Want to learn about Chinchillas and Hedgehogs as pets?
On July - 24 - 2010
Just two animals I dont know anything about as far as keeping them as pets. Can anyone tell me what sort of housing requirements either has or maybe some pros and cons?
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luci Says:
i just love your question!
theres an amazing website/forum to learn everyhing about these critters! its a bit more helpful than yahoo answers cuz the site has BOTH chinchilla and hedgehog owners. we discuss topics such as health/hygiene, diet and nutrition, breeding and babies, behavior and anatomy, housing and supplies, etc. and there are people who sell items at AMAZING prices.
theres just so much info to answer your question but i assure you that the website will answer everything and more!
its http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/index.php
yep- chinchillas and hedgehogs in one place!
Posted on July 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
zantosa53 Says:
Well I’ve kept neither so I cannot give you a keepers perspective but I’d suggest going to forums joining up and asking them, each will be biased
but the people in forums know more about their animals then anyone and can definetly give you the best answer
Posted on July 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Bunny W Says:
thats nice!
well i have 2 chinchillas but not a hedgehog.
what you need for chinchillas:
cage
nesting box
dust bath and dust
bedding eg: wood shavings
toys eg: tunnel, log
food
treats
large space to run around
love.
hope i could help
bunny w xx
Posted on July 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
frostybunny9 Says:
I know plenty of people with chinchillas, and one of my friends DOES have a hedgehog.
It sleeps all day and, It lives in a big cage with wood shavings on the bottom and cardboard box houses. Somehow it’s litter trained and it decided that it likes to eat cat food (they have a cat)
I would say its a pretty easy pet to take care of.
Posted on July 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Cletus Says:
i will apologize now for the wall of text.
For hedgehogs they need about 4 square feet of floor space, the cage would preferably have a solid bottom with highwalls and then a wire top so it can ‘breathe’. They need a high protien diet similar to ferrets usually at least 30% protien. You can use cat food or meal worms and the like, they like many different fruits for a small snack. after eating they sometimes annoin(look it up on youtube if interested)… no one knows why they do it or what its for but its not harmful and its funny if you gave them a blueberry becaue they turn purple/blue. they have very poor eyesight and virtually no depth perception so you have to be careful of them walking off things. When relaxed and comfortable the quills lay flat to there body and they can be pet. If angered or annoyed they will stick them out and there no fun to get poked with. They quill 3 times in there life all before a few months of age, its similar to shedding, the old quills fall out and new longer ones come in(watch your step in this stage). They need to be kept above about 70 degrees F or they will go into hibernation which is not good for them at all. They dont have a normal repoduction cycle, it is induced by being around males. If you house a female and male togethor or too closely the female will constantly go through her cycle and this is very danagerous(cancer and what not)… so dont let it happen. They dont need to bathed often and if you over bath they will get dry skin. You need to clip there toe nails every few weeks and you should wipe there paws often. Hedgehogs use a wheel for excerise and they poop on the wheel while they run so it gets stuck in there paws. As they age they learn to use 1 corner of there cage for a liter area which is great for cleaning. They love being in dark cozy areas, mine will immediately try to get under my pillos if i put her on my bed… O and there very grumpy when u wake them up they are conturnal after all(you can change there sleep cycle if you choose).
i think thats everything
ooooo … they cant be kept in many states so if you thinking of getting one check first, i know cali will euthanize on the spot and i think that georgia doesnt allow them either. Also you most likely wont find one at a pet store because a special liscense is needed to sell them. Breeders are the way to go. Or check a shelter/rescue.
Posted on July 24th, 2010 at 10:42 am