Yes, hedgehogs absolutely need a constant supply of fresh, clean water, and while water bottles are common for pet hedgehogs, shallow bowls are a great, more natural option, especially for wild hedgehogs or babies, as long as they are heavy enough not to tip and shallow enough to prevent drowning. Bowls provide easy access and are often preferred for their natural drinking method, but bottles are less messy, though they can pose risks like tooth damage or aspiration if not used correctly.
A better source of drinking water for your hedgehog is either a waterer or a water bowl. These provide a more natural approach to drinking, allowing your hedgehog to lap and swallow as nature intended it to. However, hedgehogs that burrow may get their bedding in their bowl or tip it over.
Leaving food and fresh water out in the garden each night will encourage visiting hedgehogs to return regularly. Try tinned meaty cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Place the food and water in shallow bowls so they can access them easily. Refresh daily, disposing of food if it's not been eaten.
In the wild, hedgehogs sip from dew, puddles, and ponds. In towns, these sources are scarce — making a simple shallow bowl of water in your garden one of the most helpful things you can provide. Never give milk; it causes digestive upset. Fresh water, topped up daily, is perfect.
Average temperature should be kept around 70-85°F. Provide supplemental heat with under-tank heating pads and radiant heat emitters as needed. The cage should also be placed where he/she will experience both day and night. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, but they do need periods of light and darkness to remain healthy.
Only solid bottom cages are suitable for hedgehogs, any wire bottom cages could trap their legs or rip off toenails. Provide a soft bedding free of dust, such as recycled paper pellets or if you use wood shavings use only kiln dried pine or aspen. Do not use cedar shavings as they could irritate your hedgehog's lungs.
This decline is partly due to a loss of natural habitat, which provides both shelter and food for hedgehogs. Fencing, pesticides, garden hazards (like ponds, strimmers and netting) and development and construction also have an impact. And of course, cars are a major threat to hedgehogs, killing thousands each year.
Adult Hedgehog Looking Busy - Leave Alone
And nursing mothers may take a break from the nest during the day to go and look for food and water. So, if you see a decent-sized adult out and about looking busy during the day it is probably fine and you should leave it to go about its business.
As pets, hedgehogs can recognize and remember their owners' scent and voice, making them a loyal and affectionate companion. They can also quickly learn routines and habits, such as when it's time to eat or play.
Hedgehogs should have constant access to clean, fresh drinking water. They will drink from a bowl, but many pet parents use a bottle on the side of the cage. Use water that is safe for human consumption. Pet parents typically offer bottled or filtered tap water, based on water quality.
Description. Made in the UK, this plastic bowl can be used for food or water and is the perfect height for hedgehogs. Approx diameter 13cm (51⁄4”) height 2.5 cm (1”).
Signs of stress
Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously. It is almost as if the hedgehog is saying “Sensory overload. I can't take it anymore.”
What not to feed hedgehogs. Hedgehogs need a balanced diet with a calcium to phosphorus ratio between 1:1 and 2:1. Foods outside this range can lead to serious health problems like Metabolic Bone Disease. Avoid giving mealworms, sunflower hearts, peanuts, crickets, and beetles.
Toxic foods for hedgehogs include chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, and certain fruits like grapes and citrus. It's essential to avoid these items to ensure your hedgehog's health and well-being. Always consult your veterinarian for specific dietary advice.
Don't forget to put out a shallow dish of water which can be a lifeline for hedgehogs, especially during a hot, dry summer. Contrary to popular belief, hogs are lactose intolerant and milk can make them ill, so please only offer them water.
Check if the hedgehog:
Hedgehogs often comfort their owners with cuddles, licks, and offer their paws or cuddly bellies for rubs. Their defences completely drop if they are able to form a close connection with their hedgie parents.
Hedgehogs will not usually eat and sleep in the same place so it's best not to offer food inside the home (except perhaps to tempt them in initially). Once there is a resident, move food away from the box so as not to attract predators or rival hedgehogs to the site.
Although hedgehogs do bite, their tiny teeth are unlikely to cause you very much pain. The force of a hedgehog bite is typically linked to what your pet is feeling. An angry hedgehog could cause a bite that hurts a bit.
If your hedgehog is unusually still in the evening—sleeping in short, restless bursts, waking and dozing repeatedly, or staying sluggish when they would normally explore—it can be a sign of unhappiness or even illness.
Hedgehogs prefer to live alone, so there can only be one hedgie—and they might prefer to not be snuggled by their human. Hedgehogs are most active at night and require enough space to exercise, along with toys for enrichment.
No, hedgehogs will only sleep in a nest during the day, so any hedgehog lying out on the lawn will be very poorly and will need to be picked up and taken to your nearest wildlife hospital as soon as possible.
Since hedgehogs can carry Salmonella bacteria, with or without signs of disease, sensible hygiene precautions are advised as a routine measure when handling these animals (see Prevention below). People with salmonellosis most typically develop signs of gastroenteritis.
Hedgehogs typically hibernate from autumn to spring (October - March), but this can vary depending on the temperature and food available.
Negative Aspects of Owning a Hedgehog