Mrs Hedgehog

Colour: Albino

Mr Hedgehog

Colour: Chocolate

1^st litter February

2^nd litter July

All hoglets are chocolate het for albino. For hoglet availability refer to our availability page

Keeping African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Below is a description of how I keep my hedgehogs.

My male and female are kept separately in 4 by 2 foot vivariums, they have a wire front to ensure good ventilation.   Heating is not provided as they are in a warm room that does not have any draughts. Hours of daylight are controlled naturally as the room has a large window. It is noticeable that the hedgehogs are active a lot earlier, as early as 5pm in the winter, as the dark sets in.

Within the vivarium there are a range hiding places for the hedgehogs which they use for sleeping, cat balls and toilet rolls for enrichment, as well as a wheel. After many sleepless nights we decided to invest in silent spinning wheels that do not need oiling. These are idea for hedgehogs as they will run for at least 3 hours a night. The wheel is solid plastic which supports the weight of the hedgehog and prevents injuries that could occur with wire bar wheels.

Fresh water and food are supplied daily. I use a ceramic dish (rabbit water bowl) to provide water rather than a bottle. I have found that they do not tip these over and the sides are just high enough to prevent it from being filled with sawdust. I have tried a variety of substrate from, straw, sawdust, Aspen, all work fine. During gestation I provide the female with a  towel and pile of straw for her to nest in. She has used this set up successfully twice now.  I feed the hedgehogs on IAMS chicken flavoured cat food as this is low in fat, Spikes diner dry and wet food, as well as other marketed hedgehog foods. Occasionally cooked chicken and fruit are offered. Their favourite treat is mealworms but they will also eat locusts and crickets.

Hedgehogs can be a bit messy and tend to go to the loo while they are exercising on the wheel. I keep them clean by giving them a shallow warm paddle in a washing up bowl and use cotton buds to clean their feet and spines.

Once again this is how I keep my hedgehogs. When keeping hedgehogs I would advise you read a variety of sources to analyse husbandry points.