African pygmy hedgehogs
A different animal from the one in your garden, with very different needs. General guidance only, not veterinary advice.
What is a pygmy hedgehog?
"African pygmy hedgehogs" in the pet trade are mostly four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) or hybrids with the North African hedgehog. source The four-toed hedgehog weighs 250–600 g and usually has just four toes on each hind foot. source
In the wild it prefers 24–30 °C; colder, and it goes into torpor. source Pet four-toed hedgehogs typically live 4–6 years. source
Should you get one?
The RSPCA says African pygmy hedgehogs are wild, solitary and nocturnal with complex needs, and do not make suitable pets. RSPCA We’d suggest reading the RSPCA’s page in full before deciding: RSPCA on African pygmy hedgehogs.
Owners in England and Wales have a legal duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act. RSPCA
Check the law where you live
Rules differ by country, state and even city. As of 2019 hedgehogs were illegal as pets in Hawaii, Georgia, Pennsylvania and California, New York City and Washington, D.C. source Laws change, so check your current local rules before buying or moving with a hedgehog. Never release a pet hedgehog outdoors.
If you already have one: the basics
- Warmth. Merck Veterinary Manual: keep pet hedgehogs at 22–32 °C (24–29 °C optimal); too cold or too warm and they go torpid, which is unhealthy. Merck Vet Manual
- Exercise. Use a solid-surface exercise wheel, never a wire or rung wheel that can trap feet. Merck Vet Manual
- Food. Feed a commercial hedgehog or insectivore diet, rationed, and weigh weekly — obesity is common. Merck Vet Manual
- Health. Common health problems include obesity, tumours, heart disease, wobbly hedgehog syndrome, ringworm and salmonella. RSPCA Find a vet with exotic-pet experience before you need one.
This site doesn’t sell animals and never will. If you’re set on a hedgehog, consider rescue organisations, and talk to an exotics vet first.
General information from the RSPCA and the Merck Veterinary Manual. It isn’t a substitute for advice from a vet who has seen your animal.