Guest Author - Denise Lacazette

The African Pygmy Hedgehog is a nocturnal animal that originates from central Africa - ranging from Senegal on the west to Tanzania on the east. The African pygmy hedgehog is not a relative of the porcupine despite having quills. The African pygmy hedgehog is closely related to the Asian moonrat.

The African pygmy hedgehog is an insectivore. In the wild it will eat anything from worms and bugs to small mice and frogs. It also eats fruits, seeds, and roots. The hedgehog’s nose is much more sensitive than its eyesight which helps aid in acquiring food. A hedgehog can smell an insect that is a few inches underground! As a companion animal you will need to feed it a balanced diet which should include mealworms, crickets, and the like. Their sense of smell is also what will help them bond with you as a companion.

The African pygmy hedgehog tends to be a solitary animal unless it is mating. Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity at 2 months of age. You can visually differentiate between male and female by looking at their underside. The male’s organ will be further forward (less than midway from the tail to the belly) and the female’s opening is close to the anus. The female flattens her spines down for mating and nature gifted the males with an elongated organ that helps him avoid being impaled by her quills during procreation. They can have anywhere from 2 to 10 young.

The companion African pygmy hedgehog is relatively easy to care for. You will need a suitable cage (recommended minimum is 2 square feet) with a solid bottom (no wire bottom). You will also need a water bottle (preferred by breeders over bowls), sleeping box, litter, exercise equipment, and food. The exercise equipment cannot have wire or spokes – it must be a solid piece so their feet do not get caught. Some guinea pig wheels are suitable as are guinea pig balls (which totally enclose the animal for running about). There are now also hedgehog specific wheels being sold online. Breeders differ on what to feed the hedgehogs. Some use a commercially prepared hedgehog food; others use mixtures of different items that include commercial feeds, fruit, insects, and seeds.

The African pygmy hedgehog is a nocturnal creature so you will want to leave him or her alone during the day. Around dusk they will become active (which is typically when someone comes home from work) and be more amenable to handling. The hedgehog will not necessarily want to spend the entire time cuddling, so be sure to provide some solitary entertainment for your hedgehog. Tunnels are a great source of amusement. Balls are also fun if they are the right size and structure (no spokes or wires!).

African pygmy hedgehogs make nice companion animals with a lifespan longer than that of a hamster. They are compact and clean which makes for a nice apartment pet. If you are considering adopting an African Pygmy Hedgehog please do your homework and make sure this is the right companion for you BEFORE you buy. Many unwanted pets end up in shelters or rescue agencies because the owner did not understand what was involved in the animal’s care prior to the purchase.