pet hedgehog
If you're wondering whether it is possible to keep a hedgehog as a pet, the answer is yes! The African pygmy hedgehog is kept as a pet by a number of people around the world. There is a special page dedicated to information about pygmy hedgehogs which may be useful.
It is important to be a responsible hedgehog owner as these are quite unusual animals to keep as pets and need careful looking after.
If you are thinking about getting a pet hedgehog, you should bear in mind the following important points.
- First, you should never simply bring in a hedgehog from the wild and start keeping it as a pet. The hedgehog will have no experience of humans and will be unsuited to domesticated life.
- Instead, you should buy a hedgehog from a reputable breeder. Have a look at the hedgehogs for sale page to see the listings we currently have for breeders.
- Make sure you have checked that it is legal to own a hedgehog where you live. It is generally legal to keep domesticated hedgehogs in the UK and Canada (although you should doublecheck the current legislation with any hedgehog breeder just in case) but there are some USA states that have made hedgehog-keeping illegal. Have a look the legal states for hedgehogs page for more details.
- Pet hedgehogs need to be kept indoors in the warm and should never be allowed to hibernate as this can be dangerous for domesticated hedgehogs.
- Hedgehogs should be kept by themselves.
- Hedgehogs can be fed on a diet of meat, insects from pet stores, specially-made hedgehog food and other foods as well - ask your hedgehog breeder for the best diet for your new hedgehog.
- Hedgehogs need quite a lot of exercise and most owners provide their pets with hamster wheels which they will use during the night.
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