Everything you need to keep an African Pygmy Hedgehog (APH) happy, warm and healthy — written from real experience.
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is a small, spiky, nocturnal mammal with a big personality. They are curious little explorers who need the right home, the right warmth and the right food to thrive. Here's how we look after ours.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals. APH should only be put together for breeding, for medical reasons, or in rare cases where they have been brought up together — otherwise they are happiest on their own.
If an APH gets too cold it can go into hibernation, which can cause serious health problems or even death. Give them a constant ambient temperature of 21–25°C.
The minimum legal floor space is 3 × 2 foot — but the bigger the better. The cage needs to fit all their decorations and leave space to run around.
Hedgehogs are great escape artists, so the enclosure needs to be closed up or have solid sides. Good options are vivariums, plastic pet playpen panels, and Home & Roost hutches.
The best bedding is fleece, paper, or soil. Whatever you choose, it must be dust free — hedgehogs have a sensitive respiratory tract. For the litter tray, use wooden cat litter pellets.
APH need at least two hides. As a prey species, hides help them feel safe, and because they're nocturnal they need a comfy, dark place to sleep during the day.
APH need a large wheel to mimic their natural running position and reduce strain on their back. Bucket wheels and giant rat wheels work well. In the wild they run for miles at night and they're prone to obesity, so a wheel is brilliant for their body and their mind. They tend to wee and poo on their wheel, so pop a tray underneath to keep things hygienic.
Add enrichment — even just extra bedding to build a nest. They love tunnels, hides, wheels, snuffle mats and blankets.
Use heavy dishes, otherwise they'll knock them straight over.
APH are natural omnivores, so we recreate that as much as possible. They need around 70–100 calories a day — roughly 1–3 tablespoons of kibble. Choose a high-quality kibble that is consistent in protein and low in fat, and mix at least three types together so they get the best of everything.
We feed a mix of Mother & Baby Cat Royal Canin, Kitten Royal Canin, Iams Kitten Chicken, Purina One Kitten Chicken and James Wellbeloved Kitten — with most of the mix being Mother & Baby Cat Royal Canin and Iams Kitten Chicken. Hedgehogs get most of their fibre from insects. Do not use hedgehog-specific food — it's generally bad for them.
Food enrichment keeps them well in body and mind — a simple way is to scatter feed in the enclosure. For treats we give plain scrambled egg, wet cat food, and high-quality insects.
Like all animals, APH need water to survive and thrive. Change it daily.
Spot clean as often as possible and do a full clean once a week. Regular cleaning keeps the environment clean and hygienic.
Use a corner litter tray filled with wooden cat litter pellets. To train them, pick up their poop and place it in the tray — eventually they'll realise and only go there (or on their wheel).
Hedgehogs benefit from a lukewarm bath about once a month — a great time to trim their nails too. Use a gentle baby bath (we use Aveeno) and gently clean any dried feces from their fur or skin. You can gently brush their quills with a toothbrush. Don't bathe too often, as it can dry out their skin — if that happens, a coconut oil bath can help.
Keep them well by providing a clean, suitable environment; the right temperature and humidity; a balanced diet; fresh water; good hygiene; regular exercise and mental stimulation; exotic-vet check-ups; and low stress levels.
Behaviours you may see include self-anointing, huffing, chirping, popping and purring.
When an APH meets a new taste or strong smell it may froth at the mouth and lick the frothy saliva across its back. It looks strange but it's completely normal and harmless.
Huffing sounds are a sign of distress, often with raised quills.
Uncommon, but a low purring sound can mean they're happy and content.
At around 4 weeks old an APH has its first quilling — losing quills and replacing them with new ones. More quillings happen at 6, 9 and 12 weeks. If you notice bald patches, seek medical attention, because quilling should always have new quills forming underneath.
APH are nocturnal, so they usually prefer to be handled in the evening. They're naturally shy, so build a trusting bond by: leaving an old piece of clothing with your scent in their enclosure; handling regularly and not giving in when they huff; and bonding through feeding, so they associate you with something positive.
Some places we like for hedgehog kit: