Background of HogSpot

Hogspot was developed out of a love of Hedgehogs and years of experience...

There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to African Pygmy Hedgehogs. Years ago I became confused as a new owner between the different hedgehogs groups and websites opinions and directives. With hedgehogs being newer pets, advise has changed in a short space of time and improved.  I soon learnt through experience and that of others but it took years to really know what's right....

Once upon a time and not song long ago,  hedgehogs were advised to be kept in glass tanks and even on sawdust. This led to 'nose rubbing' where hedgehogs injured their faces rubbing their noses against the glass and respiratory infections from the sawdust. Even now with many keeping hedgehogs in vivariums, people don't realize these vivariums should have extra ventilation due to them  not  being aerated enough for mammals as meant for reptiles. I've spent years researching and watching stories unfold on forums and groups and from speaking in the community as well as vets to find what is actually true and the best Husbandry advise for owners and potential owners or just those interested.

I initially started  my own support group with a friend which took of slowly and has been a help to many owners. I began receiving messages and helping new owners as well as often stepping in to help save babies from poor breeding situations. Sadly 'Back Yard Breeding' is an issue as well as 'Club Breeding'. Some people use the APH UK (not an official legal license) to over charge and sell products or push opinion as fact that isn't always right but much worse is a Back Yard Breeder who over breeds and inbreeds hedgehogs to make quick money. If you visit a site and see a baby for a low price like 80 to 130 pounds then it is sadly very likely this is the case (not always). I see adverts regularly of babies kept in hey and straw, clearly spiked up as scared and fed incorrectly and offered cheaply by someone who didn't research and decided to breed for quick cash. It breaks my heart especially when breeding hedgehogs is very difficult and comes with great risk and even loss.

After having babies (responsibly with known genetics and at the correct age and health.) I fell in love with having these tiny little things and seeing them grow. Handling them daily and adapting them to be cuddly and healthy little hogs. It was amazing for my sons to see and learn how to be gentle with tiny babies and see them grow up. I was determined to breed ethically and for the betterment of hedgehogs. All the babies were friendly and tame which often isn't the case as some babies haven't been given the time or bred from poor temperament. My babies have had great parents and genetics with some amazing colourings. It soon became a hobby and it taught me so much . It also meant all my friends and family loved to see baby hedgehogs. And the novelty of these babies and just seeing and holding a hedgehog in general .

Eventually I realized that I could share the enjoyment of African Pygmy Hedgehogs with everyone. I could raise awareness for wild hedgehogs and correct Husbandry advise for African Pygmy Hedgehogs amongst other general information, all whilst letting people cuddle them and watch them run around. Generally just share how cute and wonderful they are. People don't expect to be able to stroke their spikes or hear that they make little sounds like a hog snuffling. The name Hedge'HOG' comes from the snuffling noises they make and their preference to sleep under hedges and trees. I love sharing hedgehogs facts and teaching others. So officially began HogSpot after many years of Hedgehogs in our lives...

 

 

The 3 main Hedgehog Heartbreak Stories that stuck in my head which I hope can warn others:

TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️

Overheated Baby:

I received a message from a lady in a panic one morning after her little on seemed really unwell. She has a baby that had always been kept around 20 degrees without a direct heat source but in a safely warm house. However she joined a certain Facebook group with a strong reputation and was berated for not having a CHE set to 26 degrees  (central Heat emitter) and quickly rushed out to buy on one and hooked it up before she went to bed assuming all would be fine. She got up and checked on her baby before leaving to work to find him very unwell. He was lethargic and 'splatted' out, his water bowl was empty and he had laboured breathing.  The vets couldn't see her till 11am and she messaged me to see what to do. I knew right away he had overheated and quickly advised she place him on a mirror (steady cold surface) to cool him down gradually . Sadly he was too dehydrated and did pass at the vets . The very very sad lesson is to always maintain what your hedgehog is adapted to temperature wise. Not every hedgehog is the same . Due to them being newer pets, some are adapted differently than others but all need to be kept at a minimum of room temp.

 

2) The boy with his spikes cut off.

This was heartbreaking. I bought a boy from a BYB who was 3 years old and no longer wanted.She just wanted rid of him as had finished Breeding and didn't seem to have any care for him. He arrived balding and jumpy. After much messaging it turned out his spines has been cut by her child to try make him handle-able as they rarely picked him.and suddenly her son wanted to play with him. In cutting his spines he had developed a really bad fungal infection which was worsened by mites. I quickly bought athletes foot cream to treat his fungal infection and Besphar mite treatment. I spent months loving him and eventually his spines grew back and he became very active and loved till the grand old age of 6. He was lovely in the end but never trusting and still jumpy at times. 

 

3) Bad breeding:

Sadly it's a regular occurrence on groups to see someone have a surprise litter after buying a hedgehog. This can be as a result of a bad breeder or someone misinformed allowing their hedgehogs 'playtime'. Thankfully it's much much more common on American  groups than the UK for babies being bought pregnant.

One incident really stuck in my head. There was a girl around 18 on a hedgehog group who wouldn't listen when she was told to separate her hedgehogs as she thought they were 'Friends'. She had had a girl for 2 months then bought a boy and put them in a cage together.  Sure enough, 35 days later babies were born. After much argument she removed the male yet sadly though one baby had already been eaten.  She then couldn't just leave mum alone and only approach her cage to feed as advised. Ac long story short: only one baby made it to 3 days and I stepped in.  I had to hand feed this baby and hoped for the best.  Baby only made it to 4 weeks old despite my best efforts however.  They didn't seem to be growing and I fed them every 2 hours then 4 hours etc as supposed to. It then turned out mum and dad were siblings and likely the baby had some genetic defects explaining why they didn't develop past 3 weeks old and continue to  grow . It was truly heart breaking.

 

Please if you own a hedgehogs don't breed without a mentor, experience and a lot of research.  Genetics and temperament is important.  

Don't ever cut  their spines. Have patience !

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR HEDGEHOG AT THE TEMPERATURE THEY ARE USED TO AND ADAPTED TO.