Cute chocolate!!

我超久沒有update啦，趕快來補一下。
一個多禮拜前(拖到現在才post...)，朋友住的地方，接待一位客人，那位客人從加拿大帶了超可愛的巧克力，直接看圖吧。

太可愛了吧!!!好想要喔 不過應該會捨不得吃吧 哈哈哈
謝謝拍照傳給我的人^^
好了，這篇我打算就這樣矇混過去。bye

Spike - Home Improvement

感恩節前後，因為老媽來找我，所以我的Blog荒廢了好一段時間。

今天要來講一下繼Spike - Accommodation 住處跟Spike - Accessories之後，Spike的住處又升級啦!
這什麼怪東西？這就是現在Spike住處的外觀。為了讓Spike這個畏光的小朋友在不影響我看電視的情況下(原來還是為了自己 :P)享受比較陰暗的環境，我去買了一個(人用的)毯子來蓋Spike的整理箱。因此還得為通風以及不干擾滾輪加了一根隨手拿來本要當垃圾丟掉的棍子在整理箱邊上，做支撐毯子的架子，不過實在太簡陋，就不照相存證了。現在一邊是那根爛棍子，一邊是保溫燈在支撐那條毯子。
這個作法還帶來一個意外的功能，就是保暖。這幾天越來越冷，即使保溫燈全開，有時還是要很久才能達到設定的溫度，甚至有時即使"火力"全開溫度還不升反降，畢竟整理箱是比較開放的空間吧，我想。現在蓋了毯子，溫度都能維持，算是一個意外的收穫。

接下來這張照片重點有點不明顯。其實只是墊在飲水器跟整理箱中間的closet liner(這東西中文是啥? 我在台灣沒用過)。"好像"有稍微減少一點Spike喝水時的聲音(也極度有可能只是心理作用)。

接下來，重點來了!!我也不知道這刀叫什麼名字，只記得國中的時候上工藝還是美術之類的課用過，後來沒再用以後大概是丟了。這次老媽來之前，我跟她提了一下，因為不知道名字，只好用小畫家畫了個簡陋的圖寄給她。我本來是不抱希望的，沒想到老媽真厲害，在那麼短的時間裡竟然買到了。這東西當然不是給Spike用的啦。我只是有鑑之前把整理箱弄裂，想要一個更好用的東西來改造Spike的家。我覺得還滿好用的。先在整理箱上劃線、作記號，然後用這刀"挖"過一遍，裡外都挖過後，那槽中的塑膠就變得很薄，這時候只要再稍微用美工刀劃過，就可以把要割下的部份輕鬆移除了~(好像講得太容易了點^^")
托這工具的福，現在滾輪是架在整理箱上了，他跑步時的聲音似乎也小許多，加上沒有了鐵架之後，便盆超出滾輪的部份面積也變大了，我總覺得Spike居住的環境越來越舒適了(我覺得也沒用，這小傢伙好像沒差=.=)。下次再來看還要改造什麼吧，嘿嘿。

Spike - Accessories

我可是在小傢伙身上花了不少心思。
雖然沒有製作別墅的能力，就設備來說，他住的也應該算是豪宅吧。
以下就要來看看他的用品們。

I. From Breeder
前四項是我從breeder買來一開始的setup中有的東西而我現在還在用的。

1. 整理箱

長型的。空間還不算小。

2. 飲水器

雖然是聽說有夾到舌頭跟給水量不足的顧慮，不過目前看來似乎Spike使用上並沒有什麼問題，所以不打算換。裝水在淺盆裡Spike有時後會踩過去，我怕他腳濕濕的不好，就不這樣了。這個飲水器其實就算不去動它，每隔一段時間都會自己滴一兩滴下來，所以我下面還是擺了一個容器，以保持整理箱的乾燥。

3. 碗

其實我因為整理箱內"家具"擺放位置的變動，還買了很多個其他的碗。結果最後因著現在的安排，還是換回了原先breeder給的（所以我浪費了一些錢在沒用的碗上)。這樣正好，因為飲水器會滴水，這碗的兩頭，一邊就拿來裝食物，另一邊就用來接從飲水器落下的水。有時候Spike若是有注意到，也會先喝完碗裡的水才喝飲水器的。

4. 滾輪


看過別人的滾輪喋血故事(看了都覺得痛...)之後，開始比較會appreciate這個滾輪，因為它基本上沒有什麼地方可以造成傷害。一開始我就是單單滾輪連著鐵架直接放在整理箱裡，晚上Spike運動的時候，非常的吵。想過要在整理箱挖洞然後把滾輪固定在箱上，結果整理相被我弄裂...花了好一段時間做白功。目前因為把便盆放在滾輪下，正好有壓制的作用，就比較好一點(雖然我還是得把Spike留在客廳然後我要關上房門才能睡覺)，所以我暫時先把鑽孔的事情擱置。把便盆放在滾輪下後，我兩次早上起來看到滾輪並不在鐵架上，每次都驚慌的把Spike吵醒來檢查有沒有受傷，然後發現是虛驚一場(每次都結束於Spike睡眼惺忪的瞪著我)。第一次我以為我沒裝好，後來才覺得可能是Spike硬往底下鑽而把滾輪頂下來。因為滾輪其實只是"放"在鐵架上的:


我現在就以隨手可得的材料把它固定住，目前還沒有其他狀況。

我仔細思考過，還有可能造成傷害的大概就是兩個在滾輪底(側面?)的小洞了。雖然Spike每次一上滾輪就開始狂奔，應該是很難有什麼機會去鑽那兩個洞，可是為了確保安全，我還是稍微用砂紙磨了一下。

II. From me
接下來就是我敗家的開始...

5. 便盆

我對自己的歪點子還挺滿意的。
第一個是把便盆放到滾輪底下是個好主意，反正Spike也會在滾輪上大小便，這樣剛好，現在整理箱其他部份都可以保持"相對的"乾淨。第二個是把別人用來烤蛋糕的cake pan買來當便盆。其實我之前一直思考了很久到底要去哪裡買會剛好合整理箱寬度的便盆。有想過要買那種放在盆栽下的淺碟子，可是一直沒看到適合的。有天在買grocery的時候正好看到這個，就買了。大小剛好，又有點"可塑性"，簡直是完美。

便盆裡面用的litter是：

也是花了我一點時間去找。本來breeder給的bedding看起來跟網路上看到的刺蝟皮屑長得有點像，總是讓我在Spike換刺的時候心驚膽戰，老是自己嚇自己，況且看起來一點都不吸水。我知道刺蝟使用的litter有很多限制，最好不能有添加物，因為他們可能會咬；最好不要是clay作基底的，有一些潛在的危險(忘記是什麼了)，blahblah的，總之很多。尤其是公刺蝟，凝結砂怕會沾粘在他們的重要部位上造成堵塞，所以最好是分解的。幾乎完全符合需求的我在Petsmart只有看到一種，兩家不同公司的。一家就是我買的這個，另一家稍微比較貴一點，google "feline pine cat litter"應該可以看到(同一家公司有出不同種的，可是包裝一樣，要小心搞混)。
目前用起來感覺還不錯，我今天又買了一樣道具：

幹嘛用的勒？因為分解的litter每次要清理的時候，常常都會順道挖掉一些還可以使用的，造成浪費，所以我買了這個東西來當作過濾器，把還完好的litter留下，粉都篩掉。剛剛試用了，效果非常好(得意)。

6. 木屋

這是在網路上買的小木屋。
剛開始其實從breeder那邊拿來一個只算的上是睡袋的東西，後來好像是因為Spike在裡面大便，而我已經連續好幾天都在洗那東西，而那東西又不容易乾，所以我給他拿了一件我不喜歡穿出門的T-shirt，順便讓他熟悉我的味道。只有布料雖然是可以有遮蔽又順便有床，可是有時候容易被他推來推去，不在一個固定位置。有天我在網路上亂逛，看到了這木屋，就馬上下手了(買Spike用具從來沒手軟的)。


現在我的T-shirt也在待洗中，用了兩個袖子跟兩塊布當木屋中的床用(沒錯，兩塊白色的是另一件T-shirt的袖子，我為了他多了一件無袖衣)，這樣就可以拿來輪替。

7. 保溫燈加溫控組
這就是我極度敗家的證明。

保溫燈本身沒什麼稀奇。100W的陶瓷加熱器加上夾式的的燈座，其實沒有多少錢。



重點是溫控器。這不是一般的on/off溫控器，而是proportional的。on/off的溫控器，在溫度不到設定的溫度時就會開啟你的加熱裝置，然後在超過時切斷，真正的溫度會隨著設備好壞在設定溫度的上下2~5度(華氏)之間。而proportional的會自動調節輸入加熱裝置的power來維持所設定的溫度。說實在，溫度有點起伏有關係嗎？我想大概是沒差吧。可是就想讓Spike奢侈一點，既然我不會造樓中樓的話。

8. 體重計

是用來量廚房裡的食物的。簡單的數位顯示，一目了然，單位可以用磅或公斤。

9. 砂紙

其實就是一塊砂紙，實在沒必要放照片，可是都照了，所以...。
不是很粗的，100 grit(中文叫什麼?)。我摸過，不太粗，不掉沙，算滿OK的(我希望)。貼了一塊在整理箱內的底部，目前看來有點用，應該很久不用幫Spike剪指甲。會使用這個方法的原因是因為我實在很不會給Spike剪指甲，因為總是很擔心會撿到他的肉，所以每次都折騰老半天，Spike都不爽了我還沒剪到(囧)。在書上看到說可以放置粗糙表面的東西在食物盆的周圍來避免剪指甲，書中說的材料我忘了(英文的)，只記得都是不怎麼容易取得的(至少對我來說)，所以用了砂紙(當然是很小心的自己先摸摸看才選的)。

大概就是這樣了，其他還有些雜七雜八買錯的、沒在用的就不提了。

Spike的家是這樣：


旁邊還擺了一大推跟他有關的東西：


吧台下現在沒位置了，我吸塵器要另覓住處了。

Commercial Hedgehog Food

As far as I know, most people use cat food (sometimes dog food too) to feed their hedgies. Although not many, there are still food specially formulated for hedgehogs available on the market. I did a little research. This list is by no means a recommendation list. It only shows the fact that they exist. Also, the order means nothing at all either. It's totally random. The numbering is just to count how many are out there.

If I know the company name, I'll list it and list the products. Otherwise I am just gonna post the product name.


1. Eight in One Pet Products

a. Ultra-Blend Diet for Hedgehogs


b. Crunchy Treat - for Hedgehogs


There seems to be different package (appearance.) I posted the newest version of the package.


2. Pet-pro

a. 1st Crumbs
b. Spikes Delite Premium
c. Spikes Delite Pet-Diet
d. Spikes Delite Lite-Diet
e. Spikes Delite Pro-Diet Chicken 'N Rice


Seems like the packaging for all the products are the same except for the product name. I might have to ask Spike if this would really be his delight. XD


3. Sun Seed
a. SunSeed Sunscription Vita Hedgehog Adult Food


The company website doesn't really tell you anything.
And I don't understand why is the name of the food has to be so freaking long.


4. Exotic Nutrition Company

a. Hedgehog Complete


b. Insectivore-Fare


c. Insect-Eater Diet


d. Mazuri Insectivore-Diet


I actually bought the Hedgehog Complete for Spike and he seems to like it, but there is really no way to know if the nutrition is exactly what he needs.(shrug)

5. Vitakraft



Can't find the product on their homepage. Saw some very bad review of it when I was searching for the picture...

6. Pretty Pets Hedgehog Food



I don't get if there are two kinds or if "premium" and "maintenance" are just two words in one long name.


7. Wildthings Hedgehog Food



8. F.M. Brown's Nutrition Plus Hedgehog Food
or F.M. Brown's Zoo Vitals(with or without "s") Hedgehog Food




9. Spike's Dinner


Another hedgehog food that is named with "Spike." Makes me wonder if there is really
not many hedgehogs named Spike.



Again, I have to say, this is just a list of hedgehog food out there. Even though they are all called hedgehog food, some of them have ingredients that are actually not suitable for hedgehogs. Many hedgehog owners even claim that hedgehog food is actually not as good as weight-control cat food. (Of course there is opposite opinion too.) It's really hard to tell what is the best. I guess hedgehog owners just have to watch out themselves.

Spike - Accommodation 住處

This is going to be a bilingual post. Not exact translation tho.
這會是一篇雙語的post(有特別的需要). 可是不會是直接的翻譯.

This post is for the purpose of obtaining professional advice from a (or two?) hedgehog-housing expert.
寫這篇是為了請示一位(還是兩位?)高明的建築師的意見.

"Expert" is definitely not an exaggeration.
用"高明"兩字絕對不誇張.
Let me paste the link to the works from the expert(s):
給各位看看這位大師的成品:
http://blog.xuite.net/sesame.lao/blog/19393855
http://blog.xuite.net/sesame.lao/blog/20830750
http://blog.xuite.net/sesame.lao/blog/23663889
(If you can't read it, you can still look at the pictures)

How awesome is that! Two floors is awesome enough, and there is even more.
超酷. 兩層樓就夠酷了. 還有更多層的.

Here is Spike's house:



This is already the Nth version of it.
這已經不知道是第幾版的了.
I kept changing the arrangement of his "furniture."
我一直在改變他"家具"的排列.
He hasn't fully learn to use only the restroom for his excretion.
他還沒學會只在廁所"方便".
I am guessing part of the reason might be that I kept changing things around.
我想我一直改變相對位置可能是學不會的其中一個原因.
From now on I am gonna keep this arrangement so he'll have a chance to get use to it.
現在我要維持這樣的安排好讓他有機會習慣.
Hope he'll be potty trained soon...
希望他能趕快學會在定點上廁所...

Although I did think about giving him a two-floor mansion. I am having second thoughts.
雖然我之前想要給他蓋個兩層樓的別墅. 不過我現在還是決定算了.
He doesn't really need more space right now.
他現在似乎並不太需要.
The only things that he does are eat, sleep and run on the wheel. (Oh, and excrete)
他平常除了吃就是睡, 不然就是跑滾輪. (喔 對 還有排泄)
I bought him a plastic ball but he never play with it.
我幫他買的塑膠球他也不玩.
He's not even interested in toilet paper rolls like how "regular hedgehogs" do. (He's special :P)
甚至對"一般刺蝟"都玩的衛生紙捲也沒興趣 (大概他很特別 :P)
So, he doesn't really need more room right now.
所以他現在其實不需要更多的空間了.

It seemed to me that the reason why he pooed in his bedroom is that he has "privacy".
他之前會在睡房大便似乎是因為他可以享有他的"隱私".
Hedgehogs like to be covered. That's why I build a roof for his restroom.
刺蝟喜歡有遮蔽, 所以我為他的廁所蓋了個屋頂.
And it appears to me that he often poo while he eats...
然後他似乎很愛一邊吃飯一邊排解...
Also, when he's sleepy, he doesn't wanna go too far to poo.
加上他睡眼惺忪的時候不喜歡跑太遠去大便
That is why his restroom is now between he's bedroom and food bowl.
所以他的廁所在睡房跟飯碗中間

The only modification left is to make his bedroom heavier so he won't move it all over the place.
現在唯一剩下的改變就是讓他的睡房重一點, 他才不能把它推來推去.
I don't want him ruin all my good intentions.
我不想他把我的完美計畫破壞了.
Any thought how to make his bedroom heavier and still Spike-proof? Hedgehog-proof I mean.
有沒有人可以提供一些把睡房加重卻依舊安全的點子呢?


(Old picture of Spike. I don't have a lot of them, so one picture a post)

Why Hedgehog

Too many people asked me: "Why hedgehog?" so I thought I would compose a post about it.

There are several reasons.

1) I've seen videos and picture of people having hedgehog as pet and I thought it's very cool. And hedgehogs are very cute too. At that time I didn't really think of getting one though. I just thought the idea of having such an exotic animal as pet is pretty interesting.

2) I actually would prefer a dog. But since I work in the morning, I don't think having a dog is a good idea. First of all, it will be hard to potty train him while I'm gone all morning working. Second, it's carpet every where in my apartment except for bath room and kitchen. If I can't potty train him, I surely can't just leave him in the house, it'll be a disaster. Last but not least, dog is the kind of pet that need a lot of attention. Since I can't give him too much attention in the morning, I believe if I really get a dog, he'll be a sad one.

3) A cat would probably need relatively less attention. But the same situation apply, since I am at work all morning, I am afraid that an untrained cat would scratch and destroy my furniture (not like I have a lot, but they are mostly new.)

4) Addition to 2) and 3), the apartment complex would charge me 300 dollars for having a dog or cat.

5) Now hedgehog appears to be a very attractive choice. Relatively low maintenance, nocturnal (although now I find it not really as great an attribute as I thought) and cute, hedgehog was just appealing.

That's the reason why after I did some research about hedgies, I decided that it should be a good fit for me.

Is it clear now?

Hedgehog Care

Most people will tell you that hedgehogs are easy to take care of, that they are low maintenance. I think they can be both low maintenance or high depend on how you want to take care of them.

In order to properly take care of Spike, I have already read some articles and I am still finding new articles to read. I do believe having read 2-3 articles about hedgehog care should be sufficient for merely keeping your hedgie alive. But I also believe that there are a lot more to know if you want to have happy and healthy hedgies.

I came across a great hedgehog care article this morning:
http://hedgehogvalley.com/basiccare.html
This kinda explained the horrible story that I heard last night. (Thanks to David for a great nightmare material.) Also, it mentioned a "Spike's Delite Hedgehog Food". I thought it was interesting. Maybe I should get Spike some to try. Even though this article is great, I do think that there are still a lot more to know before one can properly take care of a hedgehog. Be sure to do some research before you adopt one.

Anyways, I think what I wanna say is, no matter what you want animal you want to adopt as a pet, be sure that you know how to take care of it before you take it home. Sometimes people tend to take it too lightly. I admit that when I was a kid, I accidentally killed some small animals even though I liked them so much. It's really not about love but knowledge.

I sure don't wanna make any mistake with Spike.