Hello. My daughter is considering getting Hedgehogs as pets and has done lots of research, except 2 things are not clear -
One: how do you sex them?
Two: can you keep more than one in a large cage? (same sex/opposite sex)?
thanks
i am in Alberta - they are legal as pets and live long lives in captivity. My daughter is 15 and very experienced with pets and animals.
Anonymous
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I own four of them, and have found that they make wonderful pets as long as they are handled daily. Males are fairly obvious in their gender, as they have what may appear to be a "belly button" towards the middle of their stomachs which is really the penis. The best way to find out if one is male or female is to get a small glass tank, have it be completely empty, and put the hedgehog in it. Hold the tank above your head and wait for the hedgehog to start wandering around. You will get a clear view of the underside of the hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals and prefer to be alone. However, I have housed my females together, and have housed my neutered male with one of my young females with great success. If you are going to get two and house them together, do not get males. They will fight. Sometimes females will fight, too, so it is generally best to house them separately.
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Hedgehogs are territorial so they will tend to fight if you put them in a cage together.
That said it seems that if the living space is large enough some males and most females will live happily together.
http://www.hedgehogsaspets.com/22/
(see the comment at the bottom)
What's also interesting in the comment is how closely regulated keeping pet hedgehogs is in Switzerland.
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probable no. they're unique animals. they are not rather intense maintenance yet they do require an outstanding type of interest to weight-reduction plan, and particularly a honest volume of area. you in addition to mght might desire to safeguard them particularly an outstanding type of the time for them to become tame and friendly, maximum 12 years in basic terms dont have the dedication. i might start up with a extra basic puppy you will get suggestion on contained in the community puppy shop and vet, rather than a mild unique.
zakiit
hedgehogs are a wild and protected species. You cannot keep them as pets. Care is highly specialised and most do not survive in captivity. End of.
Salmon
I found this about sexing them.
http://www.hedgehogworld.com/content/view/86/42/
As far as I know, they are solitary animals and should be kept on their own.