Welcome to our world of Hedgehogs! Also, the African Pygmy Hedgehog is the hog usually sold as a pet. Fun facts about hedgehogs Posted on September 1, 2015 by Team Africa Geographic With 17 different species of hedgehog in the world, the most common domesticated hedgehog is the nocturnal and solitary African pygmy hedgehog. We have focused on health and temperament in our breeding program, and have seen tremendous improvement in both overall friendliness and longevity in our herd.

African pygmy hedgehogs are becoming increasingly popular in the exotic pet world, and if you too are considering adding a hedgehog to your household, consider yourself in good company. Helping find homes for hogs in need. What do African Pygmy Hedgehogs need in their cage? An estimated 40,000 Americans have found themselves smitten with these tiny, spiny creatures. The few retrospective studies that have been conducted on hedgehogs and their diseases have focused primarily on neoplastic disease … The African pygmy hedgehog is by far the most common species of domesticated hedgehog. African Pygmy Hedgehogs need heating like a heat mat or heat lamp, suitable bedding, housing, a running wheel for exercise, a feeding bowl, a water bowl or dispenser, a toy like a ball with bells, with an optional litter tray for them to use. African pygmy hedgehogs are a domestic breed and naturally need less fat in their diet as they expand less energy and unlike wild hedgehogs they don't hibernate. An African  Pygmy Hedgehog  is a small animal, they have a cute, furry face with a long muzzle/snout, medium sized eyes, small ears and mouth with whiskers around its nose. They’re omnivores (eating a wide variety of foods including slugs, worms, insects, plants, fruits, lizards, mice, frogs, eggs, vegetation and fungi. An African Pygmy Hedgehog is a hybrid of the Algerian and Four Toed Hedgehog’s found in the wild, their natural habitat is Grassland, Scrub areas and Savannahs. There is no fur under the spines, but soft white or dark fur covers the belly, neck, face, and legs. BABY AFRICAN PYGMY HEDGEHOGS FOR SALE, RAISED IN MY HOME WITH TLC! We are USDA licensed and have been raising quality African Pygmy Hedgehogs since 1995! We're USDA Licensed! The hedgehogs commonly kept as pets in North America appear to by a mix of species, originally native to Africa. One of Florida's leading hedgehog breeders. An average African Pygmy Hedgehog will fit in an adult man's cupped hand. For a start the African Pygmy Hedgehog is a lot smaller than their UK cousins, the females generally growing larger than the males but still relatively compact (around 7-8 inches). In captivity there are 92 recognized hedgehog … In fact, male African pygmy hedgehogs stay at least 60 feet (18 m) apart from one another. African Pygmy Hedgehog Babies. The African Pygmy Hedgehog Club UK has a list of "Club Approved Breeders" these breeders adhere to strict breeding ethics to ensure that no hedgehog or owner is … Its body is covered with about 6000 spikes (quills). [2] Calcium loss also known as leaching, is a problem for African Pygmy Hedgehogs when the high phosphorous content of some foods, can combine with the calcium in the pygmy hedgehog’s body. We had our first litter of hedgehogs in December 2004. This causes the calcium in the pygmy hedgehog’s bones to leach (be expelled in their urine and poop), resulting in potential bone problems.

We have been hedgehog breeders since 1994 and we strive to select our hedgehog breeding … The RSPCA says the exotic animals are a considerable commitment and would need a … Their staple diet should be composed of high-quality poultry-based cat food with a ratio of proteins to fats as close to 34% to 15% as possible. They have four legs and a small tail (usually not visible). C oncerns have been raised about a new craze of keeping African pygmy hedgehogs as pets.. The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), a member of the family Erinaceidae, order Insectivora [], is widely known as the four-toed hedgehog.In recent years, these hedgehogs have become popular as domestic pets all over the world. When exposed to a new object, hedgehogs may exhibit “self anointing” or “anting”. African Pygmy hedgehogs have a thick coat of spines, varying in color. I am a USDA licensed hedgehog breeder located in Bartow, Florida. I currently have two litters in the nest. Indeed, the hedgehog is quite an unusual, delightful animal to adopt, but one must hunt for a place that sells them, as it is not an easy task to find one since they are not commonly sold in pet stores.

The African pygmy hedgehog is either of two closely related hedgehogs: Domesticated hedgehog; Four-toed hedgehog; This page is an index of articles on animal species (or higher taxonomic groups) with the same common name (vernacular name). From the first time, we saw him as a baby to a month or so later when we picked him up to take him back to our house. The African pygmy hedgehog is a native of West and Central Africa. When threatened, the hedgehog curls into a ball, extends its spines, puffs up, and hisses.