Lifespan: Up to 3 - 8 years

Diet: Our babies are sent home on Fromm - Gold Adult Cat food. We've chosen Fromm for its commitment to quality nutritional value. It is a complete diet, and there is no need for supplements. We free-feed our hedgehogs, offering them 1/4 of a cup of food per day. Available through our site and at pickup.

Size at Adulthood: Healthy hedgehogs can range in weight from 1/2 lb to 2lbs, about the size of a softball. In comparison, they are bigger than a rat and smaller than a guinea pig.

Captive Environments: Hedgehogs do best in a cage that is draft-free but allows airflow, is easy to clean, and escape-proof. We use guinea pig-style wire cages with plastic bottoms.

Habitat: There are many options to choose from when choosing a habitat. We use and recommend guinea-pig-style habitat wire cages with plastic bottoms. All of our babies are gravity-fed water bottle trained. They'll also need a food dish. For bedding, we recommend using recycled paper beddings such as CareFresh or Clean & Cozy. Recycled paper tends to be the safest option since they are processed and does not pose the same risks as natural wood-based beddings. They will need a hideout, an appropriate flat-bottomed running wheel, toys, and a proper heat setup. We sell complete hedgehog cage setups, which can be picked up at delivery or delivered with your baby.

Your hedgehog's bedding needs to be changed at least every 5-7 days. When washing their cage, avoid any harsh chemicals. We use Dawn dish liquid to clean our cages. Hedgehogs require baths about 1-2 times per month using warm water, baby shampoo, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Inspect your hedgehog's toenails and trim as needed (usually 1-2 times per month). You can cut their nails with cat nail trimmers.

Hedgehogs like to walk around and need exercise. We use 12-inch flat-bottomed running wheels, which work great in helping them keep up with their routine.

Inspect your hedgehogs for toenail trimmings. You can clip long nails with baby nail clippers.

Hedgehogs gain enrichment inspecting surroundings, exploring, and finding new smells & objects.

Hedgehogs love exploring, and they always seem like they are on a mission to explore and have fun in their playpen.

Your hedgehog would enjoy several hours of play each evening in their pen. Hedgehogs are solitary and must be separated once they reach maturity. However, if two females are raised together, they will often live together fine with little to no aggression as adults.

Diet: Hedgehogs are omnivorous insectivores and require an appropriate diet of high-quality cat kibble. You can supplement with dead or live insects and small amounts of fruits and vegetables. Feeding hedgehogs too much fruit can cause loose stool, and hedgehogs do not seem to like many vegetables.

Handling: Hedgehogs are solitary and require daily handling to build a solid bond. Generally speaking, the more you handle your hedgehogs, the friendlier they will be.

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight. It can be a good idea to place a worn article of clothing inside your hedgehog's cage, and the worn clothing helps them associate your smell as something safe.

African Pygmy hedgehogs are domesticated and are usually awake for part of the day and night. At night, typically when all the lights go off, hedgehogs come alive! Nighttime is when they are best handled.

Actual holding and touching a hedgehog can be challenging at first but will quickly become an easy task to achieve. Yes they have sharp spines, however they are easy to handle and even novice owners will be playing and holding their babies in no time. As your hedgehog gets older, their spines will soften as they grow in their adult coat.