Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/04/08 00:15Hello! i am new at this, since i only just got Mr. Schpillmann 4 days ago (i love him already!!), and i have been reading some of the posts here and info on this site that has been soooo useful (thanks!) but i still got some questions and i was hoping i could get some help here... well i live in mexico and since there are no known breeders here i got Mr. Schpillmann at a pet store, but the clerk didnt know how old he was, or anything so i was wondering if there is a way of guessing his age, or at least get me close to it, cause i dont know if he´s 3 years or 6 months old... then my second question is, i read that hedgehogs can be potty trained and i was wondering how to do that because he is doing it everywhere... and finally i read about bathing them, and again, how do i do that?? i think thats all for now, thanks for everything anyone can tell me! Sofiia
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1.) If he grows more, then he is under 6 months of age. If he doesnt, he is over. Other than that, it is quite hard to accurately tell age on hedgehogs. 2.) Litter training is a wonderful theory in hedgehogs, but doesn't often work, i my experience. To try it, pick an area of the cage that you want him to go in, and put either a small litter box or a couple sheets of paper towel in that area. Then, pick up all of the poops from the entire cage, and put them in that area. Then, you cross fingers that he gets the idea. 3.) I usually do about an inch or two of warm water in my sink, let them run around in it for a bit, (replacing water as needed if they poop in it), then use either a very mild puppy shampoo or a gentle human baby oatmeal bath. Very small amount lathered up on the hedgehog, with a soft toothbrush used for scrubbing any especially dirty spots. Rinse, rinse, rinse, then snuggle dry in a warm towel.
Becca
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Sofiiaky
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Posts: 3
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/04/15 01:13Thanks for all the info! i actually bathed him today and it was quite an experience! he seemed scared and stayed a little mad at me afterwards, but just for like 10 min. but it all went well following your tips! he is now bright and shiny! so now im trying the litter training, but as you say, i dont think its working very well... anyways, i just wanted to thank you for answering and helping me with my doubts, and i just have to say that these are the BEST pets ever!! Sofiia
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jllee527
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Posts: 6
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/13 03:48The closest I have come to litter training my hedgies is that I have a small plastic cat litter box with pelleted aspen bedding in one half of the cage, and I placed his wheel inside. The rest of the cage is padded with aspen shavings. I noticed with both of my hedgies that they like to poop wherever their wheel is, especially while running in it. So my little Pollux crawls into the litter pan and underneath his wheel whenever he needs to go. I placed a brick in the cage as a step. He keeps the area outside the litter box clean (except for the occasional poop that flies out of the wheel). You can use whatever bedding you like, but it may help to have different ones in the litter box from the rest of the cage. That helps designate exercise/bathroom area from living/sleeping area. Hope this helps!
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Sofiiaky
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Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/18 00:00actually, since i have a grassy backyard (its surrounded by walls, so hes pretty safe) i discovered that after waking up the first thing he does is poo, so i usually wake him, and take him outside, and after 10 or 15 minutes i let him back in, and now he can run around the room free!! unless he goes back to sleep, in which case i have to take him back out. by the way, is it normal that he sleeps all day? every time i check on him hes asleep, and usually if i wake him to play with me, he'll just try to snuggle in a corner (or under my armpit) and go back to sleep! i hope this is normal, other wise, is there something i can do? well, and since im asking questions, i live in mexico, but we are moving to barcelona, Spain in september, i obviously wanna take mr. schpillmann with me, but i am in doubt of whether its legal or not to keep hedgehogs as pets in europe... does anyone know this? and would i need to give him any specific vaccinations for the trip? thanks!!
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dzmeadows
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Posts: 976
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/19 17:45I hope you aren't letting him be out in the yard by himself. I am sure you have some form fo bird of prey (hawks, eagles, etc) and they can e a major danger to hedgehogs. Letting him play outside is great, but only if you are there very close to supervise him. He should't be allowed to eat wild bugs etc. and should be protected from any predators in the area. Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, so they sleep most of the day and wake up late evenings and early mornings. Therefore, perfectly normal for him. It is probably going to be pretty difficult to take him to Spain with you, sadly Import of hedgehogs into many countries is strictly regulated because they technically could carry hoof and mouth disease. You should contact the Mexico Department of Agriculture and see if they can get you any information on it, and then check with Spanish customs for any requirements. Becca
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jllee527
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Posts: 6
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/22 08:55And even if they do let you import him, he is going to be held in quarantine for several months to make sure he's not carrying any diseases (like hoof and mouth).
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Sofiiaky
Visitor
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/23 23:23i am really sad, i mean, i havent checked with spanish customs yet, but im guessing its not gonna be easy... fortunately im only going there for a year, maybe less, so i guess i could just have my mom or someone who knows take care of him, although i really wished i could take him... oh and by the way, when i wrote before that i let him run free in my backyard, i meant like i let him run around, but im always watching!! like i said i always just wait for him to poop and as soon as i see that he's done, i bring him in, i NEVER let him out by himself!! im too afraid he might get lost!! because he always tries to go hide under the bushes, but i always grab him in time, so im sure if i let him unsupervised i'd have a hard time finding him again!!! and i also watch out for the bugs... well, thanks for helping me, i'll check with customs and let everyone know (in case it happens again in the future) and for now i'll just have to enjoy mr. schpillmann as much as i can!!!
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dzmeadows
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Posts: 976
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2005/05/24 04:43I am very glad I misunderstood about his being out supervised or unsupervised. Sounds like you are having lots of fun with him, and will keep fingers crossed that if you can't take him with you, that he can find a great temporary family to love him. Becca
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Kida
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Posts: 2
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2006/02/05 04:04Hi.. I know I"m new.. and I have my own problems.. but my hedgie is litter trained just fine.. I watched the old owner and in the 3 weeks that I had him.. 1.5 was spent retraining him.. I have a lil corner litter box with some paper towel shredded up.. and I just continuely put the poop in there. Also when he firsts wakes up he's set in the box.. and then repeat.. I didn't take me long.. I was always told it was natural for them to pick a spot in the cage.. so I just helped him along.. everyonce in a hwile I find a stray that didn't make it into the box.. but.. hey.. I can live with that.
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dzmeadows
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Posts: 976
Re:Help with my new hedgehog - 2006/02/05 21:22That is definately awesome. My hedgehogs have basically laughed at me when I have made an attempt at litter training, so I am glad that your hedgehog is litter trained. Becca
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Hedgehog Forums 
does anyone know this? and would i need to give him any specific vaccinations for the trip? thanks!!
Import of hedgehogs into many countries is strictly regulated because they technically could carry hoof and mouth disease. You should contact the Mexico Department of Agriculture and see if they can get you any information on it, and then check with Spanish customs for any requirements. 