A friend of mine wants to get a hedgehog, but she also has a bearded dragon. So, I started to wonder can hedgehogs live with bearded dragons?
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, which means they are active at night and sleep during the day. Bearded dragons are diurnal, meaning they are awake during the day and sleep at night. This difference in activity level can be a problem if the two animals are in the same enclosure.
Hedgehogs and bearded dragons are two completely different animals, needing entirely different terrain, diet, and surroundings.
But there’s a lot more to know about keeping these two animals together. Let’s take a closer look at whether or not it is safe for them to live together.
In this article, we will take a look at what circumstances would allow a hedgehog and bearded dragon to live together.
Let’s get started.
Do hedgehogs and bearded dragons get along?
As a general rule, bearded dragons are solitary animals that do not like to be disturbed, and hedgehogs are very active creatures that love to explore. This combination can often lead to problems.
Bearded dragons are also much larger than hedgehogs, and their size difference can cause problems. Hedgehogs are very delicate animals, and their small size makes them vulnerable to being injured by a bearded dragon.
In addition, hedgehogs are known to be escape artists. They are very good at finding ways to get out of their enclosures.
Can hedgehogs and bearded dragons live together safely?
Hedgehogs and bearded dragons cannot live together safely. They are two completely different animals that need entirely different terrain, diet, and surroundings.
Bearded dragons are large lizards that are native to Australia and need a warm, dry environment to thrive.
The two animals have different needs and requirements that make it impossible for them to live together safely.
Also, hedgehogs prefer to live alone, and only certain lizards such as other bearded dragons, anoles, geckos, and chelonians such as turtles and tortoises can live in harmony with bearded dragons.
That being said, hedgehogs are also known to carry a number of diseases that can be harmful to bearded dragons, including salmonella and rabies. In addition, bearded dragons can be very aggressive and may attack hedgehogs if they feel threatened.
For these reasons, it is not recommended that hedgehogs and bearded dragons be kept together as pets.
The incompatibility of hedgehogs and bearded dragons
The biggest concern with putting hedgehogs and bearded dragons together is that they are two entirely incompatible animals. At best, they will be unhappy, and at worst, one will fatally injure the other.
One of the main concerns is that due to the fact that hedgehogs are not desert animals, they might eat the lizard. Additionally, a bearded dragon has the wrong temperament to be living with a hedgehog, and they might even attack.
Hedgehogs and Bearded: The main issue
There are many issues with hedgehogs and bearded dragons living together. We have mentioned the most serious above, but also you must consider:
- Hedgehogs are nocturnal whilst bearded dragons are diurnal
- Hedgehogs need a stable temperature of 80F whilst bearded dragons regularly need to switch between 80F and over 100F
- Hedgehogs need to be housed with wood shavings, whilst bearded dragons need either tile or sand
Plus, keeping hedgehogs as pets is illegal in many places around the world.
Which animals can live with hedgehogs and bearded dragons?
When housing different creatures together, it is imperative that you make sure you understand the correct living conditions for all animals. Consider the following:
- Tank size
- Temperature
- Diet
- Hygiene and upkeep
- Basking spots
- Necessary equipment
- The temperament of the animals
- Sleep schedule
- Gender
You must make sure that all animals are compatible in the above ways before considering housing them together.
Bearded dragons are great when housed with other lizards, turtles, or tortoises, whereas hedgehogs are best kept alone.
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Ideal conditions for additional lizards in bearded dragon tanks
If you do decide to add any other lizards to a bearded dragon tank, you must make sure that the hides are enough, the animals are still young, there is enough room for them both to roam around, and there are multiple basking spots.
When considering tank size, a general rule of thumb is that for each bearded dragon, the tank is four times the size of the creature. If you then decide to add other animals, make sure that you do your research on their ideal tank sizes and make the necessary adjustments.
Remember that bearded dragons are not creatures that need companionship, so sometimes, it is better to leave them alone. However, they do appreciate human contact and are a great pet for those who like to really interact with other animals.
Ideal conditions for additional animals in hedgehog cages
Generally, hedgehogs are solitary creatures that do not like a lot of attention from other animals. That said, during the breeding season, they will actively seek out other hedgehogs, and if you handle them from a young enough age, they will become affectionate with humans.
Hedgehogs are very active creatures and can run several miles each night, and as such, they will need ample space to run around – significantly more than a bearded dragon would need.
However, this does not mean that they should be allowed to interact with other animals. Contact with your cats or dogs might be unavoidable, but it should also be kept to a minimum.
For the safety of both animals, hedgehogs should be kept away from other exotic pets. In fact, it is argued that hedgehogs are much happier when alone.
Conclusion
In this article, we learned that it is not a good idea to house hedgehogs with bearded dragons, as they have different needs and temperaments.
We also learned about some of the other animals that are compatible with hedgehogs and bearded dragons, as well as the ideal conditions for housing them together.
And we wrapped up by considering the needs of both animals and how to best provide for them.
