Average Lifespan: 2-3 years (wild), 5-7 years (captive)
Average Length/weight: 6-9 inches long, 1 lb
Habitat: South Africa
Usual Diet: Insects, meat, and fruits (opportunistic)
Captive Diet: crickets, mealworms, wet cat food, commercial hedgehog food
Mating: Hedgehogs do not mate for life they breed 1 to 2 times per year, when the female is ready to mate she will allow the male to approach, and they will separate after mating.
Reproduction: Gestation is 35 days, with an average litter size of 4-6 young. Hedgehogs are born with soft spines. It takes 30-35 days for baby hedgehogs to get their permanent spines. The babies leave the mother after 6 weeks of age.
Special Features: African Pygmy Hedgehogs are covered from head to tail with sharp spines. They are not like porcupines, the spines stay on the hedgehog as protection against predators. The underside of the hedgie is covered with soft white hair. When frightened the a hedgie will curl up in a tight ball, criss-cross his spines and hiss.
Mikuki is a very energetic young hedgehog. The family that purchased him in a pet store decided that he didn't make a very good pet. With some regular handling and a lot of patience, Mikuki will eventually become a very friendly hedgie.
Average Lifespan: 2-3 years
Average Length: male 20-25 cm, female 16-18 cm
Habitat: originated in Northern China, can now be found all over the world
Usual Diet: omnivorous, milk, meat, vegetables, poultry, eggs, grains, nuts, fruit
Captive Diet: Rat pellets, fruit, vegetables, peanuts
Mating: Females come into heat for 20 hours every 4-6 days and will mate with the dominant male.
Reproduction: Rats are very prolific. The gestation period is 21-23 days. They can have 2-14 young per litter, average is 7. Female rats can mate again within 8 hours of giving birth. Young are blind, naked, and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at 14-17 days old, and they are weaned at 3 weeks.
Special Features: Rats can eat up to 1/3 of their weight in 24 hours.. Rats are good swimmers, jumpers and climbers and they can travel 2-3 miles in one night when foraging for food. They live in large groups with one male dominant over the others.
Amy became a mother on October 23, 2002. Her 10 babies have been adopted by friends of the Nature Center and will live as family pets. Amy is very friendly, but she is also shy and prefers to sit at home rather than go on programs. But she is also a worry-wart. When J.L. goes to a program, Amy paces her cage until he returns.
Average Lifespan: 2-3 years
Average Length: male 20-25 cm, female 16-18 cm
Habitat: originated in Northern China, can now be found all over the world
Usual Diet: omnivorous, milk, meat, vegetables, poultry, eggs, grains, nuts, fruit
Captive Diet: Rat pellets, fruit, vegetables, peanuts
Mating: Females come into heat for 20 hours every 4-6 days and will mate with the dominant male.
Reproduction: Rats are very prolific. The gestation period is 21-23 days. They can have 2-14 young per litter, average is 7. Female rats can mate again within 8 hours of giving birth. Young are blind, naked, and helpless at birth. Their eyes open at 14-17 days old, and they are weaned at 3 weeks.
Special Features: Rats can eat up to 1/3 of their weight in 24 hours.. Rats are good swimmers, jumpers and climbers and they can travel 2-3 miles in one night when foraging for food. They live in large groups with one male dominant over the others.
J.L. loves to go on programs. He will sit on the presenters shoulder for the entire hour. He loves to be touched and enjoys his monthly bath. He takes good care of Amy, his wife but doesn't seem to mind leaving her at home when he is at work. They had 10 babies together in October of 2002. But J.L. took a trip to the vet and there will be no more babies.
Average Lifespan: up to 14 years
Average Weight: 9-11 lbs.
Habitat: Forest, tundra, prairie, farmland
Usual Diet: Rodents, rabbits, insects, fruit, carrion, will consume 1-2 lbs./day
Captive Diet: Dry dog food, rats
Mating: Females mate with several males but establish a partnership with one male. Males will fight during breeding season which is from December through April (varies from region to region). Males provide their partners with food.
Reproduction: Gestation is between 51 and 53 days. Litters can be from 1-13 pups. They are born blind and open their eyes 9-14 days after birth. Mother and pups remain together until autumn.
Special Features: Red foxes are solitary animals that will defend their territory from other foxes. A male fox will share his territory with two females and their young. Red foxes are hunted for sport and fur. A red fox can run up to 48km/hr and jump obstacles that are 2m high.
Henna was raised as a household pet after a man found her abandoned and drowning as a young kit. CNC was asked to take her when she reached sexual maturity as she was no longer suitable as a pet and she did not pass her rehabilitation test. Today Henna can be seen pacing in her pen, she does this when she is bored so we try to play with her and provide her with interesting activities and toys to keep her busy. When you visit her, talk softly, she likes that best.
Average Lifespan: 10-15 years
Average Size: 10 in. 1.5 lbs
Habitat: Andes Mountains, Chile. Semi-arid areas
Usual Diet: Hardy, coarse grasses and herbs
Captive Diet: Chinchilla food, hay
Mating: Chinchillas mate for life, and the female is the dominant member of the relationship. Courtship begins by the male or female pulling out fur from the other.
Reproduction: Gestation is between 111 and 125 days, depending on altitude. Thatıs 4 times longer than a rabbit. Litters can be from 15 kits. They are born with open eyes and fully furred. Mother and pups remain together until autumn. Females can mate again as soon as a few hours after giving birth, thus allowing for up to 3 litters in a year.
Chinchillas can become sexually mature in 5 months.
Special Features: Chinchillas have approx 80-120 hairs per follicle, so they are extra soft and have no chance of being afflicted by fleas. There are three different breeds of native chinchillas in the Chilean Andes, the long tail and ears version lives at low levels, and the short tail and ears chinchillas live at high altitudes, and a breed that appears to be a mix of the other two lives at moderate altitudes. They are the same species though, and their tail and ear length seems to be only influenced by altitude.
Tacora came to us as a rather obese chinchilla. But, put on a diet, she has become a very healthy and happy addition to CNC. She loves to eat hay, and she likes to run around her cage to get exercise. She loves attention and visitors, but she is a little shy. Donıt be discouraged if she hides from you!