And the BEST picture....
My friend is giving me a real prick!
My friend is giving me a real prick!
On Monday, I am going over a friend's house to pick up a real prick. Her son can no longer care for him, so she asked if I wanted him...of course I said yes...
And the BEST picture....
And the BEST picture....
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xxhplinkxx
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As scary as the quils look, they are not like a porcupine quills. Frankly, they aren't even related. Kinda like saying a cat and a rat are related. Porcupines can release their quills into skin when touched and are rodents. Hedgehogs are more closely related to weasels. When relaxed, their quills are relaxed too. Though still sharp and hard, they are not pressed outwards from their skin and they can actually be pet, gently, in the direction the quills grow. When threatened, their quills stiffen, but they do not throw them nor are they barbed like porcupine quills, so you really need to do something wrong to make them pierce the skin.
There are a few ways you can be hurt by their quills.
1.) Grabbing them like you would a pet rodent. You can't just wrap your hand around them and give them a light squeeze.
2.) They may tuck their head under and charge the creature that is bothering them. Its not likely to piece the skin, but would hurt.
The teeth are far more likely to do any damage. But well cared for, socialized, and handled often, bites should be rare and non-threatening. Nibbles happen on occasion, but its not a sign of aggression.
The most interesting thing I find out about is how they anoint themselves. For instance, I'm new to him. So I'll throw a t-shirt or pillow case of mine into his cage for the first day so he can get use to my scent. When he gets that, he most likely will instantly smell it, lick it all over, and then lick his quills and paws, wiping his paws on his quills...Scientists believe its a way to mask their odor...by smelling like something else, other than a yummy hedgehog.
Another cool fact about them....they are totally immune to snake venom. Cobra, mamba, rattlesnake...totally immune. Scientists still don't know why being they are not the kind of animal to come in contact often with some venomous snakes and snakes rarely eat them.
There are a few ways you can be hurt by their quills.
1.) Grabbing them like you would a pet rodent. You can't just wrap your hand around them and give them a light squeeze.
2.) They may tuck their head under and charge the creature that is bothering them. Its not likely to piece the skin, but would hurt.
The teeth are far more likely to do any damage. But well cared for, socialized, and handled often, bites should be rare and non-threatening. Nibbles happen on occasion, but its not a sign of aggression.
The most interesting thing I find out about is how they anoint themselves. For instance, I'm new to him. So I'll throw a t-shirt or pillow case of mine into his cage for the first day so he can get use to my scent. When he gets that, he most likely will instantly smell it, lick it all over, and then lick his quills and paws, wiping his paws on his quills...Scientists believe its a way to mask their odor...by smelling like something else, other than a yummy hedgehog.
Another cool fact about them....they are totally immune to snake venom. Cobra, mamba, rattlesnake...totally immune. Scientists still don't know why being they are not the kind of animal to come in contact often with some venomous snakes and snakes rarely eat them.
I am getting him, the cage, and his supplies for the adoption price of $25-
Jack Skellington
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blackcauldron85
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His name is Fulci. Fulci is an Italian horror movie director.
Hedgehogs are scent driven animals. He will need some time to get use to all the new scents in our home. He is use to cats, but he isn't use to my cats, so he will have to smell them a few times and know they are no danger to him. Same with the dogs. My dogs and cats are use to my other pets, but that doesn't mean I trust them. If I put the rats or snakes on the floor and walked out of the room, the dogs and cats would probably kill them. Now the rabbit is a different story. I have a dwarf rabbit and they all like him and they play together and the rabbit defends himself when the dogs are too pushy. I won't put the hedgehog near the bird, snake, mice, or rats. They are just all too much of natural enemies to chance it. The rabbit and hedgehog would probably be fine though. But again, always with my full supervision. The quills help too. So if the dogs decided to push him or the cats decided to whack him with a paw, they'd learn quick not to do it. But if it comes to something like that, then they just won't be able to be in the room when I have him out. I don't want to stress Fulci out.
It will probably take a few days to a week before I am able to full handle without fear of being bit. He's not aggressive, but if a hedgehog isn't use to your smell, they may bite out of fear, because they don't know you. He needs to associate smells with positive reinforcement so I can cuddle him and he enjoys it. And YES you can cuddle a hedgie. You don't give him a hug like you do a dog. But his owner said once he is comfortable with me, he loves to sit on your lap, in your arms or on your shoulder, when you are siting or laying down and he'll fall asleep right there.
They are also highly nocturnal and there is no changing that. But its perfect because I work all day, the weekends I am usually out fishing, horseback riding, etc, and nights I am home.
And what do you mean making misleading titles for my threads??? Hedgehogs are prickly!
Hedgehogs are scent driven animals. He will need some time to get use to all the new scents in our home. He is use to cats, but he isn't use to my cats, so he will have to smell them a few times and know they are no danger to him. Same with the dogs. My dogs and cats are use to my other pets, but that doesn't mean I trust them. If I put the rats or snakes on the floor and walked out of the room, the dogs and cats would probably kill them. Now the rabbit is a different story. I have a dwarf rabbit and they all like him and they play together and the rabbit defends himself when the dogs are too pushy. I won't put the hedgehog near the bird, snake, mice, or rats. They are just all too much of natural enemies to chance it. The rabbit and hedgehog would probably be fine though. But again, always with my full supervision. The quills help too. So if the dogs decided to push him or the cats decided to whack him with a paw, they'd learn quick not to do it. But if it comes to something like that, then they just won't be able to be in the room when I have him out. I don't want to stress Fulci out.
It will probably take a few days to a week before I am able to full handle without fear of being bit. He's not aggressive, but if a hedgehog isn't use to your smell, they may bite out of fear, because they don't know you. He needs to associate smells with positive reinforcement so I can cuddle him and he enjoys it. And YES you can cuddle a hedgie. You don't give him a hug like you do a dog. But his owner said once he is comfortable with me, he loves to sit on your lap, in your arms or on your shoulder, when you are siting or laying down and he'll fall asleep right there.
They are also highly nocturnal and there is no changing that. But its perfect because I work all day, the weekends I am usually out fishing, horseback riding, etc, and nights I am home.
And what do you mean making misleading titles for my threads??? Hedgehogs are prickly!
I don't think I've ever seen an albino hedghog before. My first thought was "Albino Porcupine" which led to my second thought; "Aren't those kind of...dangerous?" After reading your description it is not a Porcupine at all but a Hedgehog! I went to google to compare hedghogs and Porcupines and they actually look a lot different, I always thought they were related and very similar until I actually paid close attention to both. Porcupine quills are longer and look more "hair" like. Anyhow, Fulci's pretty cool! Intimidating...but cool. not sure If I would ever try to pet him though.
By the way, you have the most beautiful black cats! My Black Cat is really furry and when she was younger she had that really sleek black cat look, but over time her fur has become more of brownish color. I guess with age and from hanging out in the sun (she likes to tan a lot for some reason). Black Cats are one of my favorite type Cats, unfortunately I couldn't keep mine anymore since I had to move to an apartment. She now lives with my Aunt and I see her everyonce in a while (She's 14 years old now and I've had her since she was a kitten).
By the way, you have the most beautiful black cats! My Black Cat is really furry and when she was younger she had that really sleek black cat look, but over time her fur has become more of brownish color. I guess with age and from hanging out in the sun (she likes to tan a lot for some reason). Black Cats are one of my favorite type Cats, unfortunately I couldn't keep mine anymore since I had to move to an apartment. She now lives with my Aunt and I see her everyonce in a while (She's 14 years old now and I've had her since she was a kitten).
<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c312/ ... sney-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Oh those aren't my kitties. These are pics from the owner. He is giving him to me tomorrow or Monday. Then I post my own picsjeremy88 wrote:I don't think I've ever seen an albino hedghog before. My first thought was "Albino Porcupine" which led to my second thought; "Aren't those kind of...dangerous?" After reading your description it is not a Porcupine at all but a Hedgehog! I went to google to compare hedghogs and Porcupines and they actually look a lot different, I always thought they were related and very similar until I actually paid close attention to both. Porcupine quills are longer and look more "hair" like. Anyhow, Fulci's pretty cool! Intimidating...but cool. not sure If I would ever try to pet him though.
By the way, you have the most beautiful black cats! My Black Cat is really furry and when she was younger she had that really sleek black cat look, but over time her fur has become more of brownish color. I guess with age and from hanging out in the sun (she likes to tan a lot for some reason). Black Cats are one of my favorite type Cats, unfortunately I couldn't keep mine anymore since I had to move to an apartment. She now lives with my Aunt and I see her everyonce in a while (She's 14 years old now and I've had her since she was a kitten).
And yup, porcupines and hedgehogs are as different as rats and cats. Porcupines are rodents, related to mice, rats, beavers, etc. Their teeth grow for their entire life and are sharp and blunt. And their quills, which are modified hairs are barbed and can be embedded into the skin of whatever is bothering them.
Hedgehogs are in their own completely separate order of species. Omnivores, with a high tendency to being insectivores. Meaning they eat both plants and animals, but prefer insects as their staple diet. In captivity, you try and mimic that as much as possible, giving them a wide variety of foods. Their quills are not barbed and won't embed into skin, unless under certain highly stressful conditions. Hedgehogs lose their quills a few ways. They shed their baby ones. Like a bird sheds its downy baby feathers. And as adults, if they are highly stressed, hurt, etc or one of the quills breaks, it will be shed. All this only happens in extreme cases where the owner is being very irrespondsible, even abusive.
A vast majority of hedgehog owners name theirs after the Sonic:The Hedgehog series. No offense, but I prefer something more original. Its like when I worked in the grooming shop...so many retrievers named Buddy and shih tzus named Gizmo. I mean, come on people, use your imagination! So I love the fact this hedgehog's name means something other than Sonic. I also liked the name Urchin...for Sea Urchin, since they kinda look like one. But I'll keep Fulci's name. It fits him well.
Pap64, lol, actually, he's not an albino...he has gold eyes. Trye albinos have red/pink eyes
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littlefuzzy
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I will post more updates and pics soon
I made a video of Fulci wandering on my bed over the past few days.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/sirensgr ... e-alb.aspx
http://www.livevideo.com/video/sirensgr ... e-alb.aspx
He sounds cute, looks ugly and seems like the spwan of the devil.
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blackcauldron85
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