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| The
Basics
Articles on basic care and considerations for new or prospective owners. Articles pertaining to health, nutrition, and veterinary care. Articles and pictures about hedgehog breeding, growth, and development. Articles for people who already own a hedgehog or want to know more than just the basics. Learn more about hedgehog shows and hedgehog colors! Wondering where on earth to buy a hedgehog? Start here! Where to purchase hedgehog supplies and collectibles. Meet the hedgehogs of Hedgehog Valley! Meet the other critters that call Hedgehog Valley
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Did you know that many hedgehogs enjoy dust baths?
We stumbled across this finding on accident! I used to have pet degu and
I had spilled chinchilla dust on the floor when filling their dust bath.
One of the hedgehogs, Puck, was running around on the floor and he
started doing something kind of funny when he found it. At first I thought maybe Puck was having a seizure. He dipped one should kind of down and shook. But then he did it on the other side. After a couple of times, he rolled on his side in a ball, and did what I can only describe as an upside-down shimmy in the dust! I realized he was doing like the degu and dust bathing in the dust! We have tried this over the years with a lot of our other hedgies and the majority seem to naturally respond in the same way- dust bathing. I have to wonder if maybe this is a more natural way of bathing for animals that come from an environment that is often on the dry side? I have also noticed that for some hedgehogs, even clay kitty litter (use nonclumping only, to avoid blockages) will also elicit a dust bathing response.
The picture above was taken by Paula Willson, of a place where she released rehabilitated wild hedgehogs into their native environment, in Malawi, Central Africa.
Antigone Means-Burleson Iola, KS Show them you care, Support our Troops
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