Kazz]

Until I read this I had no idea anyone would have a hedgehog as a pet let alone a pgymy one...however like Angie I am keen to learn and see.

Welcome Albie

[Velvet]

Look forward to photos x

[farthing]

We took in an African Pygmy hedgehog, we got her at 15 weeks old and are her 4th home! She does not interact with us at all, I only see her active if I get up to check a sick animal at 3am in the morning and when I check her morning and evening she curls in a ball and hisses.
She is in a big zoozone cage as bars are not advised in case they climb, fall and injure themselves. She eats well, loves her wheel ( in the wild they cover 8 miles a night), I feed her JW duck and rice cat biscuits. She is beautiful and we call her Whirlygig. Recently we had to buy her a bigger wheel as she has grown, the biggest we found was a 12" one. The can suffer for obesity and can also suffer from a condition called 'wobblers'( I think) which is untreatable I believe.

[Muddiwarx]

I have five Pygmy hogs and love them :)
Most if mine are very sociable and enjoy time on our knee and playing while we watch TV etc.
Our cat loves to watch them when they are in their vivs - although we are never sure if its the hedgies or their food she is most interested in!!!

[Kazz]

Amazing what a sheltered life I lead I did not know they exsisted yet seems everyone else does.....

[angieh]

I'm with you Kazz - they do sound interesting!

I've just had to Google Images - they look SO CUTE!

[Pickalilly]

Thanks, yeah, I got him on Saturday and he was terrified at first despite being incredible at the breeders but he is just great now!! They do the most funny things very different from any animal. The only problem is that he has started quilling (they loose their baby quills and go through a lot of discomfort, sore, dry skin etc.) and I might need to give him an oatmeal bath soon, but I'm worried he will get nervous again