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PHStray: Welcome Tig and thank you for being with us thisevening

lil_animal_gurl: hi Tig :)

nannyogg: thank you =)

aine93_nr: yay Tig!

PHQuills: If you have questions for Tig, please type in a ? and we will call on you in order. This helps keep order and controlled chaos, so please help us with this. :)

lil_animal_gurl: but chaos is fun!

PHQuills: Tig, would you like to start by telling us a bit about yourself, and how you got involved with hedgehogs?

nannyogg: It all started when I was an exchange student to Germany, a loooong time ago...

nannyogg: a hedgehog fell in the family's pool and they rescued it. It was the most darling creature I'd ever seen!

nannyogg: I fell in love but didn't think I'd ever be able to have one as a pet. Many years later, I saw one of the African hedgehogs in a pet store, and I knew that there was a hedgie waiting for me somewhere

nannyogg: I studied what little I could find, and eventually my first hedgie- Nanny Ogg- came along =)

nannyogg: About 6 months later, I ended up with a baby that needed hand feeding due to abuse by his mom, and he was my 2nd hedgie

nannyogg: then they sort of became like potato chips and I couldn't stop with just one or two, so we ended up with many, and since there was so little known about them, I was determined to use my great fortune to have a little herd to learn more about them, and to share that with others. =)

CaraBella: ?

nannyogg: My family always had many animals, and I've done wildlife rescue/rehab and turtle/tortoise rehab and raised many many species, but it's the hedgies I love best.

PHQuills: Thank you Tig. :) We can start in with questions now. :)

PHQuills: Carabella, go for it. :)

CaraBella: Tig, what year did you get Nanny Ogg?

nannyogg: 1995

PHQuills: What is the one thing that you wish people would learn before getting a pet hedgehog?

Hedgiepets_nr: ?

nannyogg: I wish that they would learn their basic care needs. So many people think that they are a rodent, so they give them very inappropriate foods.

nannyogg: Or, they get a baby and think they can live in a habitrail, not realizing how big a hedgie will get.

Midask9: ?

nannyogg: Or, they don't realize hedgies can't handle cold temperatures and need to be kept warm (about 72 and up)

lil_animal_gurl: !

PHStray: Hedgie your question please

Hedgiepets_nr: How many do you have now?

nannyogg: there's about 70 in permanent residence

nannyogg: GA

PHStray: Midask9( your question please

Midask9: I work in an animal shelter, and we occasionally get in the owner surrendered Hedgie, usually undersocialized. Any tips for bringing them out of their "shell"? ga

nannyogg: Yes, I am a firm believer in what I call "quiet lap time."

nannyogg: hedgies can feel very unsafe when exposed to the open or when being picked up and lifted around.

nannyogg: If I have a scared hedgie, I spend time with him or her in my lap, under a blankie. This helps the hedgie get used to your smell and to feel secure at the same time

nannyogg: Eventually they do get bold enough to start exploring under the blankie, and you know you're really making progress when they start to peek out from under the blankie

nannyogg: some hedgies will always be scared of noises or rapid movement or being picked up, so it's really important not to take it personally

nannyogg: It also helps to offer a little treat food and talk to your hedgie when you have it out. Shy hedgies would much prefer being given the time to come to you, instead of you going to them.

Deerhounds: ?

Midask9: ok ty ga

nannyogg: Also, if you have a hedgie that doesn't want to come out of a ball and you want to see its face and things, you can rub the back in a circular motion, and that will cause it to relax and unball a little. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but at least it gets you some visual of something other than the quills. GA

PHStray: Lil your up

Midask9: great, ty again! ga

PHStray: ?

PHStray: Lil you had a comment or question?

lil_animal_gurl: I just wanted to say thanks for all the help you've given me when I had the emergency with the baby and with the prolapse her mom had. By the way, she'll be ok, and she's recovering nicely. :) GA

nannyogg: I am so glad to hear that! Yay! GA

PHStray: Deerhound pour question please

Deerhounds: what types of things do hedgehog people in general feed their hedgehogs, and what do you personally feed them?

nannyogg: I feed a mixture of dry cat food, puppy food, and sometimes even hedgehog food for the mainstay.

nannyogg: Hedgies need a good quality protein, about 15% fiber, and low fat in their diet. So, I also add things to the mix to add fiber

Deerhounds: do many people put together a fresh foods diet for hedgehogs, the way people are doing a lot in dogs and cats now?

nannyogg: Sometimes I add baby oatmeal or quick oats to the mix, and sometimes I add dried chopped alfalfa and dried chammomile to the mix- which also help with calming and lactation

nannyogg: a fresh foods diet for hedgies would be mostly beetles- that's the biggest part of their diet in the wild. But, they can utilize plant fibers as a replacement for the bug chitin (wild source of fiber)

nannyogg: I think diet is probably one of the areas of hedgehog care where people have the most misconceptions

nannyogg: we also use treats for the hedgies. A lot of people experiment with diet...there's a lot of good ways to arrive at a good diet. =)

nannyogg: GA

Deerhounds: thank you!

aine93_nr: Tig - what would you say about a female hedgehog who is not pregnant who attacks males?

nannyogg: that she doesn't want to be a mom

nannyogg: is she dominant with other females

aine93_nr: she is occasionally dominant with others girls, maybe every few months, and i find it is if she feels too *squished* space-wise

nannyogg: I have had a few girls over the years who acted dominant with both males and females- including mounting behaviors

aine93_nr: she was also horrid to Moet once when Moet was possibly preggers

nannyogg: =( that's definitely not common behavior to attack all potential suitors, though, so if she keeps it up for too long, she's probably not one you'll be able to breed =( GA

PHStray: I was wondering if you have any idea to the number of hedgie owners there are in the US? and what size liters do they have ga

nannyogg: No idea on the # of hedgie owners out there, but it's certainly in the thousands.

Longshanks_nr: hi

aine93_nr: Tig: i think SCSI got her once

PHStray: Thank you! ga

nannyogg: An average size litter is 3 to 4 with a survival rate of about 67%. Litters can be as small as 1, and as big as 10! Though, in the really large litters, the babies don't usually all survive. GA

PHQuills: Do you frequently get contacted by inexperienced owners that think they want to breed? What do you tell them?

nannyogg: Yes. All the time.

nannyogg: If they have no experience raising any animals at all, then I recommend they get to know their hedgie for at least a year before even thinking about it.

nannyogg: Hedgies have a lot of particular behaviors that you only learn through experience.

lil_animal_gurl: ?

nannyogg: If they have a lot of experience with other animals, then there's a lot of knowledge already there, but I still recommend getting to know hedgies for at least 6 months or so, to know what's typical behavior

PHStray: Lil your question please

nannyogg: I also remind them that it's absolutely important to have a vet on hand and ready in case of problems and to be prepared that bills for C-sections can be very high.

Kellyh_nr: ?

Deerhounds: ?

nannyogg: They also have to realize that babies can often end up being killed/eaten and that there is some risk to the mom. GA

lil_animal_gurl: I was wondering if you knew anything to give a hedgehog with diarrhea?

PHStray: Lil go a head

Tarentola: ?

nannyogg: check with your vet for an opinion first, but; mine has had me give kaopectate.

nannyogg: GA

PHStray: Kelly your question please

Kellyh_nr: what is the scientific name for our pet HHs?

nannyogg: there's atelerix albiventris and atelerix algirus and they've been hybrid.

MorningMist_nr: ?

Kellyh_nr: thanx

nannyogg: GA

PHStray: Deer your up

Deerhounds: I was very curious when you mentioned C-sections, that never crossed my mind! is it hard to find vets who can work on hedgies, and how much DOES a hedgehog c-section cost?

Deerhounds: I breed giant dogs, so this is mostly curiousity ga

nannyogg: My first breeding attempt ended in a C-section/spay and it set me back about $500. I know someone whose hedgie recently required one and it set her back $1300. It does depend on where you live and what the local rate for vet care is.

nannyogg: GA

Deerhounds: wow... similar to what I'd pay on a hundred pound dog c-section! thanks ga

PHStray: Tarentola your next

Tarentola: I just picked up 2 albino male african pygmies last wek, and I was wondering what you use for treats to make them more calm/tame since these 2 are very skittish.

nannyogg: cooked chicken is one that a lot of hedgies like

Tarentola: breast or leg?

nannyogg: it takes time to overcome skittishness, so be patient and spend lots of quiet time with them

Tarentola: thanks

nannyogg: I don't think it matters. =) GA

PHStray: MorningMist your question please

lil_animal_gurl: ?

MorningMist_nr: what does one look for on their hegie to determine if they have dry skin or mite?

nannyogg: You can often see big chunks of flakes on their skin, under the quills.

nannyogg: WIth mites, the quills that fall out will have a ragged look at the bottom, not rounded.

nannyogg: Some mites are visible to the human eye, others are not

nannyogg: They can also have crusties around the eyes and ears, or discharge from the ears. GA

MorningMist_nr: so basically you would be looking for creepy crawlies?

nannyogg: Yes, but you can't always see them. A microscope is a really good investment...

nannyogg: I picked one up on sale after Xmas at a toy store for $15 and it's great for checking skin samples when I suspect mites

nannyogg: to do a skin sample, you just take a piece of scotch tape and get some of that flaky skin on it, then tape it down to the slide

nannyogg: your vet can show you what to look for

MorningMist_nr: so how do you get a sample yourself if you suspect mites

Tarentola: sorry for inturrupting but what doe sit mean if they have flakes of skin on under there quills?

nannyogg: Sometimes it can be mites, or it can be environmental dryness or fungal infection or nutritional deficiency, among many things that can cause it

aine93_nr: Tig: is breeding hedgehogs a good way to put yourself through school?

nannyogg: I have a lot who get dry skin in the winter from the forced air heat. GA

PHStray: Lil your turn

lil_animal_gurl: I've heard of some people reccommend giving yogurt as a treat. Is this safe? I've heard that they are lactose intolerant and don't respond well to sucrose. G

Kellyh_nr: ?

nannyogg: in small amounts, it's not a problem. I give mine plain yogurt, the kind that is unsweetened (or nutrasweetened) and lowfat, if I'm giving antibiotics.

nannyogg: I also mix it into formula if I have to hand feed/supplement feed babies. If it doesn't agree with a particular hedgie, you'll know when it comes out in the end, lol. GA

PHStray: kelly your question please

Kellyh_nr: what are some of the common illnesses seen in hedgehogs?

nannyogg: mites, as already mentioned.

nannyogg: respiratory infections

nannyogg: fatty liver disease

nannyogg: those are probably the big 3

nannyogg: cancer is probably the most common end stage disease, which isn't surprising when you consider that in the wild, they live about 1-1/2 years, and in captivity about 3 to 6.

nannyogg: GA

PHStray: What is the life span of a hedgie? ga

lil_animal_gurl: ?

aine93_nr: ?

nannyogg: 3 to 6 years, though it is possible that the occasional hedgie lives longer. I have one who will celebrate his 7th bday in June. GA

PHStray: thank you

PHStray: Lil your up

lil_animal_gurl: My fiance has a hard time giving medicine to Amy -hog. Any suggestions for this?

mbgirl17_nr: ?

nannyogg: what's the problem that he has with it?

lil_animal_gurl: she balls up and won't take it

nannyogg: it's hard to describe but...

lil_animal_gurl: and it's medicine she HAS to have because it's the antibiotics for her prolapse

nannyogg: if she balls up, he can hold her so her face is on the side, lke where an opening is on the C

nannyogg: then, he can rub her head at about the neck with one hand while getting ready to stick the syringe gently in the side of her mouth with the other

nannyogg: once it's in the corner of the mouth they can't ball up so well, so you can squirt

nannyogg: I'd try it with some flavored water or chicken broth first, to experiment! GA

lil_animal_gurl: thanks

PHStray: aine your question please

CaraBella: ?

aine93_nr: Tig: what are your views on neutering/spaying hedgies

aine93_nr: er.....for a person who just keeps a couple as pets

nannyogg: I wouldn't do it without a good reason. Their reproductive organs are internal on both males and females, so it does come with some risk

nannyogg: Some vets are very experienced with it and have high success rates, but most do not so it has to be entered into knowing there is some risk.

nannyogg: But, there are definitely situations where it is wise to do it. There's some evidence that females who are not bred are at higher risk for reproductive cancers

aine93_nr: what about personality changes associated with spay/neuters

aine93_nr: *nods*

nannyogg: I've only had one spayed so my experience with that is pretty limited. GA

PHStray: mbgirl17 your question please

mbgirl17_nr: I use pine bedding, but the pieces, keep getting stuck inside his pee pee hole, what else can i use? Also he licks everything!! Even my dog, and he tries to eat his fur, leaving a white frothy substance, then he proceeds to lick his quills and leave a white frothy substance all over them! what is it?

nannyogg: You can try carefresh or even plain newsprint for him. Those are both pretty absorbent.

nannyogg: The licking is called self-annointing. There's lots of theories on why they do it, but I don't think any is definitive

mbgirl17_nr: is it normal to get stuck in there?

nannyogg: my favorite theory on it is that they try to make themselves smell like the environment, to fool predators

nannyogg: For boys, yes. You can wade them around in warm water to help it loosen up and dislodge.

Kellyh_nr: ?

mbgirl17_nr: thanx!!!

mbgirl17_nr: :)

nannyogg: They are at risk for getting scratches and infection if they keep getting stuff stuck, so I'd move him on something a little softer. GA

PHStray: Cara your up

CaraBella: my hedgie has a hair wrapped around its leg-I can't get it off because he keeps balling up--any suggestions?

nannyogg: get to the vet immediately. Hedgies can lose a limb if it restricts blood flow

nannyogg: sometimes you can get a hedgie to relax and unball by giving a bath- that is worth a try if you can't get to the vet stat. GA

PHStray: Kelly your question please

Kellyh_nr: How often do you breed your individual HHs, how long is gestation, and how long do the babies stay with mom? About how many litters do you have in a year?

lil_animal_gurl: ?

nannyogg: How often definitely varies according to the female. Some are really happy to be moms and seem totally delighted to have babies frequently. Others lose or gain a lot of weight between, or have a hard time with them and so I wait longer between.

nannyogg: Gestation is about 37 days (other books say 35 days, but the running average for mine is 37).

nannyogg: Babies take about 6 weeks to be ready to wean, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

nannyogg: By 5 weeks they're usually on solid food, but often seem to do better if you leave them that extra week with mom.

nannyogg: GA

Deerhounds: I just want to thank Tig for a great chat

Deerhounds: I learned a lot!

nannyogg: Glad to be invited! =)

PHStray: Tig, on behalf of all of us at exotichobbyist.com, thank you so much for being our guest tonight!
Thank you to all who joined us tonight as well. Please don't miss our next special chat on Wednesday night with Jessi Clark-White of AfricanServal.com on "Why Exotic Pets Should Not Be Banned," at 9 PM Eastern here in the Exotic Pet Chat Room.

PHQuills: Thank you SO much Tig, and everyone else who came and asked such great questions!