Where To Buy A Baby Hedgehog

You’re probably wondering where to buy a baby hedgehog now that you’ve decided to take on the responsibility. If you're not clear on the responsibilities and you haven’t read our article, “Hedgehog as a Pet: Pros and Cons”, please do that now.

“Finding where to buy a baby hedgehog is much simpler than taking on the serious responsibility of ownership.”

-heavenlyhedgies.com

There's another important thing to know before digging deep into where to buy a baby hedgehog are the legalities. Do you actually know which states allow hedgehogs as pets? Please do your research so that when you do buy your quill baby, they aren't at risk of being confiscated. Even in states that are hedgehog-friendly, there may be some municipalities that have ordinances banning or restricting hedgehog ownership.

Another name for a baby hedgehog is a hoglet. It is a mistake to assume that all sources where you can buy a hoglet are equal or reputable. Being an exotic mammal with unique needs, your hoglet’s original source needs to be a high quality and ethical breeder. The most common places that you can buy a baby hedgehog are as follows:

• An online advertising source like Craigslist
• A local privately-owned pet store
• A reptile and exotic animal convention
• An online breeder
• A local breeder within driving distance

We will discuss each of these options and weigh the pros and cons of each choice so you can find where to buy a baby hedgehog that’s right for you. At the end of this article, you can download a guideline of questions to ask about the hoglet you’re considering.

You can literally find and buy anything on Craigslist – and that includes buying an adult or baby hedgie. Here at Heavenly Hedgies, we suggest that if you do find a baby or adult hedgehog on Craigslist (or similar), that you look elsewhere! It’s unlikely that the hedgehogs you find from this source are breeders or that they know the hedgehog’s history. Sadly, too many people jump in with both feet, without knowing the first thing about hedgehog ownership. After they’ve had their hedgehog for awhile, they realize that there is a lifestyle mismatch. As a result, they go to various online classified listings trying to recoup as much as they can for a baby hedgehog they should never have purchased. This source is one that shouldn’t be considered – ever!

Private local pet stores are becoming rare to find these days. The large pet store chains may carry small common pets that are “cash and carry”, like fish, mice, and hamsters. However, as previously mentioned, hedgehogs are exotic animals and the chances are slim that your local pet superstore carries this unique creature. Even if they do sell them, they usually are not a good source for buying a baby hedgehog. They are not going to provide you with any background on their breeding source, which can lead to heartache.

In contrast, private pet stores that carry baby (or adult) hedgehogs are more likely to speak with you regarding their source. It is unlikely that they will be able to provide you with detailed information you need such as lineage and breeding frequencies used by the breeder. However, they should be able to give you a USDA number, license number, or the name of the breeder. With that information you can research and, hopefully, speak directly with the breeder of the baby hedgehog you’re considering buying. Use the guideline at the end of this article to assist you with the questions you need to ask.

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.

One of the perks of buying from a local pet store is that most shop owners will allow you to pick up the hoglet before buying. Each hedgie has their own personality. Always observe, pick up, and interact with hedgehogs to determine if they are a good “fit”. Knowing that you're able to care for this loving creature is just as important as knowing where to buy a baby hedgehog.

A few words of caution: don't make an emotional, on-the-spot decision. Use our guide to question the breeding source. And if there are too many unanswered questions – buyer beware!

There are many enthusiasts for reptiles and exotic animals. Sooner or later there's probably going to be a convention. One of the largest organizers of reptile and exotic animal conventions in the United States is Repticon. We have been to similar conventions and even bought an apricot baby hedgie at one in Illinois (https://allanimalexpo.com). It was love at first cuddle.

From this experience, we learned firsthand that even though we had the ability to “try-before-you-buy”, it can still end in disaster. The breeder was friendly and answered all the questions we had. But as beginners, we didn’t know all the questions to ask before buying. Frankly, even if we did, I’m not sure that we would have gotten truthful answers.

Sadly, our little apricot-colored “bundle of love” was lost to WHS (wobbly hedgehog syndrome)

heavenlyhedgies.com

While you can learn a lot from talking to different vendors at these events, please keep in mind that it’s a commercial gathering. Setting up an exhibit at these shows isn’t cheap. Anyone there that has something to sell is money-motivated! They need to make a return on their exhibit fee investment.

In retrospect, we should have taken a business card from the vendor. That simple act would have interrupted a decision that was based purely on emotion (and how incredibly adorable the little quill-ball was). We should have investigated the breeder's operation and made a more informed decision. An impulse-buy of a baby hedgehog is NOT a good idea!

The internet is a wonderful place to find information, and that includes finding many online breeders where you can buy a baby hedgehog. Most online breeders are detailed about their practices on their websites. If they don’t post it publicly, most are more than happy to answer your questions via email or phone. Additionally, there are many breeders that will post their licensing information so you can verify their credentials.

Some breeders, but not all, will offer a warranty against congenital defects and WHS. However, in order to prove that a hedgehog they sold died under a warranty situation, they’ll require that you provide them with proof from a postmortem necropsy. According to PetMD, “Expect to pay $100 to over $1,000. The price depends on who’s undertaking the procedure and how many laboratory tests will be run.” By our own experience, it is more likely that the necropsy will cost somewhere between $100 and $300. In comparison, the replacement cost of a baby hedgehog is within the same range.

While we’re confident that the warranting breeder would honor your claim, we believe that you would be responsible for the necropsy cost needed. Also, this warranty claim is not a definite indicator that the breeder isn’t operating a hedgehog mill.

There are downfalls in sourcing your baby hedgie online. One is that you must pay a non-refundable deposit on a hoglet you haven’t had an opportunity to interact with. It is not uncommon to find that the litter has yet to be born, so please know there is a weaning period once they are. Typically this weaning period varies between six to twelve weeks. New born hedgehogs ARE NOT cute unlike most newborn puppies. It usually takes almost the full weaning period before their true colors and markings can be determined. If color and markings are important to you, you may have to wait until a future litter.

Some online breeders are willing to ship a baby hedgehog to its new home if the buyer isn’t nearby. In our opinion, this is not a good idea! Hedgies are very sensitive creatures. Being jostled about is very stressful on them. We've heard of some breeders successfully sending a hedgehog via courier service (at additional cost). But this is something we have never done, nor will we ever do. When researching where to buy a baby hedgehog online, we suggest limiting your search radius. Look only within a distance you are willing to drive or travel by plane to safely hand-carry your new hoglet home.

We saved the best option for last. If you are fortunate enough to live near hedgehog breeders, this could be an ideal situation. Of course, that depends on their willingness to speak with you about their litters; and them allowing you to choose your baby hedgehog. Since they are local, it should be easy to make some inquiries regarding their reputation and breeding practices. Along with the downloadable list of questions to ask the breeder, this puts you in the best possible position for knowing where to buy a baby hedgehog.

Another huge bonus of buying from a local breeder is that they may allow you to visit your baby hedgie as it's still weaning from their mother. Weaning is typically a six week or longer process, so personally socializing your hoglet is a big deal. This makes a smoother transition from the breeder’s location to your home. Also, if you’re new to hedgehog ownership, the breeder can coach and reassure you about the proper handling of your baby hedgehog.

We’ve given you many sources to help you locate where to buy a baby hedgehog. Each source has pros and cons that you will need to weigh before taking the plunge. Look back over each one to familiarize yourself with your options. Since caring for a hedgehog is a big responsibility, you’ll need to find a reputable and ethical breeder.

It really boils down to finding the closest source that is willing to give you background information about your hoglet. In our download, you will find questions that you should ask the breeder and things to look for in their operations.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.