Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question below to see the answer:
"How much are your hedgehogs?"
Our hoglets are $250 on average.
Adults are $50-$200 depending on age and temperament.
You can find more information on our policies page.
Adults are $50-$200 depending on age and temperament.
You can find more information on our policies page.
"When will a hedgehog be available?"
There is often a waitlist for our holgets. If you compare the waitlist to the future litters page you can get an idea of how long the wait is.
We are unable to predict how many hoglets a female will have, if any, and hoglets can be very fragile, so the wait time is an educated guess.
We often have more males than females available.
Our females are given a 6 month rest between litters, sometimes more. We do this to keep them healthy, physically and mentally. Healthy mothers raise healthy hoglets!
Adult hedgehogs are only available when we retire one of our herd members from breeding or when a hedgehog is returned to us.
If there are no adults posted on the website, then there are no adults available. Females are usually retired from breeding around 2 years old for health reasons. Males are retired as needed for space and genetic diversity reasons.
We are unable to predict how many hoglets a female will have, if any, and hoglets can be very fragile, so the wait time is an educated guess.
We often have more males than females available.
Our females are given a 6 month rest between litters, sometimes more. We do this to keep them healthy, physically and mentally. Healthy mothers raise healthy hoglets!
Adult hedgehogs are only available when we retire one of our herd members from breeding or when a hedgehog is returned to us.
If there are no adults posted on the website, then there are no adults available. Females are usually retired from breeding around 2 years old for health reasons. Males are retired as needed for space and genetic diversity reasons.
"Why do I need to send pictures of my setup?"
We want to be sure that new owners are setup for success and that our hedgehogs will have an easy time transitioning to their new home. It hurts all involved if we send a hedgehog to a home that is not prepared.
Even with all the information we provide we have still received pictures of inappropriate, and sometimes flat out dangerous, setups. We have seen pictures of tiny hamster cages and huge 5-story ferret cages. Heat is the most common thing people overlook. We have had people insist that they don't need a heat setup because the guy at the pet store said they don't, or because their house never gets below 65F (this temperature would kill a hedgehog). On a few occasions we have turned people away because they just can't seem to understand what a hedgehog needs. Whether it's because they refuse to research or they don't believe hedgehogs are truly an exotic with unique needs, we're not sure.
After all of these preventive measures, we have still had a few people call after taking their hoglet home because it is showing early signs of hibernation (grumpy, not eating, etc). Each time we have found that the people are keeping their hedgehog at a lower temperature than we suggest.
To be blunt, it does no good to send a hoglet to an unprepared home just to get a call within a day or two saying the hoglet has died and the buyer is blaming us. We have never had this call and we want to keep it that way!
Even with all the information we provide we have still received pictures of inappropriate, and sometimes flat out dangerous, setups. We have seen pictures of tiny hamster cages and huge 5-story ferret cages. Heat is the most common thing people overlook. We have had people insist that they don't need a heat setup because the guy at the pet store said they don't, or because their house never gets below 65F (this temperature would kill a hedgehog). On a few occasions we have turned people away because they just can't seem to understand what a hedgehog needs. Whether it's because they refuse to research or they don't believe hedgehogs are truly an exotic with unique needs, we're not sure.
After all of these preventive measures, we have still had a few people call after taking their hoglet home because it is showing early signs of hibernation (grumpy, not eating, etc). Each time we have found that the people are keeping their hedgehog at a lower temperature than we suggest.
To be blunt, it does no good to send a hoglet to an unprepared home just to get a call within a day or two saying the hoglet has died and the buyer is blaming us. We have never had this call and we want to keep it that way!
"Are hedgehog quills sharp?"
Yes. Hedgehog quills are hard and pokey. When a hedgehog is upset they roll into a ball are make their quills erect. Yes, it is uncomfortable to handle them at this stage.
When a hedgehog is happy their quills lay flat and petting them feels similar to petting a hairbrush.
When a hedgehog is happy their quills lay flat and petting them feels similar to petting a hairbrush.
"Can I meet your available hedgehogs so that I can pick one?"
No. I am happy to send videos and give my honest assessment of their personality but nobody gets to meet their hedgehog until it is time to take the hedgehog home. Hoglets are fragile and the stress of traveling, being handled by strangers, and being exposed to germs is not good for them.
The few times I even attempted this the hoglets the people wanted to see were reserved before we had a chance to meet.
The few times I even attempted this the hoglets the people wanted to see were reserved before we had a chance to meet.
"Why should I buy from you?"
We put our hedgehogs first. Our hedgehogs have prompt vet care and are fed high-quality food. We track pedigrees and gathered our herd from reputable breeders all over the US to promote genetic diversity and lessen the risk of inherited diseases. We are USDA and PACFA licensed meaning we must submit to multiple surprise inspections of our home each year. All of this means you are purchasing a healthy and genetically sound hedgehog that came from parents who are well cared for and loved within a family environment. For our breeding program we select the friendliest hedgehogs and socialize our hoglets in our home around our children and dogs so that you can expect a sweet and well-adjusted hoglet.
Pet shops often buy their hedgehogs wholesale from mills. Males and females are typically housed together and it's not uncommon for the females to be pregnant at the time of sale. Other times the pet stores will buy retired breeding adults for cheap from unethical breeders eager to get rid of them.
Backyard breeders (BYBs) are breeders that buy their hedgehogs from poor sources (such as pet stores) and jump into breeding without proper research. They typically do not track pedigrees and have no idea if their breeding stock is related. Their breeding practices are questionable such as breeding too often, disturbing the nest too early, failing to get necessary vet care, and ignorance of how to deal with emergency situations.
They are able to sell their hedgehogs "cheap" because they don't have expenses such as licensing, vet care, or shipping hedgehogs from out of state to bring healthy lines and new diversity to their herd.
Pet shops often buy their hedgehogs wholesale from mills. Males and females are typically housed together and it's not uncommon for the females to be pregnant at the time of sale. Other times the pet stores will buy retired breeding adults for cheap from unethical breeders eager to get rid of them.
Backyard breeders (BYBs) are breeders that buy their hedgehogs from poor sources (such as pet stores) and jump into breeding without proper research. They typically do not track pedigrees and have no idea if their breeding stock is related. Their breeding practices are questionable such as breeding too often, disturbing the nest too early, failing to get necessary vet care, and ignorance of how to deal with emergency situations.
They are able to sell their hedgehogs "cheap" because they don't have expenses such as licensing, vet care, or shipping hedgehogs from out of state to bring healthy lines and new diversity to their herd.
"The guy at the pet store said (insert bad/contradictory information)."
Is the guy at the pet store going to pay your vet bills or replace your hoglet when their bad advice causes problems?
The truth is that most pet store staff does not have correct information or extensive experience with hedgehogs, but they're not allowed to tell you this (or maybe they don't realize it). They're also not allowed to tell you that a product their store carries is bad. Their purpose is to sell you things and make money for the store. If their store carries hedgehog food, they're probably going to try to sell you hedgehog food.
I highly recommend following the advice of the breeder that has raised your animal. They've done their research and provided the best advice they have available. Your breeder is also the one that will be helping you if you have issues, not the stranger at the pet store.
The truth is that most pet store staff does not have correct information or extensive experience with hedgehogs, but they're not allowed to tell you this (or maybe they don't realize it). They're also not allowed to tell you that a product their store carries is bad. Their purpose is to sell you things and make money for the store. If their store carries hedgehog food, they're probably going to try to sell you hedgehog food.
I highly recommend following the advice of the breeder that has raised your animal. They've done their research and provided the best advice they have available. Your breeder is also the one that will be helping you if you have issues, not the stranger at the pet store.
