What store sells hedgehogs?

Answer 1

I have never encountered a large chain pet store that sells hedgehogs. However, if you have done your research, you would know you should never buy a hedgehog from a petstore. Why?

• Petstores buy hoglets from irresponsible and sub-par breeders.

  A good hedgie breeder would never sell to a pet store! This means that their hedgehogs are almost always poorly bred - which leads to very unhealthy hedgehogs, and very ill-tempered hedgehogs.

• Petstores are not a proper environment for a hedgehog.

  This is because hedgehogs are nocturnal, and since customers come during the day, this greatly disturbs hedgehogs. This disturbance causes lack of sleep and stress, which can make the hoglets very sick.

• Petstores rarely ever properly care for hedgehogs.

  They are typically housed together - very bad idea, since hedgehogs are solitary creatures and need their space (2.5 square feet per animal). Not only this, but this also causes some hoglets to be bullied away from food/water sources, or injured by the others. They rarely ever are given wheels or other enrichment, and if they are, there are not enough for all of them.

• They do not properly socialize the hedgehogs.

  Socialization is the biggest part of making hedgehogs great pets, and total lack of socialization or improper socialization ruin a hedgehogs chances of being a good pet. Socialization needs to occur every single day, and it's rarely ever given.

Given the circumstances, it's best to buy from a reputable breeder and do you research before buying a hoglet. Check the related links for breeder lists.