Letter to Yaya (Guide for Newbie Hedgehog Owner Part-Two)

Dear Yaya,

This is my second half of the letter, and this will tell you as much possible what you need to take care of hedgehog. I've already talked about caging, bedding, diet and toys in here (click for part one), now we'll proceed to the behaviour, which I think is the most important thing.

BEHAVIOUR

Like any other hedgehog, Joey is a territorial animal, means that he best kept alone, except for the certain time when sexual intercourse may happen. However, they might be able to live together, provided with big cage, like Sue and James.

1. Joey is as I mentioned before, a hyperactive, that means he likes to run around, and that WILL result in him redecorating the entire cage, your decorations, wheel, toys, bed, everything. So, what might be the problem here is the feeding bowl. I'm suggesting that you buy the commercial feeding bowl to ensure that the food doesn't fall on the floor. Something like this:

Or any other feeding bowl that you think is suitable. Something with a wide base for the stability. For the water, give him in a bottle like this:

 This might costs you Rm5++...

2. Besides that, Joey is still a baby. He's 2-months-old, and as human babies, he might poop a lot especially when you're trying to pick him up (though I've never had any experience with Joey poop all over me, just for the warning). I've had the same experience with Sue, but it got over as she grow older. 

3. Joey likes to climb. Pick him up and he'll climb all over you. This wouldn't be a problem unless you didn't cut his toenails, or else, it might hurt you a little bit. 

4. Also, if you find him sniffing on something, then he do a little acrobatic act, bending his back like this:

don't worry. This is called annointing. He'll produce white bubbles from his saliva and put it on his back. He'll do this if he finds new scents and like it.

5. Next, Joey is a baby, and that will put him in a quilling phase. Quilling phase is when he lose his old quills and grow new ones. At this phase, he might be a little bit jumpy, and furious, as it's uncomfortable with him.

CARE AND EMERGENCIES

You might find this section a little bit annoying as well as tiring, but it's what you have to prepare for if you're gonna get a hedgehog.

1. Trim his toenails when you find it's long enough. This is for your own safety actually, cause sharp toenails might hurt you. Of course, there's a way to do it. Just a simple procedure like this:

2. Feed him treat. Treat is as I mentioned, may include vegetation like grapes, oranges, mashed potatoes, or mealworm. This is to make him happier living with you as well as providing enough vitamin.

3. Bleeding or small cut may worry you, but there's the way to treat that. Hold the cut firmly, and apply wet clean towel or clothes, as well as some minyak gamat or olive oil. That'll do the trick. Believe me. He and Sue fight all the time.

4.This might disgust you a little, but hedgehog's health much can be told by the poo. Healthy poop looks like this:

OKay, this is disgusting. Let's scroll down asap.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Okay, that's all I think. haha.. Kbye bitches. Penat tangan menaip tau. Da la tangan aku ni berotot sangat..

Bye =)

Letter to Yaya (Guide for Newbie Hedgehog Owner Part-One)

Dear Yaya,

 I know I didn't write a lot in here,and I know you don't even care, but here are the things I want you to listen carefully and take a note, ok? A'ite. First of all, the hedgehog I'm giving you is Joey. Joey is what I'd say crazy or hyperactive. If he's a boy, he'd climb up unto KLCC and jump headfirst to the ground. If he's a girl, he'd take 3 days shopping spree, talk unstoppable and complain a lot especially when waiter give him blue napkin instead of red, and yes, I hate that! It's okay if you don't understand what I'm blabbering here. First stanza isn't important at all.

Now, Joey, unlike my two other hedgehog, is a hardwork. He eats a lot, plays much, and could be very annoying to my other two. That's why I'm giving you him. 'Cause you're sort of the girl who like action and adventure, I'm sure you'll be a good owner to him. Okay, here are the things you might want to take a note.

CAGE


Hedgehog's cage should be wide enough for him, of course, and the bottom part should be fully covered. This is because hedgehog is an excellent climber, and when he goes to poo poo, he'd like to do it on the corner. In this case, rabbit or guinea pig's cage isn't suitable. Joey's leg might stuck in the hollowed floor, and his poo poo will be scattered outside. U might have to clean that up. I'm suggesting fully enclosed cage like an aquarium, or plastic bottomed cage like this:

or simply something like this

But, u have to make sure that there's enough space for him, and his toys.

DIET

Now, the tricky part. Let's just cut this short, ok? I'm recommending Friskies's Gourmet for cats for Joey. That's what I've been feeding him now. Why Friskies Gourmet? 'Cause it's smaller,and softer than Whiskas (which is the only cat food available at my place). 

If u're intended to chage its menu, then do it slowly. U can mix the old menu to the new one, and increase its quantity daily. If not, he might suffer from diarrhea and tummy ache. Weekly feast may also include some vege and fruits such as carrots, grapes, or potato. He'd like them. U can also feed him mealworms, which can be found at aquarium shops.

TOYS

Ok, this is the part where you supposed be relieved cause  hedgehog don't need much toys. In fact, the most expensive toy would be the wheel. It might be up to Rm100 each. BUT, take a deep breath, I know one man who sells it at RM25. YAY!! It looks like this:

Don't waste your time looking it up on Mudah.my. It isn't there.

Besides wheel, they enjoy playing with the tissue rolls, take a look at James and Joey. =)

They even fight for the tube.

You can add more toys to him, and he'll play with it. I once give him a ping-pong ball, and he likes it very much, pushing it around his brother, and that ended up in fight. Also, U can give him chew toys like the cat's. He love to bite and gnaw, so that might help.

BEDDING

As many of those who protest using pine bedding, experienced owners don't seem like having problem in that issue. Some say pine bedding are poisonous, but this is not proven. However, there are some alternatives to pine bedding, such as newspaper shreds, pellet bedding, etc. FYI, bedding tu benda serbuk kayu yg diletakkan kat bwh tu, Apa2 je lah. dah la aku ni hensem sgt.

Ok then, it's all for now. We'll see more in the 2nd part. =)