Once you’ve made the decision to get a hedgehog as a pet, your next question will be ‘where can I find a hedgehog for sale?’ Many people, unfortunately, will first go to their local pet store, however in the world of hedgehogs, this is greatly discouraged. Instead, you need to get your hedgehog either from a breeder, or from a hedgehog rescue organization.

If you are looking for a baby hedgehog or a hoglet as they are affectionately known, you will most likely want to find a good breeder. On the other hand, if you are not set on getting a baby, and wouldn’t mind having an older hedgehog, there are many available through hedgehog rescue operations around the world. Let’s take a look at both options.

Start by checking to see if there is a hedgehog breeder in your area. You can easily find this out by checking your local newspaper, or through online resources, such as the Hedgehog Breeders Alliance, at http://hedgehogbreederalliance.org/. If there are no breeders in your area, there is the possibility that owning or breeding hedgehogs in your geographical location is illegal. You need to find this out, by contacting your local game and fish department or commission.

If hedgehogs are allowed, you can find a breeder that is not in your local area, and have a hedgehog shipped to you. If a breeder knows what he or she is doing, shipping a hedgehog is perfectly safe. Hedgehogs are shipped by air, and this doesn’t seem to bother the hedgehogs much. A hedgehog should never be shipped by ground services, such as Fed Ex or UPS.

It costs approximately $100 to $200 to have a hedgehog shipped by air, depending on the starting and ending locations. The breeder will need to obtain a veterinary health certificate, and the hedgehog must be shipped in a kennel designed for shipping.

If you decide to go with a hedgehog rescue operation to obtain your hedgehog, the chances are good that your hedgehog will be shipped to you. However, rescue operations are generally very good about ensuring that you are getting a healthy hedgehog, or that you are aware of any health problems the animal may have. While the shipping costs may be about the same, the cost of the hedgehog will generally be a great deal cheaper than that charged by breeders.

If you absolutely must purchase your hedgehog from your local pet store, there are several things that you should be aware of. Make sure that the hedgehogs have fresh water and food in the cage. Make sure that they have been provided with toys and hiding places, and that there is an exercise wheel in the cage. Make sure that people are allowed to handle the hedgehogs as well, to ensure that they are socialized.

You may have to be patient in your search for a hedgehog, but you will find one, and when you do, it will be the right hedgehog for you, and you will be glad that you had that patience.

Hopefully, before you bring your new hedgehog home, you will have adequate housing for him. Housing for hedgehogs doesn’t necessarily have to take up a great deal of space. It does, however, need to be good enough to contain him. Most hedgehogs are known as escape artists.

Plastic or glass containers should be your first choices. Wire cages are seldom suitable for hedgehogs, even if they have solid floors. Small hedgehogs are known for getting their heads caught between the bars. If you are using plastic or glass enclosures make sure that you keep them out of the sun as they can get too hot and injure or kill your hedgehog. Large aquariums with mesh tops are ideal for hedgehogs.

Of course, housing your hedgehog entails more than a suitable enclosure. You must also consider what is required inside of the enclosure. One of the first things you will need is a source of heat, unless you keep the room where your hedgehog is housed between 75 and 85 degrees. You can provide your hedgehog with a heating pad, placed under his bedding.

The bottom of the enclosure should be covered with bedding materials. Avoid using cedar wood chips, as these chips cause respiratory problems. Suitable materials include aspen shavings, newspaper, and pelleted paper. All types of bedding can be purchased from your local pet store, or from online sources. Price will be a concern, because bedding has to be replaced often.

If your hedgehog is litter trained, or being litter trained, he will require a litter box, which should have appropriate litter material for hedgehogs, such as non-clumping cat litter, wood shavings, or shredded newspaper.

Your hedgehog will need at least one place inside his cage that is designated for sleeping. It should be soft, and it should allow him to hide while sleeping. Many hedgehog owners like to use Hedgie Bags, which can be purchased in pet stores, or online. You can also provide your hedgehog with igloos, which are essentially small, plastic bowls turned upside down, with a doorway cut out.

Of course, he needs toys and his exercise wheel, but he also needs plenty of room to move around. He will enjoy pushing and pulling his toys, and he will also enjoy a bit of climbing. Just make sure that he cannot get out of his cage through the top, but don’t close it off in a way that cuts down his ventilation.

Finally, your hedgehog will need food and water dishes. Instead of a water dish, however, you may opt for a water bottle, if your hedgehog will use a water bottle. Crock bowls are ideal for food and water, and they should be cleaned and refilled daily.

The hedgehogs cage should be cleaned out at least once a week, although you will have fewer problems with odor if you make it a point to clean out the hedgehogs housing twice a week, and if you scoop the litter box, or remove feces and wet paper daily.