ForumGarden

In addition to everything else I have to do (sigh!) they want me to help "socialize" some new animals for our educational "string" at the zoo.

http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/africah.htm

:wah: WOW! WHAT FUN! I've worked with these little critters before...they have what are possibly the world's most adorable feet!

(It's a tough job, folks..... )

Prickley little guys, aren't they?

They are cute!

When they're babies, you can handle them "bare." When they're adults, gloves're a good idea. They DO have more than their fair share of charm!

Reminds me of the croquet game of Alice............................:wah:

Lulu2

That sounds so delightful!

I'm glad you love what you do :-6

In your attempt to socialize these little buggers does that include the art of dancing, drinking, conversing, and being polite in social inviroments???

Just checking. LOL

They're soooooo cute! I want one of those!!!

we baby-sat our friend's hedgehog for a week once when they went out of town.

he was so cute! :-4

Lulu2 wrote: they have what are possibly the world's most adorable feet!
No doubt of that, Lulu!! I've handled a few hedgehogs myself, and especially when they're babies....those teeny tiny pink widdle toes...:-4 Love 'em!!!! :-4

BabyRider wrote: widdle toes...:-4 Love 'em!!!! :-4


Baby Rider said 'widdle'

Nomie's gonna call her 'Cuddles" again :p

Lulu2 wrote: When they're babies, you can handle them "bare." When they're adults, gloves're a good idea. They DO have more than their fair share of charm!


Why gloves? Do they bite?

Bill Sikes wrote: Why gloves? Do they bite?


Mr. Sikes

I don't know, but I assume they are quite prickly to handle

Am I right, Lulu2? :-6

Bill Sikes wrote: Why gloves? Do they bite?
No, Bill the spiky little bodies will prick your hand something awful!! Like a porcupine on a smaller scale, and hedgehogs don't release their quills.

BabyRider wrote:

(Do hedgehogs bite?)

No, Bill the spiky little bodies will prick your hand something awful!! Like a porcupine on a smaller scale, and hedgehogs don't release their quills.


I know about their prickles! IME the young ones (after their prickles have

hardened) are the sharpest little ubbgres, and the old ones can be picked

up fairly easily - however, what they lack in sharpness, the more than make

up for in fleas! The blimmin' things can be absolutely alive with them!

They also make an extraordinary Ffff.. ffff.. fff.. fff.. noise when mating... that's

real info., gratuitously added.

lol bill lulu as i told you before i wanna take one home but as you told me they vomit on themselves and that's UCKY

Right after wanting a PANDA, I want a HEDGEHOG.. So cute and sweet they have no idea they are full of quills, just sweet little creatures.. :-4

they vomit on themselves and that's UCKY


Eeewwwww :yh_sick

puppgirl wrote: (hedgehogs) vomit on themselves and that's UCKY


Do they? News to me...

They vomit on themselves.... Heck I have done that on several occasions myself nothing new there... I know plenty of people that up chuck on themselves every now and then...:p

CARLA wrote: Heck I have done that on several occasions myself nothing new there... I know plenty of people that up chuck on themselves every now and then...:p


:D Carla

You all are FUNNY!

Yes, African hedgehogs will do something politely called "self-annointing" when they're stressed. Some of them don't mind human contact, if they've been "socialized," but many are so stressed by handling that it's almost cruel to subject them to it.

(NO, GRUMPAZ! "Socializing" does NOT include teaching them which fork to use and not to belch at the table! :wah: )

But they're nocturnal and don't particularly enjoy sitting on your lap to watch tv...so, we always advise against getting one as a pet. They're short-lived, too, sorry to say.

Porcupines have quills...those're hooked on the end to stick into flesh (YIKES) and they can be easily released by the animal. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, have spines, which aren't barbed and which are really modified hairs. But they can really hurt, if you're not wearing gloves.

Someone asked about their biting...a few of them seem to like nibbling on the tip of a glove, but biting as a defense isn't their method of choice. They'd rather roll up into a prickly ball and wait for trouble to go away.

They've been named Maple and Willow and Fern. (Go figure.)

Lulu2

If you are ever bored and find yourself with lots of time on your hands :rolleyes:

You could start a thread on unusual/interesting animals

You could post a picture and then tell us all about them

It would be like a wild animal show from Animal Planet right here in the Garden

That would be way cool

Really? Let me think on that.