scenting with hedgehog?

[hungba]

Will it work? The reason is I got two snakes to switch to f/t with syrian hamster bedding. I walked into a pet shop and asked for it, and they thought I was nuts and it was really awkward. I got the bedding and it worked, but I left one mouse in the bag of bedding and left it rotten the next morning so I had to throw it away. I am NOT going to go ask again for bedding, it's just too embarrasing. So I thought maybe I could do with another pet and keep a hamster. If this happens I would of course take proper care of it.

But if I were to keep an animal for scenting bedding, I don't want to keep a stupid hamster unless I have to. I mean, if hedgehogs work, I'd rather get one of those. Not sure what the snake would prefer, but all mammals smell like crap to me anyway, including humans.

If anyone knows other non living things I can try scenting with, please also tell me. I tried chicken broth and that common stuff. I also tried the Ivory soap trick years ago with corns and it worked well, but with balls it didn't work.

[thejennabird]

I personally doubt it. The reason gerbils and hamsters work is because they're purportedly similar to a ball python's natural food source in Africa. Hedgehogs aren't even rodents (ie. not in the order Rodentia) and don't have that distinctive "rodent" aroma... or even scent glands for that matter. In my opinion, they would not make an effective scenting option. Not worth the risk of going out and getting a hedgehog as a pet in order to try it. If you wanted to test it, do you know anyone with a hedgehog or a local breeder that you could get bedding from?

Honestly, a pet store shouldn't think you're nuts for asking for used rodent bedding. I got used mouse bedding from Petco (for scenting) in order to switch my BP to rats. Once I explained the situation they didn't give me a second thought. I figure the same could be said of gerbils and hamsters... it shouldn't be an embarrassing situation!

Did you try the tuna juice trick too? How about using pre-killed as a transition from fresh to f/t? Have you tried a f/t rat instead of a mouse and see if they'll take that?