A Buddy For My Hedgie?

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

I was wondering, if I should seriously consider getting a buddy for my hog. He's a single standard color male with a sweet personality. I feel somewhat bad that he doesn't make another hedgie to play with. I mean he likes chasing the dog and stealing toys from my gliders... but what about another hog?

I want to seriously consider this. Such as what sex should be placed with him, how to introduce two... or if it would even be a good idea...

What do you think? :confused:

[Ododad]

Hi, and welcome to the board!
You will find quite a few hedgie lovers here. :)
In the wild, hedgehogs are solitary creatures. Two females may get along, usually a mother/daughter team but two males will always fight. A male and a female will constantly mate, over and over. So, I am sorry to say that your hedgie will do better by himself.
All he needs for company, is you! :)

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

Oh that's not good, I don't want to breed. Maybe a couple more hedgies around the house could be fun, but not a million, lol. Could I possibly consider a neutering or is that not done/safe on hedgies? I never thought about neutering or spaying my hedgie before.

He may only need my company but I do feel bad for him, poor little guy. My gliders are all paired up so they have another glider for company... and my dog is ALWAYS by my side no matter what... but my hedgie... he doesn't have anyone to snuggle with all the time.

[kaiteedyd]

Like Ododad said hedgehogs do not enjoy the company of other hedgehogs. You don't need to feel sorry for your guy. If you're looking to enrich his life ,though, you may consider providing him with live food to hunt. Hide mealworms around his cage. I bet he'd really love that. Have you tried giving him toilet paper tubes? Hedgehogs love to stick their heads in them :)

There is no need to spay or neuter you hedgehog. It's not a common procedure and the risk your pet would die far outweighs any benefit.

[oXo_HogMom_oXo]

Lol, yep. I cut a nice slice out of the toilet papper roll so that when he sticks his head in there he won't get totally stuck. It's funney to watch him. He'll flip it over and stick his head in there and then pushes up against the bars so that his head fits in between the slit I made and he wears it like a hat. Crazy guy. :laugh:

Alright thanks guys! No neauter or spay for hedgies and it's perfectly alright that he's alone. Thankies! :D

[Ododad]

Cool! I can't wait to see a photo, what's his name? How old is he? What color? What treats does he like?
Tell us all about him,, and yourself!
Photo's are a requirement on this board! :)

[PrettyHate]

Ditto to what everyone else says. I doubt that getting him neutered would make any difference. It would kinna be like getting me "spayed"- Im antisocial, doesnt matter if I was fixed or not- Id still dislike the company of others LOL

Agree with Billy! We want pictures and more info about your new guy!! :)

[Ododad]

Lol, yep. I cut a nice slice out of the toilet papper roll so that when he sticks his head in there he won't get totally stuck. It's funney to watch him. He'll flip it over and stick his head in there and then pushes up against the bars so that his head fits in between the slit I made and he wears it like a hat. Crazy guy. :laugh:

Alright thanks guys! No neauter or spay for hedgies and it's perfectly alright that he's alone. Thankies! :D
One more thing, make sure he gets plenty of freedom time! (time out of his cage). Hedgehogs LOVE to explore and in the wild will cover a very large area each night forging for food. I have enclosed my entire living room with little pet fences that can be viewed in my gallery and my crew has the roam of the living room every night. I alternate nights with the two males (there is so much room, I haven't had a problem with them not getting along yet, but I keep a very careful eye on them) and then Odo, my pride and joy female! If your hedgie is "tubing" with a tp tube now, let him out on freedom time and watch him go!
Just make sure there is nothing he can get stuck under, nothing he can get a leg trapped in or a toe nail caught up in and nothing he can swallow that might choke him or posion him. Just kinda "hedgie proof" the area that he will have for freedom time. You will see in a few nights of freedom time how much he will love it!

[lyndaj]

Well there's one other possibility, buy a new home for a new hedgy. That way you could have two!

[glamgal]

yup, that's what I'm doing :) We're getting a second hedgie with a second cage, my fiancee and I spend too much time arguing over who gets to snuggle with Juni!! (well, I guess if that's the worst thing we have to argue about we're pretty lucky:))