(no subject)
Hello. This is my first time posting in the community and I have a question concerning different types of bedding.
I first purchased Piyoko in July, from an exotic pet shop owner a little over two hours away from Miami. It was well worth the drive (and the $100 alone for gas); but on my way home, I noticed that he was throwing up what looked to be aspen bedding. As the owner purchased him from a breeder, and that the hedgehog was kept on astroturf in the shop, I knew the owner had done nothing wrong. So, I simply opted to use astroturf, assuming everything would be okay. Well, nothing went wrong. But I as time went on, I felt somewhat bad because every now and then, he would claw at the astroturf, as if he wanted to burrow.
After a month of Summer vacation, I went back to college in Gainesville. A few months later, I met someone who had a hedgehog, and spoke to him about bedding. I explained to him on how I used astroturf, and he told me that CareFresh would give him the opportunity to burrow AND eliminate odors. I researched SEVERAL websites and found that CareFresh had been claimed to be "the safest litter", but some hedgehogs were known to choke. I then checked pictures on hedgehog cages, and, once again, quite a number of people had seemed to use it. The next trip to the store, I decided to buy him some. For the next few days, I put some in, aware that some hedgehogs had been known to have problems, and everything was fine. He never put any in his mouth, and, as weeks progressed, I put a little bit more and more. Still, I checked several times a day when he wasn't sleeping, to make sure everything was okay. 3 months later (yesterday), I'm in class for no more than 2 hours, and as soon as I get back to my dorm, he's dead. He choked on a piece of CareFresh. After 3 months of having no problems, he's dead. He had more than enough food, more than enough water, and I just cannot comprehend as to why he decided now, of all times. I'm absolutely torn, I have no idea where I went wrong, and I can't help but blame myself over and over again on how I'm a terrible owner.
My Mother asked if I wanted to get another one, and if by Christmas I was alright, that she'd buy me anoher one. But now I don't know what to do in terms of what to do with bedding, because I don't want the same thing to happen again. I had checked online about aspen (when it comes to why he was throwing some up) and I've read no problems with it. However, that still doesn't explain why he was throwing some up when I first got him.
So, if any of you could be so kind as to share your experiences with different kinds of bedding; aspen, astroturf, pellets, blankets, what have you; I would more than appreciate it.
Thank you in advance.
I first purchased Piyoko in July, from an exotic pet shop owner a little over two hours away from Miami. It was well worth the drive (and the $100 alone for gas); but on my way home, I noticed that he was throwing up what looked to be aspen bedding. As the owner purchased him from a breeder, and that the hedgehog was kept on astroturf in the shop, I knew the owner had done nothing wrong. So, I simply opted to use astroturf, assuming everything would be okay. Well, nothing went wrong. But I as time went on, I felt somewhat bad because every now and then, he would claw at the astroturf, as if he wanted to burrow.
After a month of Summer vacation, I went back to college in Gainesville. A few months later, I met someone who had a hedgehog, and spoke to him about bedding. I explained to him on how I used astroturf, and he told me that CareFresh would give him the opportunity to burrow AND eliminate odors. I researched SEVERAL websites and found that CareFresh had been claimed to be "the safest litter", but some hedgehogs were known to choke. I then checked pictures on hedgehog cages, and, once again, quite a number of people had seemed to use it. The next trip to the store, I decided to buy him some. For the next few days, I put some in, aware that some hedgehogs had been known to have problems, and everything was fine. He never put any in his mouth, and, as weeks progressed, I put a little bit more and more. Still, I checked several times a day when he wasn't sleeping, to make sure everything was okay. 3 months later (yesterday), I'm in class for no more than 2 hours, and as soon as I get back to my dorm, he's dead. He choked on a piece of CareFresh. After 3 months of having no problems, he's dead. He had more than enough food, more than enough water, and I just cannot comprehend as to why he decided now, of all times. I'm absolutely torn, I have no idea where I went wrong, and I can't help but blame myself over and over again on how I'm a terrible owner.
My Mother asked if I wanted to get another one, and if by Christmas I was alright, that she'd buy me anoher one. But now I don't know what to do in terms of what to do with bedding, because I don't want the same thing to happen again. I had checked online about aspen (when it comes to why he was throwing some up) and I've read no problems with it. However, that still doesn't explain why he was throwing some up when I first got him.
So, if any of you could be so kind as to share your experiences with different kinds of bedding; aspen, astroturf, pellets, blankets, what have you; I would more than appreciate it.
Thank you in advance.