Just this year, a news report highlighted the worldwide surge in the popularity of hedgehogs as pets. This is nothing to be surprised about – hedgies are cute, cuddly, and are very unique. Though the ownership of exotic pets may be controversial for some, it does not stop millions and millions of people from owning their own bristly pals.
The most common type of hedgehog that is available for the market today is the Atelerix albiventris or the African Pygmy Hedgehog. They used to be imported from Africa, but have since then made the States their adoptive home what with millions of families embracing them as pets.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures that are still mostly mistaken for their porcupine lookalikes. Hedgies are a whole lot less harmful, and their quills are not dangerous at all. As well, owning a hedgehog offers numerous advantages – they do not nibble through everything in sight (unlike their rodent friends, such as the hamster and the guinea pig), and they do not take up as much space as a dog, cat, or many of the other “mainstream” pets.
Hedgehogs indeed have become so popular that there are a lot of clubs that have come into existence simply for the love of hedgehogs that they share. Hedgehogs have also been bred for their color and temperament, much like dogs and prize horses. To recognize these efforts, hedgehog competitions have actually been put in place!
In this book, the reader will learn everything there is to know about taking care of a hedgehog—from helping it acclimatize to its new home, to taking care of it, to building an unbreakable bond between you and your hedgie friend. It also contains extensive discussions on how to keep your hedgehog healthy through diet and hygiene, discussing many alternatives and their pros and cons. From diet to beddings, acclimatization to preventing estivation, this is your definitive hedgehog guide!
The most common type of hedgehog that is available for the market today is the Atelerix albiventris or the African Pygmy Hedgehog. They used to be imported from Africa, but have since then made the States their adoptive home what with millions of families embracing them as pets.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures that are still mostly mistaken for their porcupine lookalikes. Hedgies are a whole lot less harmful, and their quills are not dangerous at all. As well, owning a hedgehog offers numerous advantages – they do not nibble through everything in sight (unlike their rodent friends, such as the hamster and the guinea pig), and they do not take up as much space as a dog, cat, or many of the other “mainstream” pets.
Hedgehogs indeed have become so popular that there are a lot of clubs that have come into existence simply for the love of hedgehogs that they share. Hedgehogs have also been bred for their color and temperament, much like dogs and prize horses. To recognize these efforts, hedgehog competitions have actually been put in place!
In this book, the reader will learn everything there is to know about taking care of a hedgehog—from helping it acclimatize to its new home, to taking care of it, to building an unbreakable bond between you and your hedgie friend. It also contains extensive discussions on how to keep your hedgehog healthy through diet and hygiene, discussing many alternatives and their pros and cons. From diet to beddings, acclimatization to preventing estivation, this is your definitive hedgehog guide!
