My Hedgepiggies

[LunaMidnight]

Thanks! That's sad that they are illegal, they're such fun animals, they're really good pets. Hehe the noses are quite adorable!

I'm not really sure what I'd compare them to. I don't know if I can compare them to any other animal I've met. For the most part they're pretty shy. They may ball up or "huff" at you. Usually if you pick them up and have something for them to hide in like a blanket they'll calm down and lay with you or poke their heads out and explore. The spikes aren't too bad once you get used to them. When they are flat they don't feel like spikes at all. But if they're in a ball and doing the "click jump" it feels weird. Kishi does this alot. She kind of jumps and pulses and makes a clicking noise to let you know she doesn't want to be picked up. It kind of just pushes the spikes into your skin more. It would feel kind of like squeezing a brush with stiff bristles. I've never had my skin broken by one though (aside from the stray ones that end up in the carpet that you step on at 3 A.M on your sleepy way to the bathroom). :|

They can be social but for the most part they're not. I believe hedgehogs are solitary animals who don't really want or need a cage buddy. It's best not to keep them together from what I've heard. Even if they are getting along ok they may turn around and change their mind. Boys will usually always fight with each other, girl plus boy..well we all know what that equals hehe and girls and girls can work but it's still better to house them separately. The two brown girls of mine get along. They will curl up together or explore the couch/hallway/floor together, but once in awhile one will annoy the other. I wouldn't trust them to live together though. Izzy, my albino, doesn't get along with the others and chases and bites them. She is the youngest but also the scariest hehe. They seem to enjoy the company of me or mom more. They are used to us now and love to stretch out on a lap and get foot massages or tummy rubs, it took awhile to get them that used to us though. But very worth it.

Most people feed them high quality cat food. I have Chicken Soup For The Cat Lover's Soul. Other good brands I've heard of people using are Innova, Blue Spa Select, Wellness Healthy Weight, Royal Canin, Felidae, Nutro and quite a few others. Some people feed a combination of cat foods. They also like treats like turkey, chicken, hamburger, cottage cheese, egg, yam, sweet potato, apple, banana, blueberry, pear, baby food, carrots etc. That's just a small list of treats my girls like.

This forum for chinchillas and hedgehogs is awesome! You can find anything you want to know on here and check out tons of cute pics! http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/index.php