Hedgehog Care
Hedgehog Statistics
Name: African pygmy hedgehog, Atelerix albiventris, Four-toed hedgehog
Lifespan: Average of five years
As their name implies, African Pygmy hedgehogs are native to central and eastern Africa. They cover miles of ground each day in the wild where they can be found throughout Gambia, Mozambique, Somalia, and other African nations. In the wild they live primarily off of small insects, grubs, snails, spiders, and small vertebrates, a diet we strive to mimic in captivity.
The First few Days
Congrats! You’re now a hedgehog owner! This is so exciting but there are a few important things to note during your hedgehogs first few days home. Your home and their cage is totally new to them, and they're just a baby! Please make sure that your hedgehog can access their water bottle. If they are having trouble with this, or you just want to be extra safe, add a small water bowl. To ensure hydration and steady blood sugar levels, you can add unflavored Pedialyte to the water. Another important thing to ensure is that the cage is warm enough. Please refer to the “heating” section for further information.
Housing
Hedgehogs can live in a variety of cages. The best and most common option is a 105qt+ storage tote/bin. They're cheap and light in weight. Rabbit cages are another option. On rare occasions a hedgehog can get their head stuck in the bars if they are too wide(½” bar space is best). The other thing is that some hedgehogs will climb the bars and can injure themselves. For rabbit cages you want at least a cage 28’’ in length. In the cage they should have a wheel, at least one place to hide in (such as a plastic igloo),food bowl, water bottle,and toys for enrichment.
Diet
The best food for hedgehogs is high quality cat food. Most hedgehog foods are full of fillers and grain products. I feed all of my hedgehog Inception Chicken dry cat food. Do not use foods with fish as this leads to smelly poop. The food should have under 35% protein (30-33% is ideal) and fat under 20%. The cat food can be supplemented a few times a week with things like hard boiled eggs,cooked unseasoned chicken,mealworms,crickets,fruits, and vegetables. If you are not wanting to feed live bugs, they are also sold dry but these should only be given in small quantities as treats. Canned insects are also an alternative. If at any time you do need to change to a different cat food, you must transition them slowly. First start by putting about 75% old food and 25% new food. Gradually increase the amount of
new food mixed into the old for a few days, more and more each day, and then you can switch them completely to the new food.Some other good foods are Nutro cat food, Merrick,and Wellness.
Exercise
Hedgehogs are very active and you should supply them with a running wheel. Solid surface wheels are best. Wire wheels can lead to things like sores and bumble foot. The most affordable wheel is the 12” Kaytee comfort wheel. This wheel does make some noise while they run so if your hedgehog is being kept in a bedroom, I suggest a california storm bucket wheel (sold on etsy) which is completely silent. The one solid surface running wheel that is commonly found in pet stores that you want to avoid is the silent spinner. It has small slits in the floor which can get toes stuck and ripped off. Hedgehogs love to poop on their wheel while they run but it easily comes off with some warm water and vinegar.
Bedding
There are many types of bedding you can use for hedgehogs. We personally use Pine shavings. Other safe bedding options are aspen shavings and care fresh paper bedding. Do NOT use cedar shavings as it contains harmful oils that are bad for hedgehogs respiratory systems. Around 2” of bedding is good to have in the cage.
Heating
Hedgehogs need a steady temperature of about 72-78 degrees. The best heat source is a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter in a metal dome. You should also use a thermometer when using a CHE so you can tell where to prop your heater. Temperature of the heater can also be set to a specific temperature with a reptile thermostat. If you're using a wire cage simply place it on top of the wire. For bin cages you can prop it away from the plastic with clamps.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Hedgehogs have little to no smell if taken care of properly and the cage is cleaned enough. On average, if you want your cage spotless and smell-free, I recommend cleaning and switching the bedding at least once a week. If you choose to go longer in between cleanings, you will need to spot clean throughout the week. Like stated above, keeping fish out of their diet will also keep the smell down.
Handling
For the first few days you have your hedgehog home it's best to leave them be for a few days and let them get used to their new enclosure. Once they have warmed up to their new enclosure, I recommend putting a shirt you wore for the day in their cage so they get used to your scent. Once this process is done you can start handling your hedgehog. For the first few days you may need to use gloves until you get used to their quills. Try not to use gloves too often because they wont get used to your scent and “real” handling. Your hedgehog will most likely ball up and stick their quills up when you take them out. They also may hiss and “pop”. Once you have them out, talk to them in a soft voice and try to feed them treats such as bugs. Be quiet and don't make fast, sudden actions. Once they come out they will put their quills down and will run around. If you're having trouble getting them to un-ball, put them in the bathtub with a shallow amount of warm water. They should come out immediately in the bath.
Medical Care
Hedgehogs don't need any shots so you really shouldn't have to bring them to the vet unless there's an emergency. Your hedgehog's nails should be trimmed once a month and it's easiest to do while they are in the bath. Baths should only be given to your hedgehog 1-2 times a month as it leads to dry skin. If you realize your hedgehog does have dry skin, you can rub a small amount of coconut oil through their quill. There are special shampoos sold for hedgehogs online for dry skin as well.
Quilling
Quilling is the process of hedgehogs losing their quills and growing in larger ones. This usually will start happening at 4-6 weeks of age and can happen a second time around 16 weeks. Do not be alarmed when you see quills falling out as this is just them losing baby quills! During this time you may find your hedgehog to be more sensitive to handling. Also, during this process you need to make sure your hedgehog doesn’t have dry skin as this can make the process more uncomfortable for them. This process usually lasts anywhere from a few weeks to a month.