Male hedgehogs should NEVER EVER be housed together. They may seem like they are best friends and getting along great, but 99% of males are going to be territorial and extremely aggressive towards one another once they are older.
Hedgehogs are very solitary animals and should be housed separately. In the wild, they are only social during the breeding season. Their solitary nature can make it difficult for these pets to warm up to you.
Hoglets typically spend just two or three weeks out and about with Mother before going off on their own. As they are mostly solitary creatures, siblings don't tend to hang around with one another once they have left the nest.
Can I house more than one hedgehog in each cage? In the wild, hedgehogs are solitary animals and in captivity, it is better to keep them in individual cages. With hedgehogs housed in groups, fights can occur, especially if adequate space is not available.
In the wild, hedgehogs are solitary creatures. They hunt alone and don't form lifelong bonds with other hedgehogs.
If you have more than one hedgehog and when they are together you notice them biting each other's quills, this may be a precursor to anointing or a fight.
It describes a situation in which a group of hedgehogs seek to move close to one another to share heat during cold weather. They must remain apart, however, as they cannot avoid hurting one another with their sharp spines.
Hedgehogs are mostly awake in the early morning and evening. When awake, they are very active and it's fun to watch them dig, go through tubes, push toys around and run on their exercise wheel. They should get at least an hour every evening out of their cage to explore.
Hedgehogs live in a broad range of habitats.
They are also often scarce in upland areas such as moorlands and mountainsides. Hedgehogs enjoy living on the edge of woodlands. They thrive in the mosaic of hedges, fields and woodlands that characterise the British countryside.
Hedgehogs require a moderate amount of maintenance, primarily in keeping their environment clean. But their feeding is fairly straightforward, and they don't require a lot of attention.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and usually sleep during the daytime. Pregnant or nursing mothers may need to be out during the day. Otherwise, if you see hedgehogs in daytime they are probably injured or ill.
They are solitary creatures and will hibernate alone in the wild. Strangely, hedgehogs kept in captivity will often choose to share a nest. Once they have chosen their spot, they will start to build a nest.
If you do decide you'd like to adopt another hedgehog, it is best to house 2 FEMALES together and to introduce them at a young age. Better yet, it is best if you can adopt sisters or a mother/ daughter together. Male hedgehogs should NEVER EVER be housed together.
Hedgehogs Are Solitary by Nature
1 If hedgehogs do not get along, they will fight, sometimes inflicting serious damage to one another. For these reasons, it is generally best to stick with one hedgehog per cage.
– You should handle it for at least 30 minutes daily to ensure enough socialization and bonding with you. – If your hedgehog begins to become aggressive, shaking, starts biting you, or you notice green poop, this is a sign that he's becoming stressed and had too much handling that day.
Pet hedgehogs have an average life span of four to six years and weigh about a pound. Most owners will feed them a low-fat dry cat food supplemented with vegetables, mealworms, and crickets, and keep them in a large, flat-bottomed cage.
Hedgehogs need environmental temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. Keep your hedgehog's cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, or cold areas. You may want to provide your hedgehog with a small warm spot in his cage where he can go to get warm but would also be able to get away from if he feels too warm.
You can do this in April, after their hibernation but before hedgehogs start producing hoglets. However, the ideal time is in October before they go into hibernation, and after most of the litter have been weaned.
Hedgehogs naturally like to burrow, providing additional bedding gives them a more natural ability to make a bed inside their shelter. Many hedgehogs will sleep under their shelter as opposed to inside it. Providing 12x12 squares of fleece also make good sleeping material.
Through Play
Your hedgehog is relaxed when its quills are laid down and it is moving about without flinching every time you move. Certain sounds may still scare a relaxed hedgehog. Allow your hedgehog to use you as a human mountain. Let it climb on you and explore you.
During the summer seasons, your hedgehog can really benefit from being outside to play. What is this? Hedgehogs are curious creatures so exploring a new environment can be really stimulating and fun. Your hedgehog also needs daily exercise to ensure that he stays fit and healthy.
When a hedgehog hisses, it means he is really annoyed and wants you, other hogs or other animals to clear off. Hedgehogs will often make the hissing noise if their nest is disturbed or if they are cornered or approached by a predator.
Your hedgehog will probably decide quickly that being picked up is a good thing since they get rewarded for it. Reserve this treat for times when you are handling your hedgehog. Once your hedgehog has unrolled from their ball allow them to explore your hands and lap at their own pace.
Multi-level ferret or rabbit cages can allow a hedgehog more room to explore without taking up extra floor space, but when using multiple levels, keep in mind that a hedgehog has poor eyesight, can climb easily, but has difficulty descending and often does not seem to understand heights, so it is highly recommended ...