Hedgehogs can be pets, but they need specific care and aren't legal everywhere in Spain. They're nocturnal, solitary animals that require proper housing, diet, and veterinary attention to stay healthy.
The hedgehog is a small mammal. There are currently 16 species spread across five genera distributed throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. These animals have become extremely popular in homes in recent years. However, is it right to consider a hedgehog a domestic animal? In this new video from Experto Animal, we will talk about the regulations, behavior and care that hedgehogs need so that you can answer this question yourself. Let's get started. Is it legal to have a hedgehog in Spain? The African pygmy hedgehog and the long eared hedgehog are two species included in the Spanish catalog of invasive exotic species. Therefore, the possession of these species and their hybrids is considered illegal in Spanish territory. It is also prohibited to release, market, reproduce or transfer them. However, it is also prohibited to keep in captivity endemic species and their hybrids that are not considered invasive exotic species such as the European hedgehog and the Moorish hedgehog. The hedgehog is not a domestic animal since, unlike dogs or cats, it has not lived closely with humans for generations. This means that keeping it in a domestic environment is incompatible with the needs and behaviors specific to the species, such as digging for insects. Having a hedgehog as a pet, especially if we are not familiar with the ethology of the species, favors the development of behavioral problems such as stress, which in turn can lead to the development of certain pathologies. Therefore, in addition to violating the five freedoms of animal welfare, we would also be putting the well being of the species at risk. The hedgehog is also a solitary and crepuscular animal. We should not expect it to behave sociable, affectionate or active during the day. Quite the opposite. It is an independent animal that spends most of the day sleeping and at dusk we can see it coming out of its burrow in search of food and eager to exercise. It is essential to enrich the environment with various structures and objects, from tunnels to vegetation, to stimulate its senses and keep its muscles in shape. Although they can get used to the presence of people, most hedgehogs are not going to be sociable pets. In fact, in some cases these animals are afraid of humans. You should be very clear about these points before adopting a hedgehog, as the abandonment rates of these animals are particularly high and can be prevented through responsible adoption and ownership. Before continuing, we encourage you to subscribe to our channel to stay up to date with everything we share. Basic Hedgehog Care if you are still considering having a hedgehog as a pet, you should know that it requires a minimum space of 2 meters by 70 by 50, a nest so that it can hide, and a temperature of between 25 and 27 grams. Hedgehogs should be fed at the time of greatest activity, that is at dusk and dawn. We will look for species specific food on the market and if we cannot find it in our area, we should go to a specialized veterinarian for advice. Low fat insect based food for mammals is generally offered. It is highly advisable that the hedgehog's diet includes insects, fruits and vegetables. Regarding living with other animals, we have already pointed out that the hedgehog is a solitary animal that is also greatly affected by noise and intense movement. For all these reasons, it is not advisable to adopt a hedgehog if we have other animals at home as it is very likely that their stress levels will skyrocket on a day to day basis. Hedgehog Diseases Health is an important aspect that must be taken into account by all those who want to have a hedgehog as a pet. In addition to knowing the most common diseases in hedgehogs, it is very important to make regular visits to a veterinarian specializing in exotic animals every six or 12 months to offer adequate preventive medicine, detect and prevent any pathologies early. The most common health problems and pathologies are the dry skin, parasites, diarrhea, obesity, colds, tangled hair on the legs where can I Adopt a Hedgehog? If you still want to go ahead with adopting a hedgehog after knowing that it is not a domestic animal and being aware of its particular needs, we recommend that you contact an exotic animal shelter and ask if they have any available for adoption. Many people adopt hedgehogs without knowing how they beh behave and then abandon them after learning about them. Exotic animal shelters and foster homes are without a doubt the best places to adopt a hedgehog. You will probably have to wait a while before receiving it. Now, what did you think of the video? What do you think about it? Leave us your comments and give us a like if you enjoyed this content. Until next time, experts.
