Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dazed and Confused]

I've just adopted an abandoned hedgehog. He's male and age unknown. I've never had one before and really don't know anything about them. He's got a ball, litter, and cat food. He doesn't seem to like the ball and would just sit in it and look P.O'd. However, this morning he did seem a little more into running around the house.
He has escaped already and we had a time finding him. That was an adventure! Now he's got a top on his cage.
Any advice from hedge hog owners?

[OculisOrbis]

Hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal. Dont be surprised if it seems pissed off when you bother it when it wants to be sleeping.

Buy it a wheel so it can run at night.

http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/comemeetmyfamily/CaringForYourHedgehog.html

[PCRamplified]

Hedgies love wheels!

It will take him a while to warm up to you, and it will also depend on how he was handled before, but they can be quite friendly. Give him an old T-shirt that you have worn for a day to sleep in to help get him used to your smell.

With time, you can slowly change his schedule so that he will be more willing to come out and play with you when you get home from work or in the morning before you leave.

Here is a good website: http://hedgehogcentral.com/

[Koreadays]

pet hedgehogs? seriously? wow growing up on the farm we would leave them outside in their natural habitat.

make a cool house for him, bring in leaves, bushes, bark and cage off an area and let him have his own place where naturally he will feel comfortable...

[PCRamplified]

Guessing you're English? I'll give you 10 to 1 that this is an African pygmy hedgehog. Most pet hedgehogs are of the African persuasion.

Which reminds me of another piece of advice: don't let him get too cold. They can die pretty easily if they start to try to hibernate.

[Draz]

[Dazed and Confused]

Thanks for all the replies.
He has gotten used to us and seems most willing to run around in his ball in the mornings. However, he doesn't want to do anything in the evenings. He will sit on our hands and sniff around a bit which is cute.
again thanks!

[Underwaterbob]

I get the impression they're a bit like rabbits: not really needing or wanting any kind of affection. Basically let them do their own thing and keep them clean and fed and they'll be OK.

[PCRamplified]

Mine was actually pretty affectionate. I would let him out of his cage and he'd usually hang around my feet or snuggle up on my lap if I picked him up.
I would take him outside sometimes too, but he mostly just wanted to run to me and hide.

Not too good at doing tricks or fetching though