Frequently Asked Questions

​​Do you have a waiting list?
No, we are usually able to set up appointments immediately with no wait! Sometimes we run low during certain times of the year. During times like this, we will let you know when the next group will be ready and will tell you to reach out to us then.

How much do you charge?
6-7 week old babies are $300. We often have older babies or rescues available for reduced fees as well. We prefer cash but can also accept zelle, venmo, cashapp, or paypal. 

How does the adoption process work?
When you are here, you can handle all the available babies until you pick which one you want to bring home. We will educate you on hedgehog care and answer all your questions. We send you home with a care packet and a bag of our food. More info here. 

Is there a difference between males and females?
No, there are no differences in size or temperament. Also, hedgehogs do not menstruate, go into heat, or spray. 

​Should you have one or two hedgehogs? 
Hedgehogs are solitary animals who do not need or want companionship. Females, however, will generally tolerate one another in a shared cage so if an owner desires having multiple hedgehogs in one enclosure, they would need girls. You can also have two males in separate enclosures, but they should never be housed together or put in a shared play area without supervision as they're territorial and will fight. Male/female pairs are never allowed. We will not sell opposite sex hedgehogs to the same home under any circumstances. 

Do they hurt to hold?
Yes, they can be sharp! Babies are sharper than adults, due to where they are in the quilling process. You get used to the quills over time, and the more comfortable they get with you, the easier they will be to hold. When relaxed, their spines are no worse then stroking a hairbrush. 

Do they bite?
Anything with teeth can bite, but Hedgehogs hardly ever do since they have quills to use as a defense mechanism so don't have to use their teeth like other small animals. Most bites are because a hedgehog smells something good on your hand (like food or strong scented lotion/perfume/etc). A hedgehog will almost always lick several times before biting, so if you ever get licked you should immediately put your hedgie down and wash your hands. The only other time you may be bitten is if you have a hedgehog feeling trapped and unable to ball up (like when holding them in place for nail clips). Typically hedgehog bites aren't bad, don't break skin, and just feel like finger nails pinching you. You can usually get them to let go by blowing in their face or spraying them with water. Most owners have never been bitten. 
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Do they smell?
Not if you keep up with the cage. Their bodies have no smell, and they do not spray or have scent glands like other pocket pets. Unlike rabbits or guinea pigs, their urine has no strong ammonia smell and they do not soak their cage. They do, however, lack the easy-to-clean pellet poop of most rodents due to their meat-rich diets, and they very often poop as they run on their wheel. If you take a few minutes to spot-clean the bedding and wipe off their wheel, smell will never be a problem. This is even easier if you litter-train your hoglet, which is surprisingly easy!

What is in your starter kits? 
For an additional $50, we can supply you with a 105 qt plastic storage container (which is a good beginner cage for babies), a lid with drilled airholes, a plastic igloo to hide in, a fabric sleeping bag, food and water dishes, some fleece to hide under, some bedding, some toys, a litter scoop, and a baggy of our food. You will need to still get yourself an exercise wheel (the one we recommend - the Carolina Storm Bucketwheel - is handmade and cannot be purchased in bulk so we are unable to sell them here or include them in kits. We recommend ordering one as soon as you can.) You will want to move up to a larger enclosure when your hedgie grows to adult size. We can help you plan and pick out hedgie-safe enclosures for them. ​

Why do people use storage totes for Hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs can't have cages with levels (they have no depth perception), cages with wire bottoms (their feet get stuck), or cages with wire sides (they try to climb and fall, which can cause broken legs). You want a solid sided cage. Plastic totes tend to be easy to clean, easy to transport, are very affordable, and can be found at almost any store. Aquariums work fine as well but hedgies need room to run so you want it to be very big with a lot of floor space.  C&C cages are also a popular choice and you can customize them to whatever size you want. 

​What about rabbit cages with plastic sides for a few inches before the wire?
Hedgehogs find a way to climb. They will hop on their igloo or wedge themselves between the wheel & the wall, and get to those wires very quickly. It's a risk we don't like taking so we greatly prefer our hedgies to live in a solid sided cage. 

What should I buy when making my own set-up?
For the cage itself, you should use a plastic tote, terrarium, C&C, tortoise table, or something else that is one level with fully solid sides and a good amount of ventilation. Wheels are important but the only wheels that are totally safe for hedgies are solid ones with no wires or holes. We recommend bucket wheels like this as they're silent and easy to clean. You also want something for them to sleep & burrow in. (Plastic igloos are popular, as are the sleeping bags we sell here, but anything works - even a cardboard box!). You'll also need small food and water dishes.  You have many bedding options (most people choose kiln-dried pine or carefresh paper pulp bedding). For enrichment, you can provide tubes, tunnels, mylar balls, pompoms, mint sticks, and small plushies. You can check out some of our enclosures here if you could use some ideas. 
​Please bring pictures of any cage or supplies you plan on using so we can make sure it's safe before you put the hedgie into it. More in-depth info on what supplies are and aren't safe for hedgehogs can be found here.

What about temperature?
Your hedgehog's enclosure must be kept 72 degrees or up. If your house is always 72+, you do not require a heat element. If your house regularly is colder than that, you should have a ceramic heat emitter (with thermostat) or a space heater of some kind. A house right on the border (like 71ish) could probably just have a heating pad under the cage. A digital thermometer in the cage can provide some peace of mind. If temp is a concern, reach out to us with some specific info about your house's usual temperature range and we are happy to help you figure out the best heat system and enclosure for your needs. 

What do they eat?
Most people feed their hedgehogs a high-protein cat food. You want the food you choose to be a poultry based formula, have at least 30% protein, and have real ingredients (not a ton of byproducts). We use Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Active Cat, Chicken & Rice Recipe. You can choose what to feed your hedgie later on, but be sure to ease them into it by starting them out with your food and our food mixed.

Can I use the "hedgehog food" at the pet store?
Most "hedgehog foods" you see in pet stores are low quality, lacking in nutrients, and composed entirely of by-products. Cat food has the same nutrients they need except it is available in several luxury brands that contain real deboned chicken as the first ingredient rather than by-products and fillers. However, there are a couple decent hedgehog foods available online (such as Hedgehog Precision) and we support people in using those, but do recommend reaching out to us before ordering one so we can let you know if what you've found online is in fact "one of the good ones". Due to accessibility, we personally prefer using the cat food over the online-only hedgie foods, as it's available at all pet stores and will be easier for our customers to find (and has no wait for shipping). 

What about treats?
​You'll want to focus on protein-based treats such as cooked chicken, eggs, salmon, etc (not salted, seasoned, or buttered), and insects like dubia roaches, crickets, mealworms, etc. Live or canned insects are the most nutricious. Freeze-dried insects have very little nutritional value but tend to gross owners out less. (Note: If you're squeamish, you don't have to feel obligated to feed them insects. They are not required and totally optional!) 
Fruits and veggies are much harder for them to digest so should only be offered occasionally. 
All treats should be given with tongs, tweezers, or in a dish. You do not want them to associate your hand with food.