Hedgehogs as pets?

[Alexandra V]

Long story short I die a little because of the sheer cuteness of hedgehogs, and was wondering... how are they with being handled? Any advice from hedgehog owners would be greatly appreciated.

[Rhasputin]

You get pricked, a lot. They almost always hiss and ball up when you reach in to pick them up, but if you get a friendly hog, it will un-roll once you have it in your hand.

Definitely not for children.

[GinaTheMachina]

Long story short I die a little because of the sheer cuteness of hedgehogs, and was wondering... how are they with being handled? Any advice from hedgehog owners would be greatly appreciated.

Personally I have never met anyone who kept them as pets, but I think Vinny from Jersey Shore had a few! Myspace or Facebook message him : ) lol

[ShortStack]

My stepsister had one for a while. He was mean as all get out!! He especially didn't like her mom. Anytime she went to try to hold him or anything, he would do that jumping thing they do and try to prick her and hiss. He got her good a few times. They ended up getting rid of him because it wasn't quite the animal they thought it would be. Not quite sure what they expected, lol, but he wasn't it. They are really cute, but I don't wanna risk being pricked everytime I try to hold it, lol.

[Courtney281]

If you wear a pear of garden gloves to pick them up, you won't get pricked. Thats what we always did, then once they are out they come out and are social and SO CUTE. I had mine for 4 years until be finally passed away. They have an average life span of 3-5 years, so he had a good life Mine used to give kisses and loved to ride around on my sons tractor toy lol They are great as long as you get one as a baby and hold them everyday. Good luck, hope that helps

[Courtney281]

Oh and a side note: watch out for their spines on the floor if you like to walk around barefoot. They don't shoot them, but they shed them, so either keep him off the floor, or wear shoes

[spygirl]

I had one female who was as sweet as can be and a male who was the spawn of satan. It depends on the hoggie. But I tend to prefer females. My little girl was so clean. She consistently used her litter box. But the little boy... He pooped everywhere!

They are nocturnal, but they crack me up with their antics. There's nothing funnier than a hoggie playing with a toilet paper tube!

[Courtney281]

There's nothing funnier than a hoggie playing with a toilet paper tube!

I would have to agree 100% on this hahaha

[Argentra]

I agree with the others...you will get prickled (and it doesn't hurt as much as it startles), but overall hoggies are the best I co-own one with a friend (I got it for him and help with the advice and care and he keeps her) and she's the cutest little thing. I used to care for them at the zoo and fell for them there. We had an adult female and two new babies - the adult girl was a pricklepuss, but we handled those babies every day and the survivor (one died suddenly) was as sweet as could be. I picked them up without gloves and carried them around while doing chores or around the zoo to show off.

If you decide to get one, you'll need a nice cage with good floor space and a solid floor (ie no open wire). Enough room for a nice igloo house, large running wheel (they're so cute when they run), tubes, and litter box is minimum. More than that is great extra running space.
They love worms and crickets, and we used to chill crickets (to make them sleep) then place them in toilet paper tubes or egg cartons with hay and let the hoggies 'find' the crickets as they awoke. It was a blast.
They can be wonderful little pets if you get a good young one and aren't afraid to handle it.

This is 'Koosh', my little co-owned hedgie, held by her other owner.

[Courtney281]

She is SO stinking cute!