Indian Long-Eared Hedgehog: Care Guide And Species Profile

Table Of Contents

Origin And Natural Habitat Scientific Classification Species Overview Appearance And Size Housing Cage’s Decorations And Items Bedding Heating And Temperature Diet And Nutrition Compatibility Behavior And Temperament Handling Health And Lifespan Price References And Further Reading

Origin And Natural Habitat

Indian long-eared hedgehogs are native to India and Pakistan. They can be found explicitly in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh regions of India and the North West Frontier Province, Punjab, and Sindh regions of Pakistan. The Indian long-eared hedgehog is also a nocturnal, solitary creature that prefers to live in burrows and only comes out at night to forage for food or to find a mate.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Eulipotyphla
Family	Erinaceidae
Genus	Hemiechinus
Species	Hemiechinus Collaris

Species Overview

Common Name	Indian Long-Eared Hedgehog
Origin	Asia
Natural Habitat	Arid Regions
Temperament	Intelligent And Curious
Compatibility	Solitary
Minimum Cage Size	Length: 24 inches (60 cm) Width: 24 inches (60 cm) Height: 24 inches (60 cm)
Diet	Carnivorous
Color	Brown
Lifespan	7 years
Experience Required	Beginner

Appearance And Size

Indian long-eared hedgehogs are a petite species, typically measuring around 4 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) in length. They also usually weigh about 200 – 500 grams, depending on their diet and nutrition. Indian long-eared hedgehogs can be easily distinguished from other hedgehogs due to their distinctive long ears, which are often about an inch (2cm) long. Their unique long ears also give them a heightened sense of hearing, which enables them to detect both prey and potential dangers from a distance.

Housing

Indian long-eared hedgehogs are ground-dwelling creatures and, as such, do not need an excessively tall cage. Instead, they require enough space to move around freely, which is why it is advisable to get a cage that is 24 inches by 24 inches or larger. Housing an Indian long-eared hedgehog in a spacious cage will give it sufficient room to roam and explore. On the other hand, placing an Indian long-eared hedgehog in a small cage will make it uncomfortable. Indian long-eared hedgehogs generally travel a couple of miles daily in search of food. So replicating their natural environment by giving them ample space to skip about is the easiest way to ensure your hedgehog is as comfortable as possible.

It’s best to also go for a cage with a solid floor for your Indian long-eared hedgehog. This will help prevent your pet from getting its feet caught in any open spaces and potentially injuring itself. Furthermore, a cage with a solid floor is much easier to clean, making it a practical choice for both you and your hedgehog in the long run.

Cage’s Decorations And Items

It is equally important to ensure that your Indian long-eared hedgehog has access to various forms of mental stimulation. That’s why it’s essential to have a few toys and an exercise wheel in an Indian long-eared hedgehog’s cage. You can also consider adding additional cage accessories like tunnels and hides if your hedgehog’s cage has some extra space available.

Bedding

There are several options to choose from when buying bedding for a hedgehog’s cage. These include, but are not limited to, aspen shavings, cloth cage liners, and paper-based bedding.

Ensure you don’t use cedar or pine shavings as bedding for your Indian long-eared hedgehog’s cage. These types of bedding can easily irritate a hedgehog’s skin and also give a hedgehog respiratory problems. That’s why it’s best to stick to bedding options that are safe and recommended for hedgehogs.

Heating And Temperature

The temperature in Indian long-eared hedgehogs’ natural habitat is very inconsistent. It usually fluctuates between being overly hot and excessively cold. The temperature often plummets at night when Indian long-eared hedgehogs are most active, while it is generally very hot during the day when they are asleep. The unique temperature in their natural habitat makes Indian long-eared hedgehogs more resilient to cold than most other hedgehogs. Nevertheless, it’s best to keep an Indian long-eared hedgehog’s cage relatively warm. So ensure you get a portable heat source for your Indian long-eared hedgehog as soon as possible.

Diet And Nutrition

Indian long-eared hedgehogs are omnivorous and primarily feed on small desert-dwelling insects in the wild. They also mainly derive moisture from their food since their natural habitats usually lack natural bodies of water.

High-quality feeder insects, such as crickets, mealworms, and dubia roaches, should form the bulk of pet Indian long-eared hedgehogs’ diets. It’s also important to include high-quality cat/hedgehog food and a couple of organic fruits and vegetables in their diets. Hedgehogs generally prefer a varied diet, so ensure you don’t just stick to one type of food alone.

It’s important to only feed your Indian long-eared hedgehog store-bought feeders and organic fruits and vegetables. Feeders specifically bred as food are generally safer and healthier for hedgehogs. Wild insects often carry parasites that can be transferred to your hedgehog if it eats them. Additionally, it’s best to avoid non-organic fruits and vegetables as they may contain chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics that might negatively affect a hedgehog.

Compatibility

Indian long-eared hedgehogs live alone in the wild, so it’s best to house them alone in a cage. You should only place an Indian long-eared hedgehog in the same cage with another Indian long-eared hedgehog when it’s time to breed them.

Behavior And Temperament

Indian long-eared hedgehogs are nocturnal, so they’ll usually be awake when you’re sleeping. However, they are pretty compassionate and loving animals when they get used to people. They are also famous for their mating ritual, in which the male performs an elaborate dance to entice the female to accept him as a mate.

Handling

Indian long-eared hedgehogs can be handled even though they have quills on their back. Their quills are not excessively sharp, so you just need to give it some time and practice in order to get used to handling them. Handling Indian long-eared hedgehogs may feel uncomfortable for beginners, but using a towel or cloth can make it easier.

It might take a while for an Indian long-eared hedgehog to get familiar with a new environment, so it’s best to give it some space when you first get it.

Health And Lifespan

Keeping an Indian long-eared hedgehog healthy is relatively straightforward, provided you keep them in a spacious and clean cage, give them nutritious meals and water, and install an exercise wheel and some toys in their cage so they can always be mentally stimulated. Not adhering to these safe practices can negatively affect an Indian long-eared hedgehog.

Obtaining your Indian long-eared hedgehog from a reputable breeder and feeding it healthy store-bought food to avoid parasitic infections should also be over-emphasized. Indian long-eared hedgehogs are carriers of multiple parasites and zoonotic diseases such as ticks, mites, fleas, and salmonella. That’s why it’s essential you take good care of your hedgehog and only feed it store-bought food. Infected hedgehogs are more prone to further health issues and can also transmit these parasites to you or your other pets.

You need to also be mindful of the types of food you feed your Indian long-eared hedgehog because all hedgehog species are prone to obesity and other diseases from eating the wrong food.

Price

Indian long-eared hedgehogs usually cost between $400 and $800 on average. Breeders and pet shops do not frequently sell them, so count yourself lucky if you find one on sale.