HEALTH / LIFESPAN

HEDGEHOGS ARE A DECENT COMMITMENT WITH A LIFESPAN OF 3-7 YEARS.

WE RECOMMEND A ROUTINE VET VISIT TO MAKE SURE ANY EARLY ILLNESS IS CAUGHT.

HEDGEHOGS HAVE VERY FAST GROWING NAILS AND NEED THEM CLIPPED ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.

THEIR NAILS AND FEET ALSO GET VERY DIRTY WHICH IS WHY WE RECOMMEND BATH TIME EVERY SO OFTEN. USE LUKEWARM WATER AND A TOOTH BRUSH TO CLEAN THE QUILLS AND NAILS OF YOUR HEDGEHOG. NEVER LET YOUR HOG UNATTENDED IN THE BATH BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOOD SWIMMERS AND WILL DROWN.

HOUSING

SINCE HEDGEHOGS ARE NOCTURNAL, YOU MAY NOT SEE THEM MOVING AROUND DURING THE DAY. HOWEVER, AT NIGHT THEY WILL BE AWAKE AS EVER. IN THE WILD, HEDGEHOGS ROAM FOR 3 MILES EVERY NIGHT!

THE MINIMUM SIZE CAGE FOR AN AFRICAN PIGMY HEDGEHOG IS 36"X18" OR 6 SQUARE FEET. THIS WILL HOUSE YOUR HEDGEHOG AND ALL OF THEIR NECESSITIES.

HUSBANDRY

HEDGEHOGS ARE NOCTURNAL MAMMALS THAT NATURALLY LIVE IN WARM OPEN WOODLANDS AND DRY ROCKY AREAS. THEY ALSO HAVE VERY POOR EYESIGHT. FOR THESE REASONS, YOUR HEDGEHOG WILL REQUIRE A FEW ITEMS.

HEATING

ALTHOUGH HEDGEHOGS ARE MAMMALS, THEIR BODIES HAVEN'T ADAPTED TO THE TEMPERATURES THAT HUMANS COMMONLY SET IN CAPTIVITY. BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY WILL REQUIRE A HEAT LAMP TO KEEP THEIR ENCLOSURE AROUND 80*. FAILURE TO HEAT THE ENCLOSURE CAN SEND THEM INTO HIBERNATION WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS.

BEDDING

THERE ARE A FEW BEDDING OPTIONS TO CONSIDER PUTTING YOUR HEDGEHOG ON. YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN ASPEN BEDDING, COTTON BASED BEDDING, RECYCLED NEWS PAPER PELLETS, CORN COB, FLEECE BLANKETS, AND OTHERS. WE PREFER RECYCLED NEWSPAPER PELLETS BECAUSE OF ITS CLEANLINESS. WE THEN COMBINE IT WITH A SMALL PIECE OF FLEECE BLANKET FOR THEIR COMFORT.

EXERCISE/CLUTTER

HEDGEHOGS ARE EXTREMELY PRONE OBESITY WHICH IS WHY THE PRESENCE OF AN EXERCISE WHEEL IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THE WHEEL WILL LIKELY HAVE TO BE CLEANED MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK.

KEEPING PLENTY OF TOYS AROUND THE CAGE WILL KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED SINCE THEY ARE ACTIVE AT NIGHT. A LACK OF CLUTTER AND ENTERTAINMENT CAN LEAD TO DEPRESSION AND WILL AFFECT YOUR HOG'S HEALTH.

FEEDING

THE AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOGS ARE OMNIVORES, BUT ARE CARNIVORE LEANING.

THEIR MAIN DIET SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND A HEALTHY PELLETED FOOD.

YOUR HEDGEHOG SHOULD BE FED AROUND 2-3 TABLESPOONS OF THEIR PELLETED FOOD EACH DAY.

POULTRY CAT FOOD CAN BE GIVEN AS A MIX-IN, BUT SHOULD NOT BE THEIR MAIN DIET.

OTHER MIX-INS CONSIST OF MEALWORMS, CRICKETS, DUBIA ROACHES, AND OTHER VARIOUS INSECTS, BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BANANAS, MELON, AND MORE!

HEDGEHOGS ARE VERY PRONE TO OBESITY WHICH IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO LIMIT THEIR DIET.

CLEANING

HEDGEHOGS CAN BE PRETTY MESSY ANIMALS. BECAUSE OF THIS, YOU WILL HAVE TO DO SOME REGULAR WEEKLY CLEANING.

LITTER PAN TRAINING IS A GREAT WAY TO LIMIT THE CLEANING YOU WILL HAVE TO DO. SIMPLY PICK A CORNER OF THE CAGE AND PLACE SOME OF YOUR HOG'S WASTE IN THE LITTER PAN. AFTER A WHILE, THEY WILL LEARN AND START USING THE LITTER PAN TO DO THEIR BUSINESS.