Atelerix albiventris
African Pygmy Hedgehog
African pygmy hedgehogs are solitary, nocturnal insectivores that need a warm, stable enclosure and patient handling to stay tame. Their strict temperature needs catch many new owners out.
ErinaceidaeLifespan 4–6 yearsCare complexity 3/5Not a beginner animal
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Atelerix albiventris
- Family
- Erinaceidae
- Origin
- Hybrid of African hedgehog species, originally from central and eastern Africa
- Lifespan
- 4–6 years
- Adult size
- 15–22 cm
- Weight
- 300–600 g
- Temperament
- Solitary, defensive when startled, can become calm with regular gentle handling
- Activity level
- High at night; largely inactive during the day
- Social needs
- Low; must be housed alone as adults, as they fight if paired
- Intelligence
- Simple but capable of learning routines such as feeding times and handling
- Noise
- Quiet; occasional huffing or clicking when alarmed
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Minimum 60 x 90 cm solid-floor enclosure with a hide and heat source
- Space requirement
- Warm, draught-free enclosure with room to roam at night
- Temperature
- 24–29°C constantly — cooler temperatures can trigger dangerous attempted hibernation
- Humidity
- 40–60%
- Exercise
- Solid-surface exercise wheel at least 30 cm diameter and supervised floor time
- Grooming
- Occasional shallow bathing; nail trims are important
Diet and feeding
High-quality low-fat cat kibble or specialist hedgehog food, plus occasional insects
Behaviour and compatibility
Nocturnal foraging, self-anointing with saliva, curling into a spiked ball when scared
- With children
- Only for calm, gentle older children; spines and defensive huffing can deter younger ones
- With other animals
- Keep away from all other pets
- Training difficulty
- Moderate; needs patient, frequent handling to stay tame
Health
- Wobbly hedgehog syndrome
- Obesity
- Mite infestations
- Dental disease
- Cancer, relatively common in older individuals
Requires an exotics vet; temperature drops can trigger a dangerous false hibernation state
Special care requirements
Enclosure temperature must never be allowed to drop, or the hedgehog can enter a fatal attempted hibernation