Hedgehog World - A community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders - Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!!

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Beddings, Liners, and Litters

Peppersmama

User

Posts: 129

NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 08:53 Okay Hi! I am new here, but my name is Annette and I just got my hedgehog Pepper last month. We researched everything! But when it came time to actually buying the bedding, the pet store talked us out of buying wood shaving and convinced us that corncob bedding is the only way to go. FOR ALL PEOPLE GETTING A HEDGEHOG FOR THE FIRST TIME....PLEASE DO NOT LET ANYONE CONVINCE YOU THAT CORNCOB IS BETTER. Right now I'm convinced that cedar would have even been a better choice. This is my tale....

I came home from work tonight and sat down to watch the news (around 11pm) Well Pepper...right on schedule woke up and is used to being played with at this time. So I took him out and was playing with him when I noticed that his sensitive region looked kind of large so I tried to investigate and noticed a piece of corn cob....(Side note: This was the second time....we were in the process of switching to liners..that time was slightly tramatic!) ...So I try to get him to hold still while I try to work it out....but he's a hedgehog do you think any amount of bribing would work?!?! NO! Well after about 30 very frustrating and traumatic minutes (for both of us) I got the piece free!! YEAH! Not an easy task as he is kind of used to me already...but he's developed a bit of a biting habit..which I was afraid he would inflict on me! So then I pet him and talk to him and he proceeds to pee all over the place! Hey I pulled the plug...so I guess I deserved it. Then he went and tried to crawl up my arm...but when he couldn't get under my armpit...he bit the fleshy part of my underarm! LITTLE BUGGER! And he wouldn't let go! So in my attempt to free my flesh...I kicked over my new Christmas present...a foot spa...full of water (I had been relaxing after work!) So now I have a traumatized hedgehog, a wet shirt and a soggy floor.

I then was so upset, I put Pepper in a empty laundry basket and proceeded to clean out his entire cage! He will just have to sleep on a couple of beach towels for now.

The moral of the story: Corncob bedding sucks! And petstore workers suck even more! Good night!

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Julie Pierce

User

Posts: 1033

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 11:47 Oh poor you and poor Pepper!! It sounds like a traumatic night for you both. I am glad you got that piece out though...that would have made for a real nasty infection!!! Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
http://www.piercespogs.com

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CThogs

Admin

Posts: 1559

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 13:46 Thanks for sharing your experience-hopefully it will save other hedgies and owners from going through the same trauma. And I hope today is better for you both

Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs

We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!!

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Peppersmama

User

Posts: 129

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 19:04 Thanks! Today is a better day thankfully! I even think Pepper prefers the beach towels, as that is what he snuggles up to me in, so they are more comfortable for him. I am worried though that he won't have anything to dig around in. Any ideas?

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Julie Pierce

User

Posts: 1033

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 20:13 I have had good luck with my boys and girls using aspen shavings. Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
http://www.piercespogs.com

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shmurciakova
User

Posts: 24

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 20:24 I used kiln dried pine with Snoball when I first had her and later switched to Care Fresh. She loved the pine though and would root around in it like crazy. She never did like rooting in the Care Fresh for some reason.

So, as for the beach towels, just make sure they do not have any loose threads. I would not use terry cloth towels because they have those little loops in them and the hedgehogs tiny toes and feet can get caught in them and that can cut off the circulation. Not to freak you out, but I once saw a hedgehog at a pet store that only had 3 feet for this exact reason!
So, yet another thing to worry about! but they are worth it!

-Susan H.

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CThogs

Admin

Posts: 1559

Re:NEVER USE CORNCOB BEDDING!!!! - 2006/12/30 20:30 The problem with beach towels is they are too loopy and a toenail can get caught. Fleece or other fabrics that are not stringy are better.

Depends on you and your hedgehog whether you use bedding, liners, or some combination of the two.

There are lots of threads that discuss the pros and cons of each. Ann
Connecticut Hedgehogs

We had a great time at Hedgehog Fest 2008!!!

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