
An African pygmy hedgehog is considered to be the smallest of the hedgehog types to be kept as a pet. Due to selective breeding, it can come in various color patterns like cinnamon, snowflake, and salt and pepper among others. If you give the hedgehog proper attention and care, it can live as long as six years captive. Maintenance for pets like these is relatively low, but hedgehogs are really solitary animals and do not look for a lot of human handling and interaction. Regarding the animal’s nutrition, you can offer it some premium quality food specifically for hedgehogs. However, availability becomes a problem, then cat food of the grain-free variety can also be offered. You can add to your hedgehog’s diet some mealworms, crickets, and some vegetables and fruits as well. A hedgehog is prone to being overweight so it will be ideal to place an exercise wheel in its enclosure so that it can burn away any excess calories. If you plan to keep more than one hedgehog, house them individually. The ideal cage size is a living space of two to three square feet. Lay in some bedding material like kitty litter.
Set an appointment with your vet clinic Ellicott City, MD in case you have any concerns and/or questions about your pet’s health and behavior.