If you are trying to find a small animal that is fairly easy to care for, hedgehogs as pets may be a good option for you. A pet hedgehog has a lifespan of four to six years on average, so if you buy one, you will have a furry little friend for quite a while. These tiny carnivores are ideal for people who don’t have a lot of room for a pet, such as someone living in an apartment.
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Pros
Hedgehogs as Pets are Cute
With its little spines on its back, the fuzzy tummy, cute face and precious little feet, a pet hedgehog is one of the most adorable small pets around. These little pets are nocturnal, so they sleep all day long. When they are awake, they are very entertaining. You may look in the cage and see a little prickly ball one minute, and the next minute, you may see your little hedgehogs as pets walking around.
Hedgehogs as Pets are Gentle
A hedgehog’s main defensive mechanism is to curl up into a ball and let their attacker suffer the wrath of their spiny back. As long as you are gentle with your hedgehogs as pets and leave them alone when they are balled up, you don’t have to worry about getting hurt. Of course, you must also use common sense and keep your hands out of the hedgehog’s mouth, as hedgehogs as pets that are scared may nip or bite.
Hedgehogs as Pets Can Work for Someone with Allergies
Pet hedgehogs don’t have dander, so if you are allergic to animal dander, you won’t have to worry. Additionally, hedgehogs as pets don’t have a scent gland, so if you have scent-based allergies, you don’t have to worry about your hedgehog causing an allergy attack.
Hedgehogs as Pets are Easy to Care for
You don’t have to take your pet hedgehog out for a walk, but you will have to keep its cage clean. Your hedgehog will need a bath now and then, but that isn’t difficult to accomplish. Hedgehogs as pets need constant access to water, and you will have to feed it daily, but that is true with almost any pet.
Cons
Hedgehog Pets are Solitary
If you like to watch animals play together, hedgehog pets aren’t a good pet option for you. With the exception of breeding activities, hedgehogs are solitary creatures. Even mother hedgehogs don’t stay with their young for long. By the time a baby is approximately six to eight weeks, it is on its own. Hamsters or gerbils are two good options to choose from instead of hedgehogs if you want animals that will play together.
Hedgehog Pets are Nocturnal
If you are a daytime person and you want to watch your pet being active, hedgehog pets aren’t a good choice. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means that your pet hedgehog is likely to run in his wheel and burrow while you are trying to sleep at night.
Hedgehog Pets Require Attention
A hedgehog that isn’t handled often will become skittish. Because of this, hedgehog pets aren’t a good option if you want a pet that doesn’t need a lot of attention. You have to be able to dedicate about an hour of time daily to your hedgehog to keep him happy and healthy. Speaking of healthy, you also have to plan time to care for your hedgehog’s cage by cleaning out soiled bedding.
Hedgehog Pets Can Harbor Disease
While most hedgehog pets are healthy, it is possible for them to harbor disease. Ringworm is the most common disease that a hedgehog can harbor and pass along to you. To combat the likelihood of a hedgehog harboring a disease, you have to be willing to investigate local breeders, and you may have to spend some extra money to get a hedgehog from a reputable breeder.
Hedgehog Pets are Delicate
Hedgehogs are tiny, which means they have tiny bones. When handling hedgehog pets, you have to be very gentle, so if you have young children who are rough, you may want to consider a different pet.
Conclusion
As you can see there are good points and bad points to having a hedgehog as a pet. You have to take all this into consideration before you purchase one of these friendly pets. Please make sure you are 100% sure before you get one as a pet you don't want the little guy to get attached to you then have to give him away.