I saw one!!

[TGoss]

Hey guys i just went to my pet store and they had a hedgie :hyper: :hyper: . Is it ok to buy one from the pet store? It looked really small but cute and its quills were back not up!

[HogMom2B]

I have heard both good and bad things about petstore hogs. The hard thing is you don't know where they came from, like you would if you got it from a breeder...therefore you don't know how healthy it's bloodlines are. Then again I have heard of many that were just fine health wise and great pets as well. It is totally up to you. I know that if I fell in love with a petstore hedgie I would get it, but that is just me...I can't turn down love. You just have to know that there is some risk involved. Then again some pet stores do a good job and get their hogs from breeders, so I'd say just ask a a lot of questions and get as much info as possible :) Good luck!!

[TGoss]

the hedgie had a big cage...

[hemi_mygirl]

It's not recommended, but my girl came from a petstore, and she's been an awesome pet. She was terrified of people at first, but has come around in the year and some I've had her to become a completely tame pet.

The thing about petstores is they don't feed them proper food, nor do they keep proper records for them. I was told Hemi was 3 months old, but she could barely eat kibble on her own, so that tells me she was younger.

Just use your discretion, and follow your instinct. Don't make an impulse buy, and you'll be fine.

[Emilys_Exotics]

Some pet stores are great, and obviously care a great deal for thier animals. If all their animal cages are clean, the animals have plenty of fresh water, and a good quality food, then sure, the hedgie should be fine. Do ask lots of questions, and see if you can find anything out about the hedgies backgrounds. It did come from someone who bred hedgies, whether on purpose or had an accidental litter, dunno, but you probably wont' know a full genetic background on it. A pet store hedgie should be a pet only hedgie--don't want unknown health problems getting into a breeding line, but could make a fine pet. Bottom line, I would say, is does the animal appear to be healthy and in good condition, and is the pet store one that you would want to support? There is a local pet store near me that I never go into because he takes horrible care of his animals. I would never buy anything from him because I don't want to support his business. I'm sure he's had hedgies in and I know he has sold (and probably still does sell) some things illegal to sell and I know I would be tempted to rescue any hedgies he does have. So I just don't go in. He'll only get more and have more business. He should not profit from me. However, there are some pet stores that are great, and I shop there to support them. If they sell animals, I would not have a problem buying an animal from them, if it were an animal that would fit into my life (not an impulse purchase). Bottom line, I wouldn't buy supplies from a store where I wouldn't feel comfortable buying their animals. So use your best judgement, and if you do get him, give him a happy pet home for life!

Emily

[LandonC]

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Emilys Exotics. There are good and bad pet stores. I know a pet store around my place thats manager has 6 hedgies. She takes the hedgies they get in out of there cage before the store opens and plays with them.

If it is apparent the hedgies aren't neglected, I'd say go for it. I'm sure there will be someone who disagrees with me and for that, I'm sorry.

[Nancy]

There are good and bad petstores just like there are good and bad breeders. If there is a good breeder near you then that is the best route to go but some petstores are fine and not all petstore hedgehogs are sickly or will end up with a genetic illness.

Just research wherever you are thinking of getting the hedgehog from and if you have any concerns or something just doesn't feel right then go elsewhere. :)

[TGoss]

its already sold:(! I know its brand new hedgie to pet store cause its right next to my house and i go to it atleast 3 times a week and this was the first time for me to see it. It was very active and VERY healthy.

[HedgeMom]

A pet shop hedgehog may not end up sick, but I guarantee that most come from mills where the hedgehogs are bred to death and the weak ones tossed in a bin to die. I guarantee that no one paid any attention to the genetics and won't care whether that animal carries WHS or not and I guarantee that the money you spend will just continue to fuel the animal mills that mistreat and abuse the pet shop providers.

If every single person stopped buying animals from pet shops, the mills would go out of business. By supporting pet shops, you support the mills. And no matter what the shop says, the chances that they got their stock from a "small local breeder who cares" is slim to none. Any local breeder who cares would sell them theirselves.

[treva.]

Any local breeder who cares would sell them theirselves.

Good point.