Caring for Pygmy Hedgehogs

Pygmy hedgehogs require different care to wild one's - here's everything you need to know!

General Information
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is a hybrid derived from a cross breeding between two wild African Hedgehogs – The Algerian Hedgehog and the White Bellied Hedgehog. African Pygmy Hedgehogs (APH’s) are much smaller than the wild hedgehogs you will find in your garden. Due to where the APH originates, they require a higher living temperature of around 18-25 degrees C. The temperature should not go below 18 degrees as this may cause your hedgehog to attempt to hibernate which is extremely dangerous! They must not hibernate! APH’s will also need up to 12 hours of daylight; this can be artificial or natural light. 

Housing
Hedgehogs are naturally solitary animals. They are also very territorial, so should be housed alone.

  •  A Vivarium that has ventilation or a Zoo Zone 2 cage will work best for your hedgehog. Try to avoid all cages that have bars on the side as APH’s are good at climbing and may trap their legs in the bars, which could lead to injury! I house mine in a 4ft vivarium when possible, as this gives them enough space to move around, although exercise outside of their vivarium is needed also. 
  • With substrate, you shouldn’t use wood shavings as the dust from this can get into your hedgehog’s eyes. I use fleecy liners for the bottom of the cage &/or soft towels. Make sure there are no holes (patterns) in them, as your hedgehog may get her little feet caught. You will need several, to ensure washing/drying etc. 
  • In your hedgehog’s enclosure, you should provide your hedgehog with a bedding area/pouch/towel where they can go to hide & sleep. 
  • Also, a litter tray should be provided & once trained, your hedgehog will use this & especially once they have a wheel, they are much easier to train. I don’t use ‘litter’ as it can become very messy & using kitchen towel in the litter tray is easier to use as it mops up urine & can easily be changed daily.

Diet
APH’s require a diet that is high in protein & low in fat. To ensure that they are getting the the essential nutritional requirements you should mix different cat biscuits together. I use two different ones mixed with a little of Natures Grub & a few live mealworms. Then have ​two different ones the next time. DO NOT USE FISH FLAVOURS. Hedgehogs struggle to digest fish based biscuits. Chicken based are best. 

  • Purina One Indoors Cat Biscuits 
  • Purina Adult Cat Biscuits 
  • Royal Canin Fit 32 
  • Harrington’s Chicken with Rice Cat Biscuits 
  • Live Mealworms & Locusts (Treats) 

In addition to their cat biscuits you can also give them other foods to enhance their diet. Here are a few suggestions, but note it’s down to your hedgehog’s personal preference. 

  • Hard Boiled Egg/Scrambled Egg (Made with water, not milk.) 
  • Boiled/Steamed chicken. Cut up into small chunks 
  • Cooked beef/lamb mince 
  • Mashed potato (ensure no butter or milk is added) 
  • Vegetables (Boiled peas, carrots & broccoli) 

There are many foods that you should avoid when feeding your hedgehog as they are all toxic to your hedgehog. These can be: 

  • Pork (This tends to be too salty for hedgehogs.) 
  • Fish (Hedgehogs cannot digest fish very well.) 
  • Citrus Fruit (Too acidic for hedgehogs & if fed they can cause damage to their teeth.) 
  • Grapes, raisins and dried fruits
  • Onions, mushrooms and garlic
  • Chocolate 
  • Seeds & Nuts 

Water should be available at all times. Water should be put in a bowl, not a water bottle, as hedgehogs can break their teeth trying to drink from a water bottle & they could also get their tongue stuck in the end of the bottle. 

Play Time
One essential piece of equipment you will need is a wheel for your hedgehog. Wheels are the primary source of exercise and they can travel up to 8 miles in their wheel every night! The wheel is also great fun for most hedgehogs (not before a minimum of 12 weeks of age) giving them a lot of entertainment & stimulation. You should put the wheel in a litter tray as they go to the toilet whist they are running on the wheel. This helps with litter training, but ensure it is of a solid construction, with no holes or wires as hedgehog’s toes & legs can easily be trapped. Check monthly that the claws do not need trimming, use proper nail clippers or take to the vet if you are not confident, as it is easy to cut the nails to low, causing pain & possible infection. 

Other toys that can be used are: Cat balls; tunnels/tubes; teddies; and a Foraging Tray. Hedgehogs love to forage! I buy a foraging mix from Pets at Home & a few live mealworms could be added so that the hedgehog can forage for her food (perhaps a break from the wheel one night) giving her varied ways of feeding. Some of her dry food mix is added to the foraging mix. It can be quite messy, so perhaps do this at a weekend when you have time to clean her out in the morning! 

Bonding 
When you first take your hedgehog home, always allow time for them to settle into their new home before you begin to handle them. The new environment can be very stressful. New smells, sounds, voices etc. After a few days, you should handle her for a few minutes (10) at a time, as this will allow her to become accustomed to your scent. At first let your hedgehog wake up naturally, as waking her up to handle her, may make her aggressive towards you.  When picking up your hedgehog, cup your hands around her side & gently slide your hand under her tummy. Ensure you are fully supporting her, to make her feel safe. When handling her you can expect some ‘huffing’ noises. This is normal behaviour & it’s her way of indicating to you that she is uncomfortable with being handled. Over time this behaviour will gradually stop. Treats are a great way to bond with your hedgehog! 

Quilling
Your hedgehog will shed its quills (spines) at 4-6 weeks. They will then shed their quills again once they are 9-12 weeks. The second quilling is when a hoglet gains their full adult colouring. During Quilling a hedgehog can become grumpy.

Anointing 
When your hedgehog finds a taste or smell that they particularly like, or something that’s new to them, they will build up a lather of saliva in their mouth & will then spread it on their back or sides. This is perfectly normal behaviour for your hedgehog. 

Bathing 
You shouldn’t bath your hedgehog too often as this can remove the natural oils in the skin & can result in very dry skin! If your hedgehog is very messy, you can bathe their feet in warm water or just clean them with a damp cloth. During quilling, you should bathe your hedgehog to help soothe their skin, using an oatmeal bath mix/shampoo and always have an old toothbrush handy to gently brush down your hedgehog’s spines, when bathing.