The Need For Ethical Hedgehog Breeders

the need for ethical hedgehog breeders feature image of an african hedgehog outside

Registered or licensed hedgehog breeders appear vigilant over the hedgehog breeding community. These breeders exist to better the species by studying and caring for their hedgehog heard. They pour their heart, soul, and devotion into making a pet available to your family that is usually social, free of congenital defects, and free from future disease.

Ethical hedgehog breeders know this species inside and out and can be your best mentor alongside your vet when it comes to caring for your hedgehog. In this article, you will learn as we interview Valerie from Hedgehogville in Scarborough, Ontario, just how much work goes into breeding and selling hedgehogs, and the price to pay for trusting anyone but an ethical hedgehog breeder.

Ethical Hedgehog Breeders Vs. Backyard And Hobby Breeders

pink floyd the hedgehog that was dyed pink by previous owners with kool aid
Not everyone takes hedgehog ownership seriously, while Pink Floyd (pictured above) was re-homed, he still had to be treated for a skin condition due to his previous owners dying him pink; allegedly only using kool-aid.

What Makes An Ethical Hedgehog Breeder?

Purchasing from a reputable breeder means you are buying a piece of their lineage they have studied, researched, and devoted themselves to better that line to be free from congenital defects, wobbly hedgehog syndrome, and other future illnesses. These hedgehogs from ethical breeders have had time, love, energy, and finances poured into what they are when you bring them home.

The bit of a higher price you pay now to have a healthy, social, and beautiful friend could save you vet bills, medical supply costs, and other special care needs in the future. The hedgehog you buy from a reputable breeder is providing you a hedgehog they trust because they know that hedgies family history inside and out. They do not sacrifice profit over care. They are your most knowledgeable and trusted mentors when it comes to hedgehog care 101, much like the information we share with you here. Exotic pets are not cheap, they require care, vet visits, equipment, and more. They are an emotional investment.

What Are Back Yard and Hobby Breeders?

Many breeders have their pedigrees in order, which is expensive to maintain and takes years to study. However, some people breed hedgehogs just for the income or for fun. These self-proclaimed hedgehog breeders then sell their hoglets with no guarantee against WHS. Nor do they have any paperwork to show for family history of disease. Be wary of Craigslist and Kijiji type advertisements. There are breeders who research nothing other than how to mate hedgies and sell babies when they are ready, and there are breeders who just want to make more of their lovable friend. Somethings like uterine infections can't be prevented from lineage studies, but most ailments certainly can, and that's why anyone wanting to breed in this community of ethical breeders is met with caution.

Unethical Breeding to Obtain Desired Hedgehog Pigment

Skin pigment can be a motivator by unethical hedgehog breeders. This type of breeder prioritizes desired pigments or species above bettering the lifespans of hedgehogs. Meaning, they will have no problem breeding related cousins to achieve that dark pigment created by the Agouti gene we talk about in the Algerian Black article. Some people will advertise their baby hedgehogs without proper paperwork. And worse yet, some withhold knowledge of possible health defects you will have to face later. Unethical breeders are taking a painful toll on hedgehog health and hedgehog parent's heart strings. Only obtain hedgehogs as a family pet from breeders with complete lineages of at least 6 generations in order to avoid consanguinity.

con·san·guin·i·ty
/ˌkänsaNGˈɡwinədē/
noun

the fact of being descended from the same ancestor.
“the marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity”

A Need For More Ethical Hedgehog Breeders

the owners of hedgehogville educating people at the annual canadian pet expo in toronto

After joining a very active hedgehog lovers community on Facebook, HeavenlyHedgies.com asked about hedgehog breeding! Among the many who replied, Valerie responded warmly with, “contact me with any questions you have”. Well, we did just that, and it was a pleasant, eye-opening conversation.

Here's what we talked about:

Accountability of Hedgehog Breeders

Is there a regulatory body like the USDA for Canada?

No. But if you want to be reputable, register your business and obtain a business license.

Do you still hear of hedgies being bred poorly?

Yes, all the time. The term breeder is being used recklessly. On Kijiji, anyone can state they are a hedgehog breeder.

This is because there is only the option to say you are either a owner or a registered breeder to be able to release the advertisement. When someone randomly breeds a pair, they call themselves hedgehog breeders [anything can go wrong].

Most people who just put animals together, do not care about [proper] paperwork and lineages; as long as there is a successful pair and babies produced from them.

Is there anything that can be done about unethical hedgehog breeders?

You can only report unethical hedgehog breeders to the SPCA if there is proof of animal abuse. Obtaining a hedgie that passes from kidney failure or WHS within the first year would not constitute animal abuse. If minimal animal care requirements are being met, there is nothing you can report.

Hedgehog Breeders Against Illnesses

What is a lineage and how is it documented?

There are different pedigree programs you can use to keep track of an animal's family and health history. The one that Valerie uses is Kintraks. Using the online database, you input individual hedgehogs. And it then calculates the relationship with the hog you want to pair together to see if they are related or not. Since Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome can jump generations, lineages are an extremely important thing to document.

Is Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome still common even in clear lineages?

Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome is very rare with clear lineages. You hear it all the time for rescued hedgehogs or when baby hogs come from hedgehog breeders without a complete pedigree. There are hedgehog breeders who prioritize health over color. And then there are breeders who prioritize certain lines or color over health. Meaning, some hedgehog breeders pair cousins at a certain generation [to achieve a desirable attribute]. In this scenario there is a lesser percentage for Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome to occur. Nonetheless, these pairs are still technically inbred, which is frowned upon in most cases.

Is there any protection for buyers against Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome?

If a breeder is reputable they will have a policy stating that if a hog is diagnosed with Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, that breeder would have a lifetime guarantee against it. Very much like www.hedgehogville.com includes in her buying policy. Any business owner, if reputable, would not breed that hedgehog anymore moving forward, just because Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome would be a gamble in their litters. They would put it up for adoption to a loving family home to live as a pet or keep it as a surrogate mother.

Are there any tests that can detect Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome?

Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome (WHS) is genetic, so we won't know if a hedgie has it or not until a necropsy is done. A necropsy is the only way to positively identify if it was WHS, just because stroke, hibernation, cancer, or a tumor will often mimic WHS.

Hedgehog Birthing and Nursery Rules

Do baby hedgehogs have the same cage heating requirements as adult hedgies?

The temperature requirements are the same for all hedgehogs, no matter how old they are. These very delicate creatures requiring a consistent temperature between 78°F and 80°F. And in Celsius, she specifically recommends 26.5°C. Unfortunately, due to misinformation on the internet, hedgehog owners have their rooms set too low, risking hibernation; or too high, risking overheating.

How old old are the female hedgehogs when you stop breeding them?

I only breed my females up to two years, while some other breeders go until three.

How close are you able to get to the mother hedgehog when she is giving birth?

You are not supposed to watch the mother at all. If she senses you there, you risk all their lives. You have to leave mom alone for two weeks, unless you need to intervene. If you must intervene, be careful not to touch the baby with your bare hands. Sometimes a hedgehog breeder may have another female hedgehog nurse rejected babies, but not all hedgehogs will accept strange hoglets. It all comes down to how well you know your females. And of course, never handle a newborn baby hedgie with your bare hands.

Does hog rejection happen often?

Even if you leave mom alone, sometimes she may not become maternal. There is no way of telling if she will be or not, as this is a pretty random outcome. First time mother hedgehogs are known to harm or reject their babies because they get overwhelmed. In my ten years as a hedgehog breeder and mentor, I have seen my fair share of rejections.

How many weeks old before the baby hedgehogs can be handled?

Two weeks to be on the safe side, unless you know your momma hedgie well enough.

Final Thoughts On Ethical Breeding

Five African Pygmy Baby Hedgehogs for Sale on Kijiji
An available litter on kijiji from a hobby breeder

What made you want to start breeding?

There were no breeders around me back then, there was only what was available on Craigslist and Kijiji.

Is there an automatic assumption that Kijiji and Craigslist listings are untrustworthy?

It's debatable, but personally, I wouldn't trust many sellers on these sites. There can be good breeders on there just because there is great advertising exposure on those platforms. It's where people look first for hedgehogs, but still, I would be very wary of any animal sold there.

Do you think we need more ethical hedgehog breeders?

We need more ethical breeders, not backyard breeders. There are hobby hedgehog breeders who are not offended by that term, and they have the mentality of breeding for health. But, they often breed without the paperwork to show for the lineage of their hedgies.

Hobby hedgehog breeders will often buy one animal in Alberta and one from Toronto, without knowing if they are related or not. You can't judge their consanguinity by finding them separately in different cities.

Animals without pedigrees should not be bred. Ethically, you would not breed any hedgehog without the proper clear lineage of at least 6 generations.

Do you always give out pedigrees when someone buys a hedgehog?

No, hedgehogs sold as pets don't come with that information. There is a process that everyone, who desires to become a breeder, must go through to buy a hedgie for breeding purposes. We only sell hedgehogs with pedigrees to established breeders or those who I have a working relationship with.

“It would be nice if people could be educated with real truthful facts, rather than just following opinions. The animal itself is the one who suffers.

-Owner of Hedgehogville.com

Hedgehogville will be present at the 2019 Canadian Pet Expo educating people on ethical hedgehog ownership and answering all questions you may have. She can also be reached on Facebook and Instagram!

Thank you Valerie for taking time to speak with us and all you do for the hedgehog community!!

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Continued Hedgehog Reading & Learning:

Becoming a breeder must be for the right reasons. The number one reason passionate hedgehog breeders, like Valerie, want to hear is “for the betterment of the species”. If you want to become one, it is important to form a relationship first with a reputable breeder with years of experience and a good record of having disease-free hedgehogs. If you are looking for an ethical breeder to purchase from, always make sure they have a clear policy statement. And verify their guarantee against Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome among other things. Before shopping for a hoglet, research the things you need to know before purchasing a baby hedgehog.

Just your average hedgehog wearing glasses sitting on a couch
curled up baby hedgehog amongst a bunch of cactus
Funny Hedgehog dresses as gizmo with a gremlin beside him
hedgehog behind a camera shooting a picture of hedgehog ancestors

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Heavenly Hedgies is an Amazon Associate. We have partnered with them and other reputable merchants when they sell something that we feel will benefit our readers. By purchasing through our links, we may earn a small commission on sales, that helps us continue to provide informative and educational information for hedgie lovers. And the best part is that there is no additional cost to you. Thank you for being a loyal and supportive reader here at Heavenly Hedgies.

Hedgehog supplies from Chewy

3 thoughts on “The Need For Ethical Hedgehog Breeders”

  1. My name is Amber Marcantel Petry. I am a financially independent with no bias from affiliations other than with hedgehogs. My rescue mission is Quality over Quantity. What I share here are my “informed” opinions alone, based on experiences running Louisiana Hedgehog Rescue Safe Home since 2014. I have shared hedgeducation and learned from parents as we shared over the years that is part f what I’ve learned. From a rescuers’ point of view …

    I have experienced too many breeders who have lost focus, if they had focus to start, to learn about benefits for the species hedgehog in domestic care. As far as BYB, example of “new breeders” joining, I know personally of 2 who were BYB in 2018 but now calling themselves pedigreed hog breeder. Neither have USDA license, 1 due to having 37 hogs and would not pass inspection. Recently the hedgehogs were fostered out, after I commented the person was operating illegally. They made themselves useful to certain persons, raising funds, some from selling cheap asian rubber and plush toys at gross profit markup. People not knowing enough to realize they are deceived are sold toys said “hedgehog safe” or “child safe”. Due to unethical breeders, that ethical breeders look past, breeding is no longer a passion about bettering a species for many. “Breeding” for some has become a cut throat business selling hedgehogs, hedgehog supplies, as they seeking their own personal agendas. Hedgehogs are not prioritized. Beyond tracking pedigrees for WHS (research shows not main threat needs tracked), marketing them self building social media groups, sites easily creates reputation seen as respectable and pet industry care taught; I have seen very little shared by breeders specifically to benefit the species hedgehog.

    Species specific needs that can be addressed in domestic care is responded to in controversial ways that prevent learning. Some breeders I experienced this year often as they did not recognize illness or disease signs on post asking for help. They dispute valid info shared replying “I have large # of hogs this many #years”. Many have too many hogs to be seen feasibly in a 24 hour period, let alone examine them thoroughly, to use as valid source to dispute by.

    It was very controversial over 2018 – 3/2019. I shared what my vet had explained to me “after I inquired” specifically to learn about species specific known about White Belly 4toe hedgehog that we have in domestic care. I learned the breeders favorite dispute of “there is not research” is a play on words. People saying this either know little about hedgehogs or they know but dispute with no research, knowing research will not happen. I am told there never has been and highly unlikely to ever be, research for exotics. According to both my vets parents sharing experiences with diagnosed hogs by vets involved are the most beneficial research available.

    My vet explained that exotic animal care all began based on domestic care that sustained them, pet industry easy care. This care is not an issue as taught to vets, as long as it’s stated for what it is. Hedgehogs came to be fed cat food based on domestic cat care in place. The myth about hedgehogs’ hips fusing together if they are not bred by 11 months, is adapted from rabbits biology. I thought myself that surely a breeder would know about such things. Somewhere along the years for hedgehogs things were made up possibly in urgency to give care understandably. No one ever researched further or monitored hogs in ways to learn the benefits of species specifics applying to hedgehogs. The problem arises when people who have done this and share valid experiences from it, are harrassed, post deleted with no respect for the valid medical research that other parents shared.

    I had to teach some breeders about female hedgehogs’ reproductive system. My vet explained the female reproductive system to me. It was explained how easily risk from estrogen issues can be removed for them. He explained the risk to females can occur when hormone cycles are disrupted. The hormone cycles changing increase the risk of estrogen induced cancers, estrogen induced mammory tumors, pyometra and female issues. Vets are now sharing research between them showing female hedgehogs are prone to issues from age 2 on. I had to explain to breeders that non bred female biology is different from bred females, so not valid comparisons. I had to explain as they told me “hedgehogs are stimulated ovulators”, that their hormones are not only active only when ovulation is stimulated. They are not stimulated hormone producers.

    Too many breeders dispute anything not “their way” from a place of complacency. To dispute valid experiences/vets involved that parents share, by responding “I’ve had hedgehogs for # of years with large # of hogs and didn’t happen to me” is not a tangible reason to give. A herd of 50 hedgehogs, in a 24 hour period gives 30 minutes to provide care, if a person does not sleep. The way many dispute is abuse of title. It is intimidation, manipulation using authority of title that some people do not realize means little, if anything, today. Referencing years that few, if any, changes occurred to benefit hedgehogs by learning more specie specific, even as little as researching to do away with myths, shows how invalid the response is. Too many sites give impression of respectable, efforts made are more focused on creating a reputation not all from experience as claimed, meeting current market demand, many things not prioritizing hedgehogs.

    Over year 2018 -2019 I experienced various medical issues with some of my 8 hogs I raised and rescues came through La HH rescue. Parents and myself shared experiences with our hogs as we learned together. According to my vet this sharing valid documented diagnosis and experiences is some of the best research available for hedgehogs that will be available for awhile.

    Some of the diseases being properly diagnosed today can be passed in genetics. Some of the decline that appears in WHS diagnosis in clean lineage pointed out, is because there are more proper disease diagnosis made today. The better diagnosis today inevitably gives some impression of a false decline in WHS. According to my vets, the creative breeding to strengthen desireable physical traits also strengthens any genetic health issues present. There are some simple test may could show genetic disease in lineage early on before hogs are bred for 2 plus years and retired. Doing nothing only guarantees nothing will change. My own hog Plat is diagnosed with a genetic kidney disease that has been occurring over his life. If I had ultrasound him at a younger age than 5.5 when health issues demanded it, the disease would have been seen earlier. Xray can show bone density issues that if thought genetic, could be identified with further test if genetic or calcium deficiency from foods fed. Tracking lineage for estrogen induced cancers, estrogen induced mammory tumors, female issues that can be passed in genetics would serve far more valid purpose of truly protecting lines than tracking for WHS. Referencing clean health lines of disease known not to be the major issues now is play on words and unethical when nothing is done past tracking pedigrees. After discussing it with my vets, I tried to communicate with breeders about considering new ways to possibly detect for disease passed in genetics. Only 1 person made a comment about food fed which did not apply to OP. It was a breeder utilizing the status quo of title to cast reason for people to dismiss valid info a rescuer shares. In my experiences the past year, some of the very people who claim “all knowing about hedgehogs” from a place of authority they abuse may change info given from one group to another. These unethical people are the ones that will be the demise of any ethical breeders’ reputations. They have no respect or accountability that is a part of the responsibility that accompanies the honorable title that breeder was before. I have advocated and stood firm prioritizing hedgehogs benefits, regardless of any tolls. I have thought often that I have more respect for the title breeder than those who claim it only to abuse it. These same people fight the hardest to keep hedgehogs and parents in the dark unhedgeducated to encourage parents be dependent on them. It does not prioritize hedgehogs. People are prioritizing their own agendas with hedgehogs utilized as a cloak. There are breeders angry at me, some joining in retaliation that required a lie be created and circulated to try and discredit me. Not 1 breeder has inquired.

    I am been blessed to know ethical breeders US & international since 2014. I have experienced more unethical breeders, some unethical rescuers and some unethical parents, since 2018 the worst. It is not just about breeders. There does come responsibility of holding one self accountable when looked at as setting precedent for others to follow. Part of reason new breeders coming in who are not respecting the “breeder” title as it should be leading them to act accordingly, is caused by unethical patterns set for them to follow by some unethical breeders. People marketing each other or a group, changing info shared for others to follow that can vary depending on who they share with and what groups, giving false or baseless references for each other, removing negative reviews on sites & deleting post, many things. Much that is done takes away from the benefits of social media as valid resource for information that can benefit hedgehogs. New parents who come trusting and eager to learn, are often manipulated without even realizing it as they are taught only “my way” & “join us” to be “this”. Such unhealthy social media tactics only result in teaching dependence on people, who may not even be what they give impression of and claim to be. Teaching a person to care for their hedgehog by weighing all options to determine what applies to each hedgehogs’ uniqueness, affected by their own environments’ circumstances, is prioritizing hedgehogs and their parents best interest. Anything else taught is self serving.

    The status quo of a title or a group, for many remains more important than the hedgehogs’ benefit repeatedly. And so history continues to repeat itself for the hedgehogs that has resulted in care still taught being very similar to what has always been taught; change and progress are frowned on to say the least, not going into the unhealthy social media behaviors that go on. There are unethical breeders making up stuff to do with hedgehogs so they stand out amongst other breeders. What is taught may be beneficial. Only history with hogs health monitored will show valid benefit over time. Telling parents to follow examples with a hog, when a person has little, if any, valid history long enough to know affects to their own hogs, does not prioritize hedgehogs. It is self serving.

    In a perfect world “ethical” breeders would stand up for the position titled breeder bringing it back to honorable. Only taking steps to stop the unethical breeders who taint the title the worst will accomplish anything. Respect truly warranted is earned based on merit. Some breeders join in to defend the title breeder. Realistically they defend the unethical breeders truly tearing down what others have worked so hard to attain. For the sake of hedgehogs and parents, ethical and Integrity needs to be priority over respectable appearances and reputations which is created.

    I advocate for various things to benefit hedgehogs. I advocate the most for parents of hedgehogs having access to, being assisted and encouraged to research all various valid info shared available to them from experiences of others. Only then can decisions be made to care for each hog from a place having some knowledge to apply to each person and hogs’ uniqueness.

    1. Thank you for sharing your experiences Amber. It’s obvious that you love hedgehogs deeply and care that hedgehog parents become heducated. That is our desire too here at Heavenly Hedgies.

      1. Thank you, yes I do have a love for these hedgehogs like I have had for no other animal. I grew up experiencing many different animals. These hedgehogs are very unique. They stand out amongst any animal I have ever been blessed to know.

        I appreciate that Heavenly Hedgies shares various information from valid research gathered many ways. It is refreshing to see hedgehogs prioritized, which in turn prioritizes parents also. Parents’ who want to learn about the species hedgehog having access to various info with no controversy involved, encourages learning to address their species specific needs as much as possible in domestic care.
        Much thanks for the investment required to produce such assets for hedgehogs and parents.

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