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Lil Miss
06-01-2012, 04:59 AM
I thought i would introduce my 3 boys, all rescues, all with various issues
between them i could just about make 1 full hog lol

First up Jack (full name, One Eyed Jack) who was born with only 1 eye
he is an algerian grey snowflake

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/564942_10150577349203239_654893238_7982145_1215857 039_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/418506_10150491554273239_1016195993_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208433_10150090990648239_5452084_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/208293_10150090994643239_6998379_n.jpg

followed by Harry, who was born with his back feet missing, he has the legs, but they end in stumps
he is another algerian grey snowflake

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/215109_10150193499708239_654893238_6418442_3752731 _n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/251486_10150137716073239_654893238_5945918_3461085 _n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250131_10150132567918239_1081023_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/247679_10150131149923239_5117836_n.jpg

Pong, who got his name from the way he smelt when i collected him.
he had a really bad injury to his back leg, which was horriably infected, unfortunatly the leg couldnt be saved and he now has a stump
he is an albino

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/396233_10150402721163239_4353091_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403525_10150559500953239_1160811166_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424919_10150490034478239_1989550403_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/395595_10150402721388239_654893238_7434463_1139857 730_n.jpg

Hammymad
06-01-2012, 05:03 AM
Omg they have to be the cutest little hoggies I've ever seen :) are they difficult to care for? Xxx

Charley101
06-01-2012, 05:17 AM
Aww how cute!

Charley101
06-01-2012, 05:18 AM
This is most probs a really stupid question, but are there spines as sharp as normal garden hedgehogs?

souffle
06-01-2012, 05:20 AM
aww they are just adorable :)

Lil Miss
06-01-2012, 05:32 AM
yes very much so, but they only actually hurt when they put them up, when a hog is relaxed the quills lay flat along their backs, and its sort of like stroking a rough brush

but even huffed up spikes no longer bother me, unless they actually body pop me (puff their quills up and jump towards you) harry is a very grumpy boy and a monster for doing it :lol:

Charley101
06-01-2012, 05:49 AM
Oh, i only wondered because you was holding them without gloves. I thought we was being brave ;) :lol:

KitchenZoo
06-01-2012, 06:08 AM
Oh they are cuties. My niece told me about pygmy hedgehogs the other day and I looked them up, people keep them in indoor rabbit cages. What do ypurs live in?.

Charley101
06-01-2012, 06:20 AM
I have more questions lol...

Do they need any housing requirements and what do they eat?

Hammymad
06-01-2012, 06:34 AM
Meh!!! Me wants a hedgehog now haha ;) xx

Lil Miss
06-01-2012, 06:55 AM
housing wise, you need either a vivarium or a ZZ2, they can not be kept in wire bar rabbit cags as they will climb up them and can break their legs in the process
they also need a large (12") wheel to run on, mine have wodent wheels, but you can use SS or CSW's
the flying saucer wheels arent good for hoggies as they encourgae a bent running position which can lead to spinal problems

diet wise, the staple part of their daily diet is a mix of atleast 3 - 4 different chicken based cat foods (they can not have fish) and should add up to no more then 10% fat and should be over 30% protein
they also enjoy meal worms, crickets, grasshopper, locusts ect
scrambled eggs
boiled chicken
a bit of lean fried mince
and a bit of wet cat food every so often (again no fish)
they can also have some fruit as treats

they also need a heat source as they need to be kept above 18C (some need to be kept above 20C my jack is a begger if he drops below 21C he will try and hibernate)

KitchenZoo
06-01-2012, 07:00 AM
Thanks Lil Miss, that's interesting about the housing and the fact they need a wheel, wiuld never have thought that. My neighbour feeds a wild hedgehog who lives in her garden, she gives it some if her cat's food every night. I'll tell her to leave some scrambled eggs out to give it a bit of variety, lol. That's a really unusual pet are they becoming more popular?.

Biscuit
06-01-2012, 07:58 AM
Aww! They're so cute! I've always wanted a hedgehog but my mum said no. :( You're so lucky. :) xxx

fluffymunchkins
06-01-2012, 09:01 AM
They look so happy :)
I just love Jack especially, his feet and his button nose <3 x

Lil Miss
06-01-2012, 09:41 AM
Sadly they are becoming very popular as pets, which is encouraging a lot of BYBs to start as they can make some serious money by doing so, sadly with hedgehogs there is a dreadful genetic condition known as WHS, which is likened to MS in people.
I lost my very first girlie to WHS, there is no cure for it, and sadly it is only actually confirmable by necropsy upon death.

Huffy shortly before we had to let her go
http://i798.photobucket.com/albums/yy265/Lil_Miss_/huffy/IMGP5023.jpg
http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz177/LilMiss168/Huffy/IMGP5400.jpg

video of her
http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz177/LilMiss168/Huffy/th_IMGP5392.jpg (http://s825.photobucket.com/albums/zz177/LilMiss168/Huffy/?action=view&current=IMGP5392.mp4)

if you want a hedgehog you need to make sure you do a lot of research and go to one of the recommended breeders.

or failing that, rescue.

Biscuit
06-01-2012, 10:54 AM
I have heard that a lot of people have hedgehogs but don't treat them right and it makes me so sad. :( Glad to know that there are caring people like you and all the other members on here.
I'm so sorry to hear about Huffy too. :( xxx

Charley101
06-01-2012, 11:48 AM
Aww Huffy was an adorable little hoggy x

Gizmodo ^_^
06-01-2012, 01:43 PM
What lovely Hoggies :D
So sorry to hear about Huffy :( she looked so cute

racinghamster
06-08-2012, 09:46 AM
They are a credit to you Lil Miss. That was so sad that you lost little Huffy to a condition like that. So very, very heartbreaking. I know near to nothing about captive bred hedgehogs but I imagine they would be a total commitment, as any exotic pet would be, requiring the proper housing, diet and veterinary care, which sadly not everyone who keeps them has. The mind boggles when pet websites advertise pets nowadays like monkeys, skunks and even meerkats! :(

Well done to you for helping the wee ones you have. x

Lil Miss
06-08-2012, 10:33 AM
oh yes they are very much so a commitment, you need to make sure your temps are right, and you need to make sure the diet is right, theres no actual suitable hegehog mix avaliable, so you need to make your own mix using atleast 3 - 4 different chicken based cat foods making sure it adds up to atleast 30% protein and no more then 10% fat, although some smaller hoggies do better on a tiny bit more fat, my mix is around 12% fat as harry doesnt do as well on a lower fat count

meerkats and monkeys really shouldnt be avaliable on the pet market, its just imposiable for most people to provide them with suitable accomidation and to meet their needs, skunks when kept as pets though are sort of like cats, and can be litter trained and do well with free run of the house, however they are still a very big commitment and shouldnt be freely available.
i know i couldnt provide any of them with the correct care that they need

racinghamster
06-09-2012, 01:34 AM
The diets alone can be tricky as you say. I never knew hoggies diets had to be tailored like that but it just goes to show how educated you have to be to get that right just to make sure they don`t become deficient. Proper planning for these pets is very much needed if they are to be happy and healthy. Your little albino is gorgeous! :)

p_anda
06-12-2012, 01:18 PM
I adore hedgehogs. :) You have some real cuties there! I know not a lot of people would be willing to take on a special needs exotic, like an african pygmy hog, so well done you. :)