Going from one to two

[mommy2ryan]

What do I need to know if we added a second hedgie? We are just thinking of it but nothing definate. Do they interact at all or are they mostly solitary?

[Tails]

What do I need to know if we added a second hedgie? We are just thinking of it but nothing definate. Do they interact at all or are they mostly solitary?

I don't really know a lot about them yet but have been researching. From what I've read putting 2 males together doesn't work period! I also read about 2 females and some say it kind of works but it doesn't seem too promising. I think they like to be alone. Maybe they can play together though and get along durng out-time?

[Aqua-Net]

I only wanted one. I thought I could only handle one. Rilla was my hedgehog princess. She has quills, but doesn't know what to do with them. Why get another hedgie when you already have perfection. BUT, I believe in karma so I took in a foster hedgehog, Tiegen. Tiegen huffed and puffed and balled up tight. I called her the THP (Temporary HedgePig) to keep from getting too attached. I improved her diet, her skin, her socialization level. All while keeping the two of them in seperate rooms. One day, both their cages had to go in the same room. That was the night that Tiegen escaped. I found her, but the next night she escaped again. So did Rilla. I found them together. The next night, they escaped together. I returned them both to their seperate cages. Do you see where this went? Today, they can still be found every morning curled up together. They chose to live together and it just took me a little bit longer to "get with the program". And I couldn't be happier. I love just how vastly different their personalities are.

Now that said, it varies from hedgie to hedgie and females often seem better than males at living together. One of the HWS newsletters mentioned this topic and I seem to remember that the outcome was that they really aren't as solitary as previously thought. Try the link below for the article. Good luck!

http://www.users.nac.net/hedgehogwelfare/newsletters/newsletter_16.pdf

[Lc51290]

Yes, definatly don't put two males together. Some males can get along with other but to me it seems like way to big of a risk.
Hedgehogs are mostly soliary yet SOME females can get along. I have found they get along best if they have been raised together. Its hard to judge which hedgehogs will get along with others; my Emma is one of the friendliest hedgehogs yet the only other hedgies she likes are her babies.
I didn't think I would want anymore than one hedgehog but now I have five :rolleyes:. Anyway good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[Tails]

See now I'm all confused. The breeder I'm getting my boy from, and who I would think know this, offered me a discount if I bought the boys as a pair. It sounds like they are still living together??? They are brothers (but not babies anymore at least 4 months I believe) so does that mean they might get along, or maybe they are and then later won't?

[Nancy]

I wouldn't risk two boys together. There are some rare cases of males living together with no problem but usually that is not the case.
They may get along fine for quite some time but then some morning you may find one has killed the other. At 4 months they are just into puberty which is when the problems start. I personally don't think it is worth the risk. If you want two, get sisters. :)

[Tails]

I wouldn't risk two boys together. There are some rare cases of males living together with no problem but usually that is not the case.
They may get along fine for quite some time but then some morning you may find one has killed the other. At 4 months they are just into puberty which is when the problems start. I personally don't think it is worth the risk. If you want two, get sisters. :)

Oh no I'm not risking it I just couldn't figure out why she wanted me to take two boys as a pair. I'm perfectly happy with one for now. Maybe years down the road after I know more about hedgies I will get a female and breed, especially since there are no hedgies around here. But for now I'm happy with my little guy being single so I can spoil him more! Like the saying goes "you gotta spoil the first one!"

[HamorHollow]

Maybe years down the road after I know more about hedgies I will get a female and breed, especially since there are no hedgies around here. But for now I'm happy with my little guy being single so I can spoil him more! Like the saying goes "you gotta spoil the first one!"

Very smart move! It's always good to own one throughout its life to get to know the species before you decide to jump into breeding. Too many people get one hedgehog and decide that it's cute and that they want to breed it. *sigh*

[mommy2ryan]

I have no desire to breed. I am too attached and would rather leave that to the experts:)

[aine93]

Having 2 female hedgehogs can be a lot of fun. Many females enjoy the companionship of another animal and will play together and snuggle together. However, there is no guaruntee that two girls will get along with each other. They need to be introduced slowly, and you would need to be prepared to house them on thier own if they didnt get along.

I would never recommend two boys living together. They are highly territorial and even if they are co-habitating well initially, this can change at any time. Better to be separate and safe.