Advice on Hedgehogs
If you’re wondering whether it is possible to keep a Hedgehog as a pet, the answer is Yes!
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is kept as a pet by a number of people around the world.
Please note it is not legal to keep wild hedgehogs.
It is important to be a responsible hedgehog owner as these are quite unusual animals to keep as pets and need careful looking after.
If you are thinking about getting a pet hedgehog, you should bear in mind the following important points:
*First, you should never simply bring in a hedgehog from the wild and start keeping it as a pet. The hedgehog will have no experience of humans and will be unsuited to domesticated life. Instead, you should buy a hedgehog from a reputable breeder.
*Make sure you have checked that it is legal to own a hedgehog where you live.
*Pet hedgehogs need to be kept indoors in the warm and should never be allowed to hibernate as this can be dangerous for domesticated hedgehogs.
*Hedgehogs should be kept by themselves.
*Hedgehogs can be fed on a diet of meat, insects from pet stores, specially-made hedgehog food and other foods as well – ask your hedgehog breeder for the best diet for your new hedgehog.
*Hedgehogs need quite a lot of exercise and most owners provide their pets with hamster wheels which they will use during the night.
The African Pygmy Hedgehog
These hedgehogs have been specifically bred for captivity – they are a hybrid of the four-toed hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog – and so they can be handled and are relatively used to human contact – although of course humans should be careful because human-hedgehog contact can be quite prickly!
African Pygmy Hedgehogs, as you may be able to guess from the name, are much smaller than most hedgehogs in the wild, usually around a quarter of the size of wild hedgehogs found in places such as the UK.
African Pygmy Hedgehogs are carefully bred so that they don’t carry fleas or infectious disease. The breeding of domesticated hedgehogs is a relatively recent development, and the first pygmy hedgehogs were bred in America around the turn of the millennium.
The typical lifespan of a pygmy hedgehog is around five to seven years, although they have been known to live up to 10 years! They are nocturnal and usually prefer to live on their own.
Hedgehog Cages
There is some debate on ideal housing for pet hedgehogs, but for any hedgehog cage, the most important considerations are size, safety, ventilation, and ease of cleaning. There are pros and cons for different types of cages, and it is important to find a cage that meets the unique requirements of hedgehogs as well as fitting your budget and preferences.
Size
Hedgehogs in the wild usually cover a lot of ground in their search for food. Pet hedgehogs need lots of room to move about too. Two square feet (e.g. 1 foot by 2 feet) is sometime quoted as the minimum floor space for a hedgehog, but this should be considered an absolute bare minimum, and only used if you have a wheel and give your hedgehog ample time to roam around outside the cage for exercise. It would be much better to aim for a minimum of about four square feet (e.g. 2 feet by 2 feet).
Safety
A hedgehog cage needs to have a solid floor, so avoid any cages with wire or wire mesh flooring. Cages that house hamsters and other small animals should work well for your hedgehog, depending on its size. The floor of the cage should be solid, so if a wire floor is used it should be covered by tiles, wood, or sheet metal. Cages should not have any sharp edges or spaces in which a hedgehog could get his or her head stuck. The cage must also be secure to prevent escapes.
Ventilation
Good ventilation is necessary to keep humidity levels down and to prevent ammonia (from urine) and odor from building up in the cage. Wire cages offer the best ventilation.
Ease of Cleaning
This one is fairly self-explanaorty, but do not underestimate its importance. Your hedgehog’s cage will need frequent cleaning, and a large, heavy or awkward cage will make this chore very unpleasant.
Have a look at our small animal cages that are great for your pet Hedgehogs!
