I get to join you guys soon!

[TashaR]

I'm getting my first hedgie at the end of March! He's an adult male who's a little cranky, so I thought I'd see how I did with him. I'm also thinking about getting a little girl that I saw online...but am not sure yet. I am not planning on breeding hedgies until I know way more and am not planning to breed the adult male I'm getting. His name, by the way, is Pop but that might change. I was just wondering what everyone learned AFTER they brought their hedgies home that they wished they'd known before...toys that were a big hit, things to do and things not to do. I read a little about vellux lining but think I'm going to go with a more absorbant litter (aspen or carefresh?) because I've heard negative things. I'm a complete newbie to hedgies so I'm going to read around and see what everyone does but any advice would be welcome!!

[Paris_Honey]

Congratulations! :applause: Where did you see your hedgie online at?Just Curious(sp?) :)

[paris26]

Welcome to the club Tasha! We should start a Wisconsin Hedgie Club :)

[kaiteedyd]

I wish I had realized how loud they get at night. I'm a light sleeper and they noise always kept me awake. I now sleep with earplugs in every night.

[shirleytx]

Thankfully Daisy is in my Dining room it can be quite overwhelming at night with her wheeling along with 6 wheeling hamsters.

[Jessicy]

congrats....and welcome to the world of hedgie demands!

[Vampira_666]

Congrats, can't wait to see some pics once you little hog is home and all settled in :)

[teela1342]

Hmm . . . what do I wish I had known?

I got Jake as a spur of the moment rescue, so I wasn't extremely well researched, but here it goes:

:| the time factor - I knew I had to spend time with him. But I had to adjust to the solid daily attention thing. He is/was very grouchy, so it is not lovey cuddly time. I am lazy. My dog is lazy. I had to get into a groove of playing and interacting with Jake, who is more energetic than me and Bisa together.

:Pukey: the poop wheel factor - I never read how much they poop in their wheels until AFTER I got him. I was relieved to know it was common and he wasn't just a dirty freak.

:confused: the conflicting info factor - Hedgies are not common pets, so there isn't a lot of solid info on their care. I finally had to distill all the mountains of info about them down to common sense, trial and error, and trusted source advice. I proudly admit that I mostly use newspaper in his cage. He and I are just fine with that.

:banghead: the escape artist factor - worse than any other small animal I have ever owned! I swear, he just outsmarted me and I gave up. He was escaping left and right, so I hedgieproofed my room (not hard cause its so small!) and hoped for the best. He stays put most of the night and escapes in the early morning to sleep in my dirty laundry. It is a compromise.

:love2: the mysterious attaction factor - At one point in my life, I have had almost every kind of fish, reptile, common small animal, cat, and dog. I have to admit to being solidly a dog person. Most other animals bore me and have little personality. I don't know what I was thinking when I took Jake in, but I am so glad I did. There is almost no day where he doesn't make me giggle. He is mean, unfriendly, grumpy, picky, ornery, sneaky, poopy, stubborn and messy. He crackes me up. I would totally love another one just like him. Go figure.

Good luck on your new one. Tell us how it goes. I am sure you will have your own surprises to share with us.

[TashaR]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

I saw some pictures of "pinto" hedgie on Vicky's site...I am in LOVE! LOL. I think I'm going to head down to one of those reptile shows they go to to check it out and pick up a wheel for my new boy. I cannot wait to meet him!

[shirleytx]

He is mean, unfriendly, grumpy, picky, ornery, sneaky, poopy, stubborn and messy. He crackes me up. I would totally love another one just like him. Go figure.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: