There are a few very life critical important requirements for hedgehogs. Heat, light, vet emergency fund and knowledge.

Please read our information below and also check out the Hedgehog Central Forums along with reading a wonderful and informative Hedgehog Book by Kimberly Goertzen. This book is available for Direct Download.

Heat/Light

Hedgehogs require a constant source of heating to maintain their environment at 75F-80F (24C-27C) 24/7, we recommend either a CHE setup or a space heater. They also require 12-14hrs of light each day, light from windows is often not adequate due to the overcast days we get. So it is recommended either a desk lamp near the hedgies cage or the room light be left on for 12-14hrs every day. If these needs are not met the hedgehog can and will go into hibernation and this can be fatal if it is not caught soon enough. Once a hedgehog goes into full hibernation they cannot be woken up and will die from starvation/dehydration.

Also have a digital thermometer - Any type of accurate digital thermometer to ensure hedgies environment is above 75F and between 75F-80F

Vet Emergency Fund

There will possibly come a time when your hedgehog needs to see a vet and these little guys are not cheap when it comes to vet care. They require a exotics specialist and treatments can get pricey when dealing with our spikey friends. It is a good idea to have a a few hundred dollars set aside for your hedgehogs Emergency Vet Fund and be prepared to use it when you least expect it.

Diet, Housing & Bedding

DIET:

When offering a mix for example of say 4 brands you would be using the average of the 4 for your final number. Ideally you want Protein to be around 30-33% and Fat to be around 13-15%. Avid runners who need help maintaining their weight and babies (under 6mths) who are still growing to adult size and need the extra nutrients should be offered a higher Fat content of 15-18%.

Having too high of a Protein content can over time cause FLD (Fatty Liver Disease) and having too high of a fat content can cause obesity in hedgehogs which puts extra pressure on vital organs to function properly and muscles to hold the extra weight that was not intended for their bone/muscle structure.

We should always follow the guidelines of proper ratios to help maintain our little hedgehog’s weight and health.

Reasoning behind offering a mix of kibble as opposed to only 1 type.

1.) Product Recalls - Often the pet food industry has recalls of pet food. If it happened to be the brand you were using to feed your hedgehog then you would have to stop and change to something else without the necessary weaning period. This can cause gastrointestinal upset and starvation. So having a mix in this case means you have a different brand to fall back onto without the addition of GI problems or starvation. You can use the other brand while you are slowly adding a new brand into the mix.

2.) Variety & Taste - Having a mix of different proteins (Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Lamb, Rabbit, Fish*) and a variety in added fruits and vegetables, offers an array of flavors and textures to our hedgehogs who have been known to be very picky with their food. What they like can change from month to month so having a mix keeps them happy and healthy and mostly importantly they don't get bored with their food. *can cause stinky poop

3.) Kibble Formula Change - With all pet foods they have a high chance of changing the recipe and/or shape of the kibble and they can do this without having to let the public know. So what does this mean for your hedgehog? Well, simply put, the hedgehog could like one product for months and then suddenly it changes shape or the recipe differs even slightly and they can and will turn their noses up at it. This can often mean that they will starve themselves because if they are offered one kind of kibble and it changes they don't have another brand to fall back onto that they like. Having a mix of foods gives us and our hedgehog options.

4.) Nutritional Needs - Hedgehogs are natural insectivores and in being this we do not truly know what their nutritional needs are. By offering a mix of kibble we cover many bases for nutrition. Also in addition offering the much needed insects like mealworms/beetles, crickets, wax worms and butter worms will cover the extra natural base diet.

Using a mix of these foods is always best. In addition to a pre-mix kibble made from the above, it is a good idea to offer your hedgehogs an array of vegetables/fruits and bugs (mealworms, wax worms, butter worms and crickets). When choosing a high quality cat kibble, try to stick to these percentages: 28-33% Protein, 9-15% Fat and 3% Fiber or more.

DO NOT use commercial hedgehog foods, dry cat foods that contain animal byproducts or any type of corn product or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

HOUSING:

When choosing a cage it is best to use a cage that has a solid bottom, never use a bottom that is wire, like a commercial rabbit cage. That would be very hard on their feet and also may cause injuries. Size wise, the larger the better! The cage should be large enough to allow ample room for your pet and his cage accessories but not so large that it is unmanageable to keep clean. Well ventilated and escape proof is a must also.
You should always have at least 2sq feet of free space after all the hedgehogs accessories are inside the cage.

BEDDING:

We only recommend using cloth cage liners made of cloth (fleece, flannel or other fabrics). They are economical, environmentally friendly and cost effective!
You can also use Kaytee Clean n Cosy, CareFRESH, CareFRESH Crinkles, ECO Bedding, VitaKraft Eco Bedding and KILN DRIED Aspen shavings.
Try to choose a bedding that is as dust free as possible for the health of your hedgehog, this is why we only recommend cloth liners.
Corn Cob bedding, Cedar Shavings or anything that contains Cedar is not safe for hedgies.

Safe Fruit, Vegetable & Treat List:

Things Toxic to African Pygmy Hedgehogs:

Tea Tree oil - this includes: tea tree shampoo, tea tree oil, tea tree sprays and anything tea tree. This can be fatal in as little as one dose or application. It causes renal, liver and complete organ failure.

Ivermectin (Injection, Oral or Topical) - This can be fatal in as little as one dose or application.

Polysporin and Neosporin Pain Relief or Extra Strength - Regular original Polysporin is safe to use. Any other formulas are toxic.

Read the labels on the food and avoid them if the products contain any of the following:

Toxic plants http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants

Cedar Shavings or anything with Cedar in it