African Pygmy Hedgehog Colours

There are currently over 90 colours of African Pygmy Hedgehogs available. The colour most readily available currently is Pinto and some breeders charge more for rarer colourations. Albino hedgehogs for example tend to go for cheaper than the more popular darker colours.

Although a lot of dark African Pygmy Hedgehogs are sold in the UK as "Salt and Pepper" this colour is not yet available in the UK. Hedgehogs looking similar to this colour may be a chocolate, grey or other combination.

There has also been claims of ginger hedgehogs, however this is not officially recognised and seems likely to be the results of a permanent dye used in Thailand to give gimmicky colours to pets.

Colour identification

Proper colour identification cannot be done until after their adult quilling at 9 weeks. Colours may also begin to fade after the age of one year. There is some confusion in distinguishing between colours derived from the two hedgehog species bred together to produce the African Pygmy Hedgehog - the Algerian and those from the white-bellied hedgehog. Although the two species successfully bred together the colour ranges each had were not compatible and so have not successfully merged.

The physical differences in the two species have however been mixed so an algerian colouring could well have the smaller body, shorter nose and smaller ears typical of the white-bellied hedgehog and vice versa.

Handling African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Handling a hedgehog can be a strange experience and so you may find it initially difficult. It is very important to get your African Pygmy Hedgehog out every day and socialised, as they can otherwise revert to being quite huffy and shy.

A good breeder should have handled their babies from a young age, and so they should be used to people. Older animals may be harder to tame but can become happier with you if the time and effort is given. It is worth remembering though that some African Pygmy Hedgehogs may not enjoy handling but may be perfectly happy and friendly freeranging on the floor or in an enclosed space. It will depend on the personality of your hog.

A well socialised hedgehog is unlikely to bite but care should be taken to wash hands before handling especially if you've been cooking and may have a strong scent. If your hedgehog does bite then do not return them straight to their cage, and blow gently on their nose to discourage them.

Bonding

When you first get your hedgehog a good investment can be a bonding pouch - this allows you to carry your hedgehog around with you whilst it gets used to your sounds and smells. There are several custom made ones for hedgehogs as well as ones for larger creatures such as rats that can be used. The bonding pouch can be left in your hedgehogs cage during the day so they are familar with it and with your scent.

When you first get your hog you should only handle for short periods of time a day. You may need to get accustomed to your hedgehogs habits to find a time of day when they are most comfortable being out.

Picking up

When you first try to pick up your African Pygmy Hedgehog use both hands to scoop from either side and pick up from the belly. You may find they raise their spikes and ball up. Although the raised spikes would not draw blood, the feeling of them can be a little uncomfortable. To begin with it may help to use a piece of cloth or towel to wrap round your hedgehog to protect your hands. You should not wear gloves unless you absolutely cannot handle without them.

You African Pygmy Hedgehog may also "huff" at you, which is surprisingly loud! They have a wide range of huffing, popping, clicking and even growling noises.

Some Hedgehogs are happier once they are out, so another option is to use a large fabric tunnel or tube such as those sold for ferrets or rats. You can then get your hedgehog to walk into this and pick up whilst blocking both ends. If you are not confident picking your hedgehog up yet then you do need to make sure you place your hedgehog in an enclosed space to prevent escapees.

Freeranging

Some keepers choose to use a large bath, or buy a playpen such as those used for dogs and cats. These areas can be filled with a variety of toys and food to investigate. If you are letting your hedgehog run free in your house you must keep a close eye on it to make sure it does not run under a piece of furniture and become stuck. Interaction with small children or other animals is best avoided, and should only be done under very careful supervision.

African Pygmy Hedgehog Environment

Although African Pygmy Hedgehogs do not hibernate, it is important to maintain a steady temperature as attempts to hibernate can be very dangerous. You should aim for a minimum temperature of 20℃. Heat sources such as those used for reptiles can be given as well as microwaveable 'snugglesafes' which keep heat for around 6-10 hours and are particularly good for travelling.

Your African Pygmy Hedgehog will also appreciate various cat toys, toilet roll tubes (if cut lengthways to prevent trapped head!), ping-pong balls, sterilised pine cones, small paper bags and even small cuddly toys. You will need to be careful if your Hedgehog likes chewing however that any stuffing used in toys is non-toxic.

Bed/house

An African Pygmy Hedgehog must have a bed or area to nest where they feel secure. A lot of keepers prefer soft, fluffy houses or tubes and you can also purchase wooden or plastic houses.

Housing

Your African Pygmy Hedgehog needs a minimum of 3ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft and they should be kept alone. Barred cages are not recommended due to the risk of your hedgehog injuring itself whilst attempting to climb the bars.

Zoozone 2 cages are easy to clean and provide good ventilation. They cannot be stacked however, it is trickier to attach a permanent source of heating to and they do not look as attractive as a vivarium. They are not high enough to fit a Carolina Storm Wheel or Silent Spinner. It is important to note this is the larger sized Zoozone, as the Zoozone1 is not big enough to provide a permanent home for an African Pygmy Hedgehog.

Vivariums are more attractive housing, but do not provide enough ventilation. They can however be modified with additional, large vents or by replacing the glass with meshed doors. They can be stacked, and are easier to provide a heat source within.

Wheels

African Pygmy Hedgehogs are very active, and they must have a wheel as part of their cage. You can buy large comfort wheels savic wheels, or flying saucers - these must be at least a foot in diameter. Silent Spinner wheels are not recommended for hedgehogs, as hedgehogs can get their toes or feet caught in the gaps due to their increased weight.

One of the better makes currently is the Carolina Storm Wheel or Storm Bucket Wheel, both of which can come with a litter tray underneath. African Pygmy Hedgehogs will unfortunately poo while running so the wheels do need frequent cleaning even with a litter tray underneath. Most breeders recommend that you do not give your hedgehog a wheel until they are at least 12 weeks old to prevent undue strain on bones and ligaments.

Substrate

A popular choice with African Pygmy Hedgehog owners is to line the base of their cage with a pet-safe fleece. This is easier to wash and provides a soft base for your hedgehog to walk on. Other substrates such as aubiose, carefresh and finacard can also be used. Hay, Straw or fleecy bedding is not suitable as it can be too sharp for hedgehog eyes or get tangled in their legs. Cat litter or pellet based substrates are not suitable as they may cause problems if ingested.

For litter tray, suitable items include chinchilla sand, finacard or even kitchen roll.