General Care and Maintenance

The first thing most people notice about hedgehogs is their quills or spines which can be very sharp. If the hedgehog or hedgie is happy, then the quills will be in a less painful position when you touch them (and yes, at that time, you can pet them, front to back only). If they are scared (anyone or anything new can scare them), the quills stick out and can puncture the skin. In that case, gloves may be needed. Once a hedge gets to know someone, you can use your bare hands to scoop him up from below. The quills are modified hairs. Unlike a porcupine, hedgehogs cannot throw their spines. Their stomachs have soft, normal fur. Hedgehogs have been bred in a number of color patterns but most are variations of agouti (white tips on black spines).

Hedgehogs belong to the Order Insectivora which includes moles, shrews, and bats. They are not rodents. Being in the insectivore category, they thus mostly eat insects but also worms and other small animals. The African pygmy hedgehog's scientific name is Erinaceus albiventris or Alelerix albiventris depending on which source you believe.

Hedgehogs are exotic pets. They require specialized care that many people are not willing to provide such as special foods, supplemental heating, and more. They are illegal to breed without a USDA license in the United States. They are illegal in many states and cities. When I say hedgehogs on this page, I will be referring to African pygmy hedgehogs as the European hedgehog is not domesticated or kept as a pet. But, if they were, the care would be almost the same except they are carnivores (instead of omnivores). They do not really require any more work or money than other small animals but just special knowledge.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal. That means they sleep all day unlike most small pets, like guinea pigs, which are diurnal or sleep at night. Because of this, be sure to keep the hedgehog in an area where it is quite (but not totally dark) during the day. Also keep them where they will not keep you awake at night while they play. It should be some place warm.

Hedgehogs do some strange things. When confronted with a new smell or a stressful situation, they will froth at the mouth. Then, they smear this foam onto their quills. This is called anointing. Hedgehogs may be called hedgies, HH's, hogs (not too often, some may think it rude), or pogs (perhaps derived by combing pig and hog). I think the last term is the cutest.

A hedgie's home can never be too big. If your choice is between a tiny cage and a large one, always opt for the larger one. The hedgehog will be happier, and so will you. Hedgehogs are smaller than guinea pigs and rabbits but they are very active at night and love to play. At night, the like to toss things around.

Finally, keep any cages, litter pans, etc. as clean as possible. Most cages should be cleaned well at least once every two weeks for one hedgie. Weekly spot cleaning is good.

Male or Female and How Many?

Hedgehogs are solitary in the wild and should be housed separately. What if you do not do this? If you put two girls together that are litter mates or young, they may or may not get along. If two girls get along, they can be quite happy together. If you put two boys together, they will most likely fight. One web site says they tried raising male littermates, and one eviscerated the other (if you do not know what that means, you probably do not want to know. It's bad). If you keep a girl and boy together, they will usually get along except he may harm her somewhat when he gets "in the mood." Eventually, she will give birth (unless one is infertile), and most likely, one or both will eat the babies. It is also illegal to breed hedgehogs in the United States without a USDA breeder's license. So, just keep them separate if you get a pair.

Sexing:

Turn over the hedgehogs and try to get a look at the belly. A male will have a large round area about 2/3 of the way from the head down to the tail. This is where the penis is located, way up on the abdomen. If you see it, you cannot mistake it for anything else. His testes are located in the lower abdomen, internally. Due to this (internal testes) and the fact that it is very dangerous to anesthetize hedgehogs, neutering is almost never done. If you have a female, you will see no such "belly button." She will have a v-shaped vaginal opening directly above her anus. There are also small pink nipples on the lower abdomen. While sexing adults is no problem IF you can get a look under there, babies may be hard to tell and are often mis-sexed. Look for the "belly button." One way to see under a hedgehog if they will not unroll for you is to have them walk over a piece of glass or have them walk over a mirror and look at the reflection.

Cages and Heating

Cages, Toys, Tubes, Bags, and Wheels:
Hedgehogs need a nice big cage with at least three square feet of space per hedgie. Good sizes are 18" x 30", and 18" x 32." They need most of all a place to hide. A plastic igloo, a reptile log, an empty baby wipe container, or even an empty tissue box will work. They like tubes and containers to climb in and sleep in. Hedgehogs like to throw things around and move them so you can put in an empty toilet paper roll (slit it so they will not get stuck), cat toys, balls, etc. You can buy hedgie bags and hats too. Finally, all hedgehogs should have a hedgehog exercise wheel except for females with newborns (she may take them for a fatal ride) or sick/disabled hedgehogs.

One person who used to have hedgehogs made them an interesting home by buying two plastic storage containers. He cut off most of the lid but left a lip in it. Then, he cut circles in them and joined them with a PVC pipe. This gave them a little extra room and was economical. If you try this, be sure they cannot escape. You may want to glue the pipe in if there is any chance it could come off. Also, if you have other animals loose in the house, a full lid (with ventilation) is essential. You could cut most of the lid out like he did and then cover the opening with hardware cloth (rabbit wire which is little squares) by stapling it on. Be sure the lid itself cannot pop off as many inexpensive box lids tend to do. There are more expensive pre-made, solid-floor rabbit cages that are escape-proof, house predator-proof, with side ventilation as well as top ventilation.

Heating:
Hedgehogs need to be kept warm, over 70 degrees F. The easiest way to do this is to keep them in a room that does not get any colder than that. Experts say not to use reptile heat lamps (too much light), reptile hot rocks (too hot), or undertank reptile heaters (could melt plastic cages and do not get very hot). They say it is ok to use a ceramic heat emitter in a ceramic fixture or to use a human heating pad on low but I would worry about them putting waste on a heating pad so put it under the cage. Cover part of the cage with a blanket to keep out drafts and keep in more heat for them. They also get warmer by snuggling into their bedding. NEVER keep a pet hedgehog outside. Even if the temperature is above 70 degrees F, the cage may not be safe from persistent predators. Also, do not keep the hedgehog in the cold rooms or hot rooms in the house. this means no garages, basements (unless it is heated), or attics. If you would not be comfortable in the room naked, then your hedgie will not be happy there either. Remember, they come from Africa.

Heat For Hedgies:
Some hedgehogs have a small space heater and human heating pads on low under their cages (under their igloos where they like to hide and sleep). Microwaveable disks from Drs. Foster and Smith can be used to give them more heat. Iif you have a room you can shut off, that is much better. Temperatures vary depending on how high the house heat is and but a room with a range from 70-75 is great. If the room is somewhat cooler, they should be fine with the added heating pads. They will sleep open with tummy towards the heating pad.

Bedding and Litter

Never use untreated pine or cedar shavings as all can cause respiratory problems. Unused wood pulp is best. It is better because it provides a soft place to sleep, does not have much smell or dust, absorbs liquids and odors well, is very light, and is environmental friendly. There are other similar products. There is a risk of small animals eating it and suffering compaction. Kiln-dried white pine shavings, aspen shavings, and other environmental beddings are possible choices. Do not use corncob litters as they get stuck in the male's penile sheath (as can many beddings so be aware). Visit a FAQ on Bedding to learn about why shavings are bad and other products are better.

Some hedgehogs can be trained to a litter pan. Use a corner ferret litter pan with a non-clumping (plain) cat litter. Hedgies also like to dig around in sand sometimes for fun. If a hedgie has a wheel as he/she should, then much poo and pee will be deposited there and may be spun out of the wheel so they may need to be cleaned often. Litter training is easier without a wheel but I wouldn't deprive them of it!

Most of the expert hedgie keepers use vellux (supposed to be sold at most chain department stores) to line their cages and a litter pan in the corner. Some places also make cage liners from corduroy and other materials.

Feeding

African pygmy hedgehogs are omnivorous but predominantly insectivores. In the wild, they eat mostly insects, worms, slugs, and other small animals. In captivity, they are usually fed a basic diet. To make their lives more enjoyable and nutritional, they can also receive live and dead small animals, some fruits and vegetables, and other treats. Hedgehogs are prone to obesity so food should be limited, mostly the basic diet, and they should get exercise via supervised time out of the cage and/or an exercise wheel. Give them fresh water daily in a sturdy crock.

For hedgehogs with oral problems or who refuse to eat other foods, you can try Miss Murray's Mash at this hedgie site.

The Basic Diet:
There are many good hedgehog foods out there and there are many bad ones too. It used to be that cat food was the only option. Over time, cat food can cause fatty deposits and liver toxicity resulting in a much shorter lifespan, obesity, and health problems. There are a dozen brands of hedgehog food. PawPrint and Brisky's have gotten great reviews. There is also Zoo Fare, Avian hedgehog food, and Pretty Pets hedgehog food. The basic diet should contain MEAT (real meat would be nice but they all seem to have by-products) and not just corn, oats, soy, etc. flavored with fat, like cat food. For a list of places to buy the various hedgehog foods and treats, see hedgies.com shopping guide.

Meat:
Hedgehogs will gladly eat live mealworms (regular ones and king mealworms also called superworms or night crawlers; you can feed both the worm-like larvae and the adult beetles of these species), crickets, beetles, earthworms, waxworms, and anything small that moves. It is easy to buy live mealworms at the pet store which is their favorite food of all time. Hedgehogs may also eat freeze dried versions of these critters. Hedgies will eat cooked and unseasoned chicken, ground beef, and other meats like plain steak. Do not ever give them uncooked meat, meat with bones, or meat with anything added to it. Give them a teaspoon every time you cook ground beef. Hedgies are supposed to like rawhide too.

For those hedgehogs who are not eating well, you can feed chicken or turkey human baby food. They are also supposed to like Gerber Graduates turkey and chicken sticks. I got some. You can also puree together fresh cooked meats with the hedgehog foods and other foods mentioned. Some people do this routinely while others do it just with hedgehogs who are not eating all they should or are too picky.

Fruits and Vegetables:
Hedgehogs will a bit reluctantly eat some fruits and vegetables. They did not touch grapes or kale. Hedgies are supposed to like bananas too. It is important for them to get fiber in their diet. Most commercial hedgehog diets contain large amounts of corn, soybean, and/or wheat. A hedgehog breeder said to feed them small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Tiny amounts of fruits and vegetables are fine. Their main meal should be meat-based. Some foods have higher meat content like Zoo Fare, Felidae, Spike's Delight, etc.

Eggs and Dairy:
Hedgehogs love eggs! Hard boil them first and cut them into quarters. Hedgehogs will also eat some dairy products. Try yogurt (plain or various fruits like banana) and cottage cheese as treats.

Treats:
Some companies make hedgehog treats. Most are not good to eat often but are okay if giving only rarely. Be aware that some may contain peanuts or other things that can get stuck in hedgies' mouths.

Health

Hedgehogs are generally pretty healthy animals. Their main problems are a result of poor diet and lack of exercise. See the section above on feeding. Buy the hedgehog an exercise wheel made just for them (no holes to get their feet stuck in). Many places sell them.

Did you know that hedgehogs can harbor a mite that is only found on hedgehogs and most store- bought hedgehogs have them? The treatment is a series of three ivermectin injections. Most hedgehogs get these mites from their mom so be sure to have the vet check for them at the hedgie's first visit. They are too small to see but the skin may appear crusty with lots of debris.

Hedgehogs generally live 3 to 5 years. A few live to the old age of 6 or 7.

As with most mammals, female reproductive cancers (breast, uterine, ovarian) are very common so keep an eye out in female hedgehogs for any growths, blood in the litter, abnormal appetite, behavior, etc. Hedgehogs are very prone to cancers, urinary tract infections, tumors of various kinds, and other ailments as they age.

Another problem is Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome or WHS. Hedgies with this syndrome wobble when they walk. It often hits young hedgehogs. The disease is progressive and fatal. You can find help via the HWS website.

Normal body temperature for a hedgehog is 95-96 degrees F.

Grooming

Nails:

All hedgehog's nails should be trimmed every few months. Be sure to cut beyond (when you are facing the pig's rear; beyond meaning further out on the nail, further away from their body) the quick which is where the blood is. If you do not trim the nails, they can get caught on something, get torn off, and/or grow into the foot. It will take practice to get the hedgie to cooperate. Until then, take them to the vet. If the hedgie just keeps rolling into a ball, just trim one foot at any one session. Cat nail trimmers work well.

Bathing:

Hedgehogs do not require bathing unless they are severely soiled or have a parasite infestation. Set them in a few inches of warm (not hot) water. Splash water and shampoo (I suggest Bunny Bath shampoo which is safe for small animals. Do not use dog or people shampoos unless they are pure and no-tears. It is okay to use human baby and kitten shampoos over their quills. Use a toothbrush to clean between the quills. Towel dry as best you can. Blow dryers scare them too much but you may want to let them dry in a warm area or sitting on a heating pad so they do not catch a cold.

Breeding

It is illegal to breed African pygmy hedgehogs without a USDA breeder's license. If by accident you end up with babies, it is illegal to sell or even give them away without the license as well.

Hedgehog gestation is 35-37 days, sometimes up to 45 days. Females under stress will eat their hoglets. Litters are 1 to 7 (normally 3 to 5) with rarely up to 10 hoglets. Babies do not open their eyes for 2.5 to 3 weeks but are weaned by six weeks and should be then separated (it is ok to keep females together if they get along). Never breed a female hedgehog after she is 18 months old as by then, her pelvic bones will fuse. This means that if she needs to deliver, and her bones are fused, she will die without a Cesarean section as the babies will be too large to get out. The same thing happens with guinea pig sows. Also, female hedgehogs may develop infections after giving birth so if they do not seem well, take them to a qualified vet. Ill females usually kill the babies but so do healthy ones. Hedgehog sows lose interest in raising hoglets as they approach 3-4 years old. They do not get pregnant or eat the babies.

Hedgehog Books

The Hedgehog by Dawn Wrobel, Howell Book House, 1997.

Hedgehogs by Dr. Matthew Vriends and Tanya Heming-Vriends, Barron's, 2000.

Hedgehog Links

Hedgehog Welfare Society (HWS)- a great place that helps needy hedgies. Join their Yahoo group on hedgehogs as well. Do not forget to buy something from their shop to help out (helps you too!)! If you rescue a hedgie, you can request a care package from their site. They also have an on-line newsletter with invaluable information on health issues and things like litter training and wobbly hedgehog syndrome.

Hedgehog Welfare Society's Pet Finder Site - this is part of pet finder and shows hedgies that need homes. Please adopt a needy hedgie!

Hedgies.com- The Carolina Hedgehog Society site has lots of hedgie information including where to buy all your hedgie supplies, invaluable when you're trying to sort through all those foods, wheels, etc.

Ain't No Creek Ranch, Inc. - this business, started by Dawn Wrobel sells a tons of supplies for hedgehogs but also for other unique and precious small mammals. They will send you a hedgehog newsletter via mail if you contact them as well.

PawPrint On-Line - sell hedgehog foods and exercise wheels. Their site has some great information on hedgehogs as well such as the page entitled Hedgehogs 101.

Brisky's - sell hedgehog food, exercise wheels, a cage, books and some other supplies. Their phone number is 1-800-462-2464.

Hedgehog FAQ - this is a lengthy and excellent resource of information. This site is over 100 pages long!

Hedgehog Valley - a breeder's web site that has a lot of good information in it. They also sell hedgehog sleeping bags.

African Pygmy Hedgehog FAQ's - another breeder's site with information.

Hedgehog FAQ - this one is from Exotic Nutrition which makes a hedgehog food.

Massena - hedgehog food, supplies, and gifts.

Chins-n-Quills Forum - this forum is for chinchillas and hedgehogs. It is a very active forum so questions are usually answered.

Laura Roberts' Hedgehog Site - this site covers a lot of hedgehog things not on other sites like ingredient lists of hedgehog foods, where to buy various supplies, and photos of example hedgehog setups.

Hedgehog Registry - Register your hedgehogs for free here (if not a pedigreed hedgie. If pedigreed, there's a tiny fee).

Thistle Dew Hedgehogs - sell hedgehog foods, treats, books, igloos, toys, and other supplies.

Hedgehogs in Space - sell hedgehog foods, supplies, etc. plus "interplanetary" hedgehogs.

The Flash and Thelma Memorial Hedgehog Rescue

Seaborn Designs - sell good, solid bucket wheels for hedgies.

Hedgehog Weight Charts