Housing & Interior
One of the most popular housings for the African Pygmy Hedgehog is an indoor rabbit cage. Other popular options however are vivariums and plastic storage boxes. Whatever cage you choose, it should be at least 3ft x 3ft but ideally as large as space will allow. There are a few safety issues you should be aware of when choosing what to house your hedgehog in:
- Cages with metal bars are often unsafe for hedgehogs, as they either attempt to climb up and end up falling and hurting themselves, or squeeze through the bars and escape.
- Any cage must be well-ventilated; this should be especially considered if choosing to use a vivarium.
- Hedgehogs are solitary animals, and must be homed respectively. Some owners report the success of housing two females together, and should you want to try this, ensure you keep a close eye on the pair to prevent fighting. You should never attempt to house any pair of males together.
- Finally, your hedgehog's home should be strategically placed; safe from children, other pets, any draft and in a place where it can easily receive 12 hours of light a day.
You can line your hedgehog's home with dust-free and cedar-free shavings or other safe commercial liners. A fabric liner is also an option, though you must be prepared to wash and replace it as often as necessary (mostly daily) You must also supply your hedgehog with a box or pouch to hide away in for when he or she is sleeping along with an old t-shirt or commercial bedding, and an exercise wheel to prevent him or her from becoming bored and frustrated. Hedgehogs are known to run 8 miles a night, so this would not end up an unwanted gift with your hedgehog. Your hedgehog's exercise wheel will require cleaning most days, as some hedgehogs choose to also use it as a toilet.
Hedgehogs will eat and drink from small dishes (we recommend you supply especially heavy ones as many hedgehogs enjoy the pastime of dish-tipping) Your hedgehog may prefer to drink from a water bottle. These items are really essentials. Hedgehogs do also enjoy playing with toys, for example commercial bird and small animal toys and large tubes (or small ones cut lengthways to prevent your hedgehog from getting stuck).