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Prickly Creek Exotics Care Sheet

  The information contained here should not be considered as medical advice or anything 
  therein. If you are a first time hedgehog owner, please visit our web site for much more
  information on proper care of hedgehogs.

  When you first bring your hedgehog home, make sure you have a cage that is no less that 2
  sq. feet of living space. The cage must have a solid floor as wire mesh floors can amputate
  their tiny legs.

  Avoid cedar shavings for liter as the fumes are toxic and will cause death to your hedgehog.
  Avoid aspen, pine or any other wood by product bedding as the hedgehogs will be exposed
  to mites, if your hedgehog gets mites, you will never know it until it is too late. The only
  bedding we recommend is Cell Sorb Plus, it last three weeks with only spot cleaning as
  needed.

  Hedgehogs are solitary animals, don't keep two males together as they will kill each other.
  Don't keep a male and a female together unless your prepared to get a USDA license as
  they will have babies. And if you plan to breed, be prepared for death to the babies and
  possibly the mommy hedgehog. Hedgehogs need an igloo for their nest, our babies are
  born and raised in igloos, without an igloo, they will not feel at home as the igloo is their
  home.

  It is important to offer a good variety of foods. We recommend keeping your hedgehogs
  on a 50/50 mixture of one of the PCE Blends and Old Mill Kibble. They are insectivores
  and do need freeze dried crickets and mealworms once a week. Canned or fresh fruit is
  also important in their diets, but NO vegetables! Hard boiled eggs are a real treat for them,
  but don't over feed them. Always make sure their water bottles are full. Hedgehogs are
  nocturnal, make sure to handle them in the early morning, or late in the evening, or if
  you see them up trying to eat or drink. If they are sleeping, you should leave them alone.
  If you don't want someone waking you up at 3 am, then they won't like being woke up either.

  Hedgehogs can run 5 miles in one night, they need a wheel as much as they need food and
  water to live. Avoid wheels with cross bars or wire mesh or wire spoke surfaces. They are very
  active and will run in a Critter Crawler as well.

  You should handle all babies immediately to keep them tame and to bond with you. It is
  important to earn their trust while their babies as you will be able to bond with them faster.
  If you are adopting an adult hedgehog, you may need to let him/her acclimate to their new
  home for a week to two weeks before handling them. No matter what, NEVER wears gloves
  when handling your new friend, if he or she can not smell you, then they will never get use
  to you!

  We don't recommend switching your new hedgehog's food from what they were raised on
  here. If you choose to change the food, your health guarantee will be null and void. If you
  are unable to purchase the brands of hedgehog food that they are currently on, contact us
  for reordering.

  Some hedgehogs can get shipping stress, usually not if they have been in the car for an
  hour, hedgehogs can get shipping stress from extremely long car rides or from the
  airplanes. If your hedgehog has loose runny green stool, it may be sick or could have
  shipping stress. Also, offering too many new foods at once can cause this, so always
  introduce new foods one at a time, and spread it out over a weeks time before introducing
  something else.

  If you think something is wrong with your hedgehog, take it to a vet who is experienced
  with hedgehogs immediately. We are not vets and can not diagnose illnesses, we can
  only offer ideas and suggestions. Rarely do hedgehogs become ill, but if your in doubt,
  don't waste time, take it to a vet right away!
  Healthy happy hedgehogs make happy pet owners!

  If you have questions regarding your new pet, contact us for after sales support. We can
  only offer you suggestions and ideas. When you buy a baby hedgehog you have to keep
  in mind it is just like a child, no two children have the same personalities. Hedgehogs
  don't have the same personalities either. It is your responsibility as the new owner to
  work with that hedgehog and bond with him/her. If you notice your hedgehog is loosing
  quills, they do re-quill between 12 and 16 weeks of age. Some hedgehogs don't like
  handling too much during that time as it can be uncomfortable, while other hedgehogs
  don't seem bothered by it.
 

  This care sheet is not to be reprinted and/or distributed by any other business, breeder,
  or person. This care sheet is the property of Prickly Creek Exotics.