Welcome to the pygmy hedgehogs

Pygmy hedgehogs – it was a domestic emergency and a new home had to be found straight away for four African Pygmy Hedgehogs.  We were delighted to be able to step in and provide sanctuary for them.  We’ve not had these, still quite rare, domesticated hedgehogs before so it’s giving us a chance to get to know them.

There’s a male (shown above) and three young ladies and they’ve all been captive bred.  No return to the wild for these little ones, it would be doubtful that they would survive.  They are about half the size of our wild hedgehogs and very dainty, they need careful looking after and to be kept at an even and fairly warm temperature.

Like most hedgehogs they are solitary creatures and do their own thing.  Usually we like animals to have company, another of their own kind, but this doesn’t apply to our  spiny friends.  They don’t make friends and only meet up at mating time.

They can be accommodated in a hutch or specially made house and would need to be kept indoors or a sheltered environment unless the weather is warm. Ours all have a separate hutch and a large attached compound.  They would certainly have to be inside in winter.  If the temperature drops they will try to hibernate.

Feeding them is the same as a normal hedgehog, smaller portions though and make sure they have some mealworms on offer every day.  The tiny skeletons provide them with the minerals they need to thrive.  It’s important to make sure they have plenty of exercise so they don’t put on too much weight – toys, a wheel which they love and plenty of opportunity for free exercise in a secure compound keeps them slim and healthy.

We’re starting to handled these little beauties and hope to have them tame soon.   Food is the key to a hedgehog’s heart – sunflower seeds anyone?