Hedgehogs are spiny mammals, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Till date, 17 species of hedgehogs in five genera have been found.
Hedgehogs are often called ‘gardener’s friend’ due to their contribution to clean the environment from beetles, caterpillars, worms, and other invertebrates.
Nowadays, hedgehogs have gained popularity as pets in Western societies, where people prefer smaller and more attractive pets.
But are these wild animals good pets for beginners? Having similarities with Porcupines may have given hedgehogs fame, but their temperaments will decide if they are good pets.
Are Hedgehogs Suitable Pets For Beginners?
Hedgehogs seem very attractive as pets to those who prefer small, quiet, and unique pets for their households to avoid much trouble.
Hedgehogs can become very good pets to those who have no problem with a super-energetic pet who doesn’t like to be trapped inside a cage for a long time.
Hedgehogs are extremely silent, flexible about diets, and don’t take much space to live. However, they are very low-maintenance pets which makes them a suitable pet for many people.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals. They sleep all day and run here and there the entire night. They find insects and worms all night to consume and control the pests for free.
However, it is worth remembering that hedgehogs are primarily wild animals. They require time and proper care to adjust at home as pets.
Hence, if you have zero knowledge about hedgehogs’ care, then hedgehogs may not be the best pets for you. Apart from that, hedgehogs can be amazing pets for someone who has proper knowledge and experience with them.
7 Facts To Consider Before Having Hedgehogs As Pets:
- Hedgehogs are very calm, peace-loving animals who are usually active at night. They are highly active, they run 2-3 miles every night to hunt food.
- Hedgehogs are mainly solitary animals. They don’t prefer to live in groups. If you keep two or three hedgehogs together, they might break their characters and create troubles for you.
- Despite being omnivorous, hedgehogs prefer to consume insects and worms more than fruits, seeds, or hay. They need a variety of diets to stay healthy, such as bugs, fresh items, and formulated kibble, etc.
- One hedgehog requires an enclosure of 2 feet by 4 feet at least. However, they require lots of exercise and running every day to stay mentally and physically healthy.
- Despite having 44 teeth, hedgehogs neither attack nor bite humans. They are very calm and composed, only attack or bite when they are either sick or very much frightened.
- If you want to pet a hedgehog, you need to give it proper care and exercise every day. Otherwise, obesity grabs them at an early age. Apart from obesity, hedgehogs are also prone to cancer, respiratory diseases, skin diseases, and gastronomical diseases.
- Hedgehogs have a life expectancy of 8-10 years in the wild. However, in captivity they can live up to 15 years with proper care and safety from predators.
After knowing all the pros and cons, you can now decide if a hedgehog can be a good pet for you.
Also Read: 4 Pros And Cons To Consider Before Having Bearded Dragons As Pets
