URGENT - African Pygmy Hedgehog Birth Advice

Athravan · #1 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 11:50 AM

One of my female APH's had her first litter of 2 last night. She ate one of them. The other one she has not eaten but she is not caring for. She moved it into the nest, but now has made a second nest and is not sleeping with the baby this morning. I don't know if it's alive as I dare not go in there to disturb it, but I can see it in the nest.

Is there anything I can do? I know that there is a high chance of cannibalism and abandonment in APH's, especially in the first litter but it's very frustrating to see her ignore it, it might be dead - but it also might be starving to death.

Does anyone with any experience with APH's know if she is likely to go back to it if she is sleeping elsewhere this morning? Should I just leave it in there to fate? Do I have any chance of rearing it myself or is that not even worth trying? (Assuming it's even alive!)

If I am going to leave it to her I obviously don't want to go in and touch it to see if it's alive as that will certainly make her abandon or eat it - but if it is unlikely that she will go back to it now that she is ignoring it and sleeping elsewhere, I might as well give hand rearing a go rather than just let it die, i've reared mice, rats, and kittens. The other one I can see the body in the corner, just the top and spines left so I know it's been eaten although I haven't gone in to remove it yet in case that stresses her too - but I can't leave that in there as it will surely start to smell.

madelene · #2 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 12:14 PM

My experience is with normal hedgehogs. Mums will quite often have the babies in one nest and sleep elsewhere.
I wouldn't disturb the baby in the nest to see if its alive but would use tongs or similar to remove the dead one.

keep her somewhere warm and quiet check regularly to see if she goes to the baby.
These are very difficult to hand rear so don't remove the baby unless you have to.

I used goats milk with added vitimins when I did it but this was around 5 years ago so I expect someone else can give you better advice...good luck
Maddie

Athravan · #3 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 12:26 PM

I've put some more bedding in there in case she needs to feel secure, I heard the baby squeaking so I know the one that is left is alive now, but she is going no where near it.. I phoned my vet who don't have any of the rearing solution (I have cimicat, they recommended using welpy (sp?) for hedgehogs) in stock, but if I need to I am sure I can phone around the vet and find someone in stock.

If it was born last night, between 8 and midnight, and assuming she hasn't fed it at all - how long could it realistically last before it starves? I want to leave it as long as possible but if she ignores it so long that it's going to die anyway I'll try and rear it.

leggy · #4 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 01:05 PM

hi pm sent.

Athravan · #5 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 02:29 PM

Thanks, on the advice of the vet and based on a few PMs as she has not fed him yet and is ignoring him, I have removed and will start hand rearing. The vet said it was typical signs of abandonment which is common in hedgehogs, and that the hoglet would die soon if not fed - or would lose the strength to feed.

So i'm going to be up every 2 hours day and night for however long it survives, not getting any hopes up, and I hope that her next litter she is a bit happier with them.

If anyone has experience or hints/tips with hand rearing give me a shout! I'm using "welpi", it ignroed my syringe so I had to get a set of teats but it is drinking from those, it weighs 8g and I'm feeding 0.3ml every 2 hours.