APH questions...

[sophs87]

ok well please excuse me for any of these questions soundin dumb..here gos...
do they need any special heat (or is a warm house good enuf?)
lighting? uvb??
and what do you use for substrate in the houses?
ummmm what else....
do they hibernate?
and do they bite?
and do they carry any kind of diseses that can be spread?
like some lizards/snakes can give u a type of salmonela!
thankssssssssss
xxxxxxx

[animal addict]

no extra heat needed if your house is quite warm around the 22-24 degrees centigrade is ideal and no hotter than 26-28 degrees as this can kill them also and no lower than 16-17 degrees C as this will induce hibernation and this can kill them also - they should never be allowed to hibernate - dont need UVB but good for them to be in a fairly light room in order for them to regulate their sleep/night pattern - they rarely bite if you have a well socialised hog but as with any animal there is a potential - substrate theres lots of choices - fleece liners/shavings/shredded paper in the sleeping area and its good to use a different substrate in the litter tray so they differentiate to help litter train them I use kitchen towel but lots of people use chinchilla sand etc. They are pretty hardy animals if kept right and on the right diet (insectiverous, cooked mince/chicken, cat biscuits - min 30% proteina nd max 10% fats) etc but illnesses include ringworm and mites - ringworm is particularly infectious but as long as you buy from a reputable breder then they shouldnt have any such infection - anything else??

[sophs87]

Originally Posted by animal addict

no extra heat needed if your house is quite warm around the 22-24 degrees centigrade is ideal and no hotter than 26-28 degrees as this can kill them also and no lower than 16-17 degrees C as this will induce hibernation and this can kill them also - they should never be allowed to hibernate - dont need UVB but good for them to be in a fairly light room in order for them to regulate their sleep/night pattern - they rarely bite if you have a well socialised hog but as with any animal there is a potential - substrate theres lots of choices - fleece liners/shavings/shredded paper in the sleeping area and its good to use a different substrate in the litter tray so they differentiate to help litter train them I use kitchen towel but lots of people use chinchilla sand etc. They are pretty hardy animals if kept right and on the right diet (insectiverous, cooked mince/chicken, cat biscuits - min 30% proteina nd max 10% fats) etc but illnesses include ringworm and mites - ringworm is particularly infectious but as long as you buy from a reputable breder then they shouldnt have any such infection - anything else??

wow excellent advise
does their house need to be like a viv wood on three sides and see through front or open all round? would a large dog cage like the biggest size you can get be big enough and safe?
do you know a daily feed
for exampl 2 buiscuits in morn,mince
afternoon- crickets...ect

thanks xxx

[animal addict]

vivs are fine but need extra ventilation put in or a finely meshed front, zoozones are popular choices - any large cage that has good ventilation and preferably without bars or if there are bars the bottom ones have 'bumpers' on to prevent climbing - they are fairly good climbers so run the risk of falling and catching their feet and legs between the bars and breaking them!! free feed biccies daily, a few mealies/crix daily - not too many mealies as they are fattening and cooked chicken/mince etc 3 ish times weekly they are nocturnal - very active by night so recommended to have a wheel - solid plastic base min 12" in size and need daily handling to remain very friendly and socialised

[sophs87]

thanks for help
will hopefully be a aph mummy soon
know any good breeders hun?x

[animal addict]

good site:
Pygmy Hogs UK

some recommended breeders - there are some others about also:
HedgeBottom Hedgehogs