As a responsible owner, you must wonder: what type of animals are hedgehogs? Finding out your pet’s origins helps you care for them according to their exact needs. Try to recreate the conditions these once wild mammals’ ancestors used to live under. This way you are setting them up for a long and healthy life.
Are hedgehogs rodents?
No, hedgehogs are not rodents; they belong to the order Eulipotyphla.
Both Rodentia and Eulipotyphla are orders of the Mammalia (mammals) class.
Hedgehogs do have some similar features to rodents, but there are profound differences between them.
Read on to see how hedgehogs and rodents differ.
What is a rodent?
About 40% of mammals are rodents.
They all belong to the Rodentia order.
The name comes from the Latin rodere verb which means “to gnaw”.
A pair of huge incisors are constantly growing in each of their upper and lower jaws.
Because of these teeth, they always must be chewing on something.
This is to prevent their overgrowth.
They mainly eat plants, with the occasional animal snack.
There are only a handful of predators among them.
One select species is the grasshopper mouse.
This is a cutie that can turn scorpion venom into a painkiller, fights like a jedi, and howls like a wolf.
Definitely my spirit animal.
These placental mammals’ come in a wide variety of forms.
They look like an underground Vienna Sausage with toothpicks for incisors.
Lots these species are kept as pets in the United States. Guinea pigs, rats, mice, hamsters, chinchillas, chipmunks, even prairie dogs.
Rabbits and hares have similar incisors to their gnawy friends.
The difference is, that they have 4 of them in their upper jaw instead of two.
They used to belong to Rodentia.
Now, these animals have their own group, Lagomorpha which means “rabbit-shaped”.
How creative, right?
Members of these two orders aren’t too distant relatives as they share a common ancestor.
Hedgehogs are also mammals, but they belong to the Eulipotyphla order.
Their blunt Latin name translates “truly fat and blind”.
In reality, they are only plump and don’t see that well.
Instead of huge incisors and molars used for gnawing, they have lots of little sharp teeth to catch small animals with. Their front teeth look like cute vampire fangs. They do have small, pointy canines.
Hedgies are omnivores, aka walking trash-cans.
They eat whatever they can find and catch in nature. Insects, slugs, snails, eggs, birds, or reptiles.
They are missing the part of their intestines called the caecum. This digests cellulose found in plants, so their diet is mainly animal-protein based.
Like most mammals, they need dietary fibers. Instead of cellulose, they have chitin from invertebrate exoskeletons. This material makes up the hard parts of bugs.
| Rodents | Hedgehogs | |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth | 4 constantly growing incisors placed side by side no canines big premolars big molars | cute, vampire-like fangs, with a gap between them small, pointy canines pointy premolars lots of small but sharp teeth |
| Food | mostly herbivorous omnivore mostly plants occasional animal snack some omnivorous and predatory species | insectivorous omnivore whatever they find in nature, dead or alive prefer insects and other small animals bit of plant matter |
| Caecum - part of intestine digesting cellulose (plants) | yes they can digest plants | no they can't digest plants |
| Gnawing | need to gnaw | no need to gnaw |
| Plants (cellulose) | can digest | can not digest |
| Animal protein | most can do without | it's life! |
| Dietary fiber | cellulose (plants) | chitin (invertebrate exoskeletons, e.g. bugs' shells) |
Where Are Hedgehogs From?
There isn’t one place that could be pointed at as a place of origin for hedgies.
They are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They were taken to New Zealand from England by humans.
Because of the lack of natural predators, they can become a threat to wildlife.
So in New Zealand, any wild hedgehogs are considered pests. Even if they are only pets gone wild. They are not native to Australia and their import is banned in all forms.
No native hedgehog species are living in the Americas.
Millions of years ago, the Amphechinus genus was the only one, but it’s become extinct long ago.
Where Are Hedgehogs Common?
Several continents have their own hedgehog species.
Members from the Atelerix genus are all from the African continent. Some traveled to some warmer parts of Europe with humans.
The most commonly-bred domesticated hedgie type is the African Pygmy hedgehog. According to one theory they are actually a cross of two Atelerix species: The Four-toed and the North African hedgehog.
Species in the Erinaceus genus range from the European countries through the Middle East. They are also found in bits of Russia all the way through to China.
They are also the ones populating your childhood’s storybooks.
Fun fact: the ones living in New Zealand are descendants of the European species.
The two long eared species belong to the Hemiechinus genus. Their species are found in South and Central Asia, India, and Pakistan.
Members of the Mesechinus genus all live in different parts of Asia.
There are no hedgehogs native to the Americas, Australia, or New Zealand.
| Atelerix genus | Four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) | North African hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) | Southern African hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis) | Somali hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri) |
| A wide strip of central Africa, from Gambia and Senegal in the west, to Somalia in the east, as far south as Mozambique in eastern Africa. | Native to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Taken to France, Spain, and the Canary Islands by people. | Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. | Somalia. | |
| Erinaceus genus | Amur hedgehog (E. amurensis) | White-bellied hedgehog (E. concolor) | European hedgehog (E. europaeus) | Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus) |
| All Europe, through the Middle East, bits of Russia, to northern China. Some of the European hedgehogs have been introduced to New Zealand. | Southwestern Asia. | Europe, from Iberia and Italy northwards into Scandinavia | Poland, Austria and the former Yugoslavia. South to Greece and the Adriatic Islands. Including populations on Crete, Corfu and Rhodes. Found eastwards through Russia and Ukraine, as far east as the Ob River in Siberia. | |
| Hemiechinus genus | Long-eared hedgehog (H. auritus)a | Indian long-eared hedgehog (H. collaris) | ||
| Central Asian countries and some countries of the Middle East. | Northern India and Pakistan. | |||
| Mesechinus genus | Daurian hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus) | Hugh's hedgehog (Mesechinus hughi) | Gaoligong forest hedgehog (Mesechinus wangi) | Small-toothed forest hedgehog (Mesechinus miodon) |
| Transbaikal region of Russia (this region is sometimes called Dauria, hence the name) and Northern Mongolia. | Native to central China and Manchuria. | Only in China. | Northern Shaanxi and eastern Ningxia, China. | |
| Paraechinus | Desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) | Brandt's hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas) | Indian hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus) | Bare-bellied hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris) |
| Bahrain, Algeria, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and possibly Ethiopia. | Parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. | India and Pakistan. | Southeastern India. | |
What Animal Family Are Hedgehogs From?
Hedgehogs belong to the family Erinaceidae and the sub-family Erinaceinae.
They used to have 17 species belonging to 5 genera.
The Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus Roumanicus) has recently been recognized as species on its own.
What Two Species Are Domestic Hedgehogs?
There are actually more than two domestic hedgehog species.
The most common one is the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix Albiventris).
It’s also called the Four-toed hedgehog.
The two long-eared species (Hemiechinus auritus auritus) and (Hemiechinus collaris) have gotten popular recently.
However, proceed with caution as caring for them is way more complicated than for pygmies.
European Hedgehogs (E. Europaeus) are protected and cannot be kept as pets.
Are Hedgehogs Rodents or Marsupials?
Neither. Hedgehogs are part of the order Eulipotyphla.
Some think hedgehogs are rodents because they kinda look similar.
Yet, their origins and lifestyle are very different.
The most common rodents kept as pets are rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, chinchillas, and hamsters.
They all belong to the order Rodentia.
The best-known Marsupials are opossums, kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.
Sugar gliders are the most popular pet marsupials. Fun fact:
Flying squirrels and sugar gliders look almost the same while one is a rodent and the other is a marsupial. Both can cover impressive distances in the air.
Yet, sugar gliders and flying squirrels aren’t actually flying like birds.
They are only falling with style.
The simplest way to tell rodents and marsupials apart is to check their teeth and tummy.
Former have ever-growing front teeth, the latter have a pouch for their babies.
Although Lagomorphs like rabbits also have similar teeth, Marsupials surely don’t.
Hedgehogs have neither, they belong to a different order of animals called Eulipotyphla.
Their closest living relatives are moonrats and gymnures.
According to one theory, they might loosely be related to shrews tenrecs and golden moles, too, based on fossil records.
I admit animal taxonomy can be really tricky.
Are Hedgehogs Mammals?
Yes, hedgehogs are mammals.
Hedgehogs belong to the class Mammalia.
Their order is Eulipotyphla, in the family Petauridae.
Their sub-family is Erinaceidae, or Hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs have 18 distinct species belonging to 5 different genera (multiple of genus).
Mammal in layman’s terms means that they breastfeed their babies. Or at least they have glands to produce milk to feed them.
What Animals Are Similar To Hedgehogs?
It depends on how you define “similar”.
Porcupines
Their quills and their defense mechanisms are different. Porcupines have longer quills and they are brittle.
Neither are they related to hedgies.
They are both mammals, but porcupines are rodents.
As such they are herbivores, they only eat plants.
Hedgehogs belong to the order Eulipotyphla.
They are omnivores so they eat anything, though not too keen on plants.
Although their quills can poke you, but they won’t break off like porcupine quills.
Tenrecs
They are mammals belonging to the family Afrosoricida as opposed to the Eulipotyphla family of the hedgehogs.
These cuties’ closest living relatives are golden moles.
They have very diverse looks, but some of them are bewilderingly similar to hedgies.
They are smaller than hedgies, with a longer, rat-like snout.
Their limbs are long and skinny, making them great climbers.
Hedgies are plump and clumsy.
It’s also much easier to tell the gender of hedgehogs as their prickly copies’ genitals are hidden.
The most important difference is to consider from a pet point of view is the smell.
While a well-kept hedgehog never stinks, male tenrecs smell like stale Doritos.
Interesting fact: they have one of the lowest body temperatures among mammals, 86 to 95 degrees °F (30 to 35 degrees °C ).
Yet, it still doesn’t beat hedgehogs’ body temperature in hibernation, which can go as low as 2–5 °C (36–41 °F).
This gives a brand new meaning to the term ‘I’m freezing’.
Echidnas
They are also called spiny anteaters.
They look like a cross between a rat and a porcupine.
Their closest relative is the platypus, they lay eggs and live in Australia and New Guinea.
They are protected, but wouldn’t make great pets anyway. No, they are not related to hedgehogs either.
Moonrats
Also known as gymnures, or hairy hedgehogs have hair instead of quills as their name indicates.
They are the only non-quilly animals similar to hedgies.
They are mentioned because they are the closest relatives of hedgehogs.
Gymnures look a bit like rats, but instead of being rodents, they belong to the same Erinaceidae family as their prickly cousins.
Are Hedgehogs And Possums Related?
No, not from close.
The North American or Virginia opossum are found in the United States and Canada.
The common opossum is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America.
They are all casually called possums.
However, the ones officially called possums live in Australasia and belong to a different order of mammals.
Opossums and possums are both Marsupials, while Hedgehogs are Eulipotyphla, though all are mammals.
It’s easy to tell these exotic mammals apart.
If they have quills they are not possums.
If they have a pouch for their babies and hang upside down from a tree, they are definitely not hedgehogs.
Are Hedgehogs Related To Bears?
No. At least not much more than they are to us, humans.
Bears are placental mammals that belong to the order Carnivora.
Although their Latin name means “flesh eaters”, this is only true for the polar bear.
Most bears are omnivores as avid campers might already know.
The giant panda is the vegan of the bears.
Not only do they eat plants only, but their diet consists almost entirely of bamboo.
The closest most people can get to owning a bear is to get a ferret.
Ferrets are smaller, slimmer, cuddlier, lower to maintain fluffy carnivores.
Hedgehogs are all are in the order called Eulipotyphla.
They are omnivores like most bears, but their size is about a bear-bite.
It’s pretty easy to tell hedgehogs and bears apart.
If they are big and hairy, they are not hedgehogs.
If they are small and prickly, they are not bears.
Now you know the basics about the origins and classification of hedgehogs.
Read on to know everything about owning a hedgehog and the legalities of hedgehog ownership.
Hedgehogs first started to become household pets in the 1980s in North America. As more people took care of these cute prickly mammals, their population increased as well. For this reason, the authorities had concerns that hedgies that have escaped their humans or have been released into the wild could become an invasive species, a risk to the native wildlife and natural resources.
It must be noted that African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix Albiventris) also known as four-toed hedgehogs are not native to the Americas, thus the official category “exotic pets”.
That means they don’t have any natural predators, and uncontrolled growth of these insectivores could threaten the local insect population. This could potentially unbalance the state’s ecosystem and cause widespread and long-lasting damage.
A counter-argument to this is that hedgies are not tolerant of the local climate. As such, those who are released in the wild are unlikely to multiply and thrive. So, they cannot cause any impact on local wildlife.
Since several decades have already passed since four-toed African pygmy hedgies were first bred in the United States, several states and municipalities now allow pet ownership. However, there are still a few who do not.
To help you navigate hedgehogs’ complicated legal status, I’ve prepared a list of states and breakdown their position on pet hedgies. I divided them into three sections: no permit required, permit required, and totally illegal. I’ll also include some links to determine how to get a hedgehog license and why some areas ban them.
I also added other countries in my research – their hedgehog ownership laws and a short explanation of their stand.
Please note that the hedgehogs listed below relate to the commonly-bred four-toed or African pygmy hedgehog. While some other hedgehog species are bred as pets, such as the Algerian Hedgehog, Egyptian Long-Eared Hedgehog, and the Indian Long-Eared Hedgehog, they have a different legal status from the African pygmy hedgie.
Furthermore, European hedgehogs are generally considered as a protected species and cannot be domesticated and kept as pets.
United States of America
The US is one of the more complicated countries to own a hedgehog in. Although hedgies are allowed in most of the country, there are several states which either require a permit or don’t allow them at all.
Some municipalities and counties don’t allow them either, even if the rest of the state lets you have a pet hedgehog. Although this list is up to date at the time of writing, laws, and regulations tend to change over time so it never hurts to check with your local branch of the Department of Fish and Game.
No Permit Required
These states allow anyone to own a pet hedgehog! That means you can get them from any licensed breeder or pet shop without any problems at all.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Some states have a more complicated ruling on Hedgehogs.
Florida
Hedgehogs are considered as a Class III wildlife by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Animals classified under this require a permit for personal ownership, public exhibition, and sale.
However, we are thankful because hedgies are included in the state’s list of animals exempted from the permit requirement, but only as a pet. If you want to showcase or sell them, a permit from the government is still required.
New York
In general, the state of New York allows pet ownership of hedgehogs. However, this does not apply to New York City. The five boroughs of NYC – Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan – do not allow hedgehogs to be kept as pets.
The New York City health code declares that wild animals are unsuitable to be kept at home. And since hedgehogs are regarded as such, they’re illegal to own within the city limits.
Permit Required
As of now, only one state requires a permit to owning a hedgie. This helps them keep track of pet owners and ensure that the exotic little hogs are well-taken cared of. They also do this to avoid the illegal import of hogs, as they might be disease carriers.
New Jersey
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulations (7:25-4.5), animals and wildlife not covered by their exemption (7:25-4.4) require a permit for ownership. Unfortunately, hedgehogs aren’t listed in the exemption, so a license is required.
However, don’t despair. Securing a permit from the New Jersey State Government is a relatively affordable and straightforward procedure. You just need to fill out and mail this PDF form from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and include a $10.00 check or money order for the processing fee.
If you purchased your little hog from a local pet shop, you should receive a temporary permit from them. Don’t forget to include this in your application! Otherwise, it won’t be approved. If your hedgie came from out of state and didn’t have a temporary permit, then send copies of all documentation that you’ve received.
If you have more questions, you can visit the DFW’s FAQs page, send them an email, or give them a call at 908-735-5450.
Illegal to Own
There are only four states that disallow pet hedgie ownership: California, Georgia, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. Even if our little hogs are cute and harmless, we must still obey the law and not get into any trouble.
California
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, hedgehogs aren’t allowed as pets because of the “many unknown questions related to natural predators and potential diseases when any non-native animal is introduced into the wild.”
While there have been a couple of petitions to change the law, there weren’t enough supporters to let the movement gather steam.
The California State also isn’t changing their stand on hedgies because it could pave the wave for similar requests for other species, which could put the state’s rich biodiversity at risk.
Georgia
Unfortunately, our beloved hedgies are included in the ban by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Law Enforcement Division. The state’s reason is similar to that of California’s – where released or escaped domesticated hedgehogs could potentially wreak havoc on the local ecosystem.
The government also cited that hedgies present public health and livestock concerns, as they are potential salmonella and foot-and-mouth disease carriers.
Hedgie lovers say that while this may be true, other pets like dogs, cats, and rodents can be sources of infections as well. As long as proper precautions are taken, as with any other pet, hedgies are perfectly safe companions for humans.
There have been multiple attempts to legalize hedgehog ownership in Georgia, with a bill being introduced in 2018 into the state senate allowing licensing and permits for would be hedgie owners. However, it wasn’t passed into law.
Even so, several hedgie parents are still working with some state legislators to clear the little hog’s legal status.
Hawaii
As a tropical island with numerous species unique to them, hedgehogs aren’t allowed in the state at all. Since Hawaii is located near the equator, its climate is very well suited for hedgies. With no natural predators, these little hogs could run amok on the island.
Hawaiian authorities’ primary concern is that a runaway hedgehog population could decimate their native tree snails and other insects.
Pennsylvania
This state has a rather colorful history when it comes to hedgies. According to some stories, hedgehogs were initially allowed within the state, provided they were born in Pennsylvania. However, several breeders violated this law by importing new bloodlines from out of state.
This led the Pennsylvania Game Commission to put out a blanket ban on all hedgies. They even raided these breeders’ homes and confiscated all their little hogs, as if they were Pablo Escobar himself. While I can’t find any first-hand source for this raid, a local University paper did warn against owning one.
Be that as it may, there were some attempts to change this law. Way back in 2011, elementary students from Allentown lobbied their representatives to lift the ban. They introduced House Bill 1398 for this measure, but it failed to pass congress.
This was attempted again in 2013 and 2018, but, unfortunately, these bills failed to pass either the congress or the senate as well. Hopefully, this year, we see some progress on the legal status of the hedgehog.
Canada
The US’s friendly neighbor up north generally allows hedgehogs, except for two cities – Langley, British Columbia and Windsor, Ontario. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any explanation on why this is the case.
United Kingdom
The four-toed African pygmy hedgehog may be legally kept as pets, but other species, such as the European hedgehog, isn’t. You’re also not allowed to kill or capture hedgies from the wild, so if you want one, you should approach a licensed breeder.
Hedgehogs naturally exist in the UK. You might actually find some of them in your garden hedges! Since they consume plant pests, having them in your backyard is actually beneficial for your plants.
However, as I said earlier, you shouldn’t heavily interfere with them. You can leave some food for your guest hedgies, like mealworms, and maybe a small bed of leaves – but you shouldn’t put them in a cage or touch them!
Ireland
Under the Republic of Ireland Wildlife Acts, hedgehogs are listed as a protected species. As such, possession of hedgehogs, whether dead or alive, is illegal. However, people are encouraged to allow hedgehogs to take residence in their backyards and gardens.
Australia
Unfortunately, hedgehogs are totally banned in Australia. This is because the country’s warm weather is very conducive to the hedgehog population. Since they also have no natural predators in the subcontinent, there’s a greater chance that their numbers could grow unchecked and cause damage to the ecosystem.
According to the New South Wales government, hedgehogs could wipe out populations of snails, lizards, and ground-nesting birds with their voracious omnivorous appetite.
This has happened to Australia in the past, where the Cane Toad was introduced to help reduce Cane Beetle infestations in farms. However, since they do not have any natural predators in the country and are poisonous to native animals, their numbers have steadily grown.
There are an estimated 200 million cane toads in the country today, and the government is looking for ways to control them.
Currently, the national government wants to avoid a repeat of this scenario; that’s why they’re banning all hedgehogs from the country.
New Zealand
Although New Zealand law doesn’t explicitly bar hedgehog pet ownership, society, in general, treat them as pests. Even if they help urban gardens thrive because they eat insects that negatively affect plants, they eat the eggs and chicks of different bird populations when they make their way into the native bush, forests, and other open spaces.
For this reason, the government actually encourages the active trapping and control of hedgies.
The Rest of the European Countries
For the rest of the European countries, European hedgehogs are a protected species and thus, cannot be kept as pets, although the four-toed African Pygmy hedgehogs can be legally kept as pets. These countries include:
- Austria
- Denmark
- Finland
- Germany
- Italy
- Latvia
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Sweden
In Spain, both species are illegal altogether.
The Case for Hedgie Legality
Hedgehogs are generally small, harmless, and easy-to-manage pets, provided that you know how to care for them correctly. They also do not pose a threat to other wildlife populations, depending on the location.
Some states and territories, such as Hawaii and Australia, are right to ban them outright, as their climates could allow hedgehog populations to grow unchecked. Without a natural predator, there is a chance for hedgehogs to become a pest and upset the local ecosystem.
However, for colder places like Canada and the Northern US, hedgehogs will not survive their cold winters, so there is little chance for them to grow out of control.
No matter where you’re located, hedgehogs are still excellent small pets to keep in the house – if you know what you’re doing. Just make sure to read up on laws and ask forums about your desired pet’s legality before making any purchase. If you’re still not sure, you can always contact your local government for confirmation.
Remember, a responsible hedgie parent should know everything about taking care of a hedgie! From their cage’s size and their exercise needs to their veterinary health care requirements and legal status, you should research these before making any move.
Only when you’ve studied the ownership and care of a hedgehog should you purchase one. When you do that, I guarantee that your hedgehog will live a happy life, and you’ll have a fulfilling relationship with your little hog.
Hedgies are small and shy creatures, but once they warm up to you, you’ll find them to be very active and lovable pets. Caring for them is not a difficult task, but here is some vital information that you should know before getting one.
Hedgehog Basics
As with owning any pet, you, as the human, must have at least some necessary information on the creature that you’ll care for. Whether it be a dog, cat, or hedgehog, proper knowledge will let you have a better time with your companion.
Here are some things that you should know about hedgies:
What states allow you to own a hedgehog?
Most states allow it, except for California, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. although you can with the proper permit. In New York, it is illegal in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get to the most important facts you should know about these adorable hedgies.
Wild Animal or Domesticated Pet?
Some people would argue that hedgehogs shouldn’t be kept as pets – they are wild animals, after all. However, others would also say that all domesticated animals have begun from the wild.
In my view, hedgehogs can make good domesticated pets, as long as you know how to deal with them. Our beloved dogs have come from wild wolves – and years upon years of breeding and training have led us to have them as household companions. What makes hedgies different?
If you want to have a hedgehog pet, you can’t just pick one up from the wild. You will have to find a licensed and reputable breeder if you want a well-bred and well-taken care of little hedgie.
Hedgehog Breeds
Like cats and dogs, hedgehogs have different breeds. The most common and pet-friendly hedgie breed is the African Pygmy, more popularly known as the Four-Toed Hedgehog. There are other breeds out there, but they’re usually not considered as pets.
The Four-Toed Hedgie
They’re the most common pet breed that you can find because they’re the smallest among the hedgehog family. Their pocket size makes taking care of them easier as compared to their bigger brothers. Given that they’re the smallest, they’re also the cutest among the bunch.
These hedgies also come in different colors. The most common that you’ll see on the internet is the salt & pepper hedgehog. As a matter of fact, many owners consider this as the standard color. Their quills are black and white, and they have white hair on their bellies.
Cinnamon is also a popular color – they have white spines with some banded cinnamon accents. Their noses are usually light red, but their bellies have white hair, like their salt & pepper brethren.
Some hedgies are also described as snowflake-colored – so-called because the spines on their back resemble a freshly-laid coat of snow. Their colors are highly-contrasting and make these hedgies fascinating to observe.
There are several more hedgie coat colors that you can find, but these three are the most commonly bred variants.
General Facts About Your Pet Hedgehog
This is what you could expect when you get a hedgie companion. We’ll discuss their lifespan, size, and natural habitat – things that can help you prepare for living a life with your cute and cuddly pet.
How Long Do Hedgies Live?
A typical wild hedgehog lives a good two to three years: predator activity, disease, and injury count as significant factors limiting their lifespan. But if grown in captivity, they could last as long as 10 years!
If your hedgie comes from a responsible breeder, they would have used ethical practices to limit in-breeding and make sure that little spikey will have a good genetic background.
Like us, humans, proper diet, and exercise will keep hedgie healthy. Giving them complete and balanced nutrition will lead them to a healthy life, and an active lifestyle will help them build their physique. Hedgehogs, like any other pet, require physical and mental stimulation.
You’d also want to give them proper housing and environment, as well as little or no stress. If you know how to care for your little spikey hog and give them all their needs, then they will have a good long life ahead of them.
How Big Can Hedgies Get?
You don’t need to worry about not getting enough space for your hedgie. Like typical small pets, they are usually between 5 to 8 inches long and weigh around half a pound to two pounds at the most.
Given that they’re small, you would only need around six square feet of space to house them – so finding a cage big enough for them isn’t going to be an issue.
Where Did Hedgies Come From?
These little critters originally came from Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are not native to the Americas and Australia, although you might find them there as they were introduced by humans as pets.
Are Hedgies Mini Porcupines?
While hedgehogs may look similar to porcupines with their spiny backs, these two creatures are not related at all.
Porcupines are native to the US, while hedgehogs are imported into the country. That’s why the authorities are not very keen on people having pet hedgies, because if they’re inadvertently released into the wild, they could pose a threat to natural wildlife.
Unlike hedgehogs, which are insectivores and omnivores, porcupines are generally herbivores. They only eat fruits, leaves, grass, and tree barks. Porcupines are actually more closely related to mice and rats, as all three are considered rodents.
The significant difference between the two species is how they react defensively. When threatened, a hedgie will roll up into a ball to protect its soft underbelly and avoid being eaten by predators. On the other hand, porcupines will arch its back and stick its quills up. It will actively defend itself and try to hurt the threat with its spines.
Hedgie quills are typically 2 to 3 inches long and are like the bristles of a stiff brush. Porcupines, on the other hand, a foot-long spikes with barbs at its tip. Don’t be pricked by a porcupine because its spikes are hard to remove!
Would Hedgehog Pets Be Fit for You?
Not everyone is fit to have a pet – for example, if you live in a small apartment, you shouldn’t have a big dog that requires a lot of open space to exercise. At the same time, I wouldn’t recommend that you get a cat if you’re allergic to fur.
It is the same thing with hedgehogs. Although they are small creatures, it is wise for you to evaluate yourself and your environment first if you can handle their activity and personality.
Who Should Have a Hedgehog?
Here are some characters that you need to be a successful hedgie guardian.
Knowledgeable
Anyone wanting to have a pet should be knowledgeable about them. Having a companion is a two-way street: your cuddly buddy will give you love and affection, but you will also have to meet their needs. The more you know about hedgies, the better you could understand them and attend to their quirks and behavior.
Patient and Gentle
Hedgies are typically shy creatures. It will take time for them to build up trust and affection for you. That is why you must have the patience to let your relationship with them grow. You also have to be gentle because if you get a little rough with them, they will curl up into a ball, and it might take some time for them to warm up to you again.
Observant
Unlike dogs, which react to their humans and their environment in more visible ways, hedgies are much subtler. As their human, you must be mindful of your little buddy and recognize its needs and behavior to see how they are feeling.
Financially Responsible
Caring for a hedgie can cost you. There are upfront expenses, like their cage and wheel, periodic maintenance like their beddings and supplies, plus daily feeding. You also have to set aside some for the vet. A check-up for you buddy every now and then is essential to keep them healthy and happy.
Accepting
You must also realize that your little buddy will most probably never do any tricks. As long as you accept their quirks and habits, as well as the love and affection that they can offer you, then you’ll be one happy pair.
Regularly Available
While hedgies are typically introverted creatures, they need your constant and consistent presence for them to trust you. They’re also usually awake at night, so you have to be around at the start of their day so they could enjoy your company.
Who Shouldn’t Have a Hedgehog?
Hedgies have innate qualities that might be an issue with some people. That is why, if you find yourself among those below, I’d recommend that you find a suitable arrangement first before getting your first hedgie.
Light Sleepers
Since these little hogs are nocturnal creatures, you’ll find them awake and full of energy at night. Hedgehogs, although tiny, can make a ruckus. For this reason, if you are a light sleeper, you should consider placing your hedgie and their home in another room.
Those Who Can’t Be Around When Little Hedgie Wakes
If you sleep before sunset or are out late at night, it’s better to arrange for a companion or housemate to help you take care of your little buddy. When it wakes up, you should bond with it awhile or observe them so that you could monitor their condition. If you aren’t around, you might miss some essential things that you need to know to care for your pet.
Are Hedgehogs Suitable for Children?
Taking care of these little critters might be easy for adults, but it might be a different matter altogether if you give them to a child. Here are some guidelines that you could follow if you want your kid to have a little buddy of their own.
Your Kids as Hedgehog Pet Owners
If you want to teach your children responsibility, it is good to give them a pet. However, as their guardian, you must still be actively involved in daily hedgehog care. Children must be given guidance on how to take care of the little critter.
You must show them how to feed the hedgehog and monitor its activity, temperature, and health. You should ensure that your kids do those things consistently every day.
Consider also that children might be interested in little hedgie initially, but as the novelty fades, they might turn their attention to other things. You must have someone who can take over the responsibility should the young ones forget or get tired of the hedgehog.
Most importantly, caring for pets can be costly, so you cannot expect kids to spend on veterinary and other expenses. You will still be responsible for the financial care of the hedgehog.
Hedgehog Pets in the Classroom
Hedgies also make excellent classroom pets – as long as they are taken care of. The most important thing is that there should be a primary caregiver. It could be the teacher or a responsible student, as long as they know and understand the needs of little hedgie.
The little fella should be given proper time and attention. The teacher should know how to handle a hedgehog and explain to their students how to care for it. If the hedgehog is left alone in a corner and not given any attention, it will be one unhappy hog.
The teacher should show great enthusiasm when caring for the hog. This is so that the students will absorb the positive energy and be interested in little hedgie too.
Most importantly, the hedgehog cannot be left alone in the school during weekends. Someone must care for it every day, so having the teacher or a responsible student take it home is ideal.
Getting a Hedgehog
If you know that you can handle the responsibility of getting a hedgie, then here are some guides on how to get your first little fella.
Before Adopting
Before you adopt or purchase a hedgehog, you would want to research where you could get them and how they were bred. You would also like to have a support group in your local community, so they could give you relevant advice for your area.
Breeders, Pet Shops, and Classifieds
The most common sources are breeders and pet shops. You could also find them in online forums and classifieds, like Craigslist.
As with any purchase, you have to make sure that you’re getting little hedgie from a reputable source. It’s wise that you read through reviews or forums and maybe even ask other hedgie owners where they got their tiny companion.
I would not recommend going through classifieds unless the post was made by a responsible breeder. You wouldn’t know how the hedgie was bred or cared for, especially if it’s someone who’s just experimenting without having learned how to do it properly. It’s not a risk that I would take.
Lineage
Make sure that no wild hedgehogs were taken into captivity in recent generations. Wild hedgies are not suitable pets because of their temperament. Plus, they tend to bite more and be less friendly as compared to their domesticated counterparts.
Find a Community
One of the best things you can do before getting a hedgie is to find a local community. That way, you can find like-minded people who know about the challenges of caring for a hedgie in your area. You can also join the International Hedgehog Association – the global hedgehog community that sets care and breeding standards.
Owning a Pet Hedgehog – Knowing Where to Get One
When you’re about to pick up your first hedgie, you should know how to look at them and have an idea of baby hedgies’ going rate. That way, you can avoid future problems and have a good time with your new cuddly companion.
Hands-on Breeders
Whether you’re going to pick-up your little hog from a breeder or a pet shop, make sure that they regularly socialize with the hedgehogs so that the little ones are used to being held. An adequately socialized hedgehog would initially ball up, but they will soon uncurl and wiggle around your palm. If the hedgie runs away or makes hissing sounds, then you might have a hard time bonding with it.
Also, hoglets adjust better when they’re between 6 to 8 weeks old. If they’re older, they can still adapt to your presence, but it might take some time.
Typically, you would spend between $75 and $250 to cover the cost of adopting your little hog companion.
What to Look For
When you’re looking at baby hedgies, you should know how to look at them – see if there are any symptoms of sickness, abuse, or genetic problems. If your little hog has health issues, you will end up spending a considerable amount of money treating them.
Here are some things that you should look at:
- Healthy look: check their eyes, nostrils, skin, quill, and fur. These should be clean, clear, and free from any discharge. If they have flaky skin, missing spines, or have discharge, they should be treated first before being set for adoption.
- Physical build: too thin, and they could be malnourished, too heavy, and they’re obese. Diarrhea is also something that you should look out for, as it needs to be treated by a vet.
- Genetics: watch out for wobbly hedgehog syndrome – check their legs and hindquarters for any sign of this disease.
Keeping Up With Your Hedgehog Pet
To fully enjoy your time with your little hedgie, you should learn its quirks and behaviors, as well as its habitat and nourishment needs. We’ll talk about these things below so that both you and your hog will have a great time together.
Hedgie Character
Hedgies have their own personalities and characters. Here are some of the quirks that you should expect as you take care of your little buddy.
Nocturnal
Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures. They are typically asleep during the day, sometimes for as long as 18 hours – then they wake up just around sunset and start their activities.
High Energy
As part of the daily exercise, hedgies run several miles per day. They’re also good climbers and can swim pretty well. They must have a wheel in their cage which they can use to spend their energy on – otherwise, you’ll have a very restless hedgie on your hands.
Sensitive to Light
Given that they are night creatures, their eyes are well-adjusted to work in the dark. That also means they are sensitive to bright lights. You should keep your hedgies located in a dim room – or you could cover your lamps with a red covering to protect their cute little eyes.
Self-Anointing
Hedgehogs are curious creatures. If they meet a new smell in their environment, they have this habit of self-anointing. They will chew a little bit on that item they have found and then spread their saliva all over their body.
Experts are not quite sure why hedgies do this, but one hypothesis is that they do it as a form of camouflage. Another theory is that they do it for stress release.
Reading Their Feelings
The most reliable way of reading your hedgie’s emotion is to look at their quills. When things are nice and calm, and the little hog is comfortable, their quills will lay flat on their back, and you could stroke them like some sort of prickly brush.
But if they’re uncertain about something, you could see their little spiky backs slowly rise up. If they’re absolutely scared, they’ll roll into one spiky ball, and all that you could do is to wait for them to relax.
Training a Hedgie
Your hedgehog’s personality will depend on how you interact with them. If you can build a relationship with the little hedgie, and provide for all of its needs, then the hedgie’s socialization and bonding will turn out well.
If you want your little buddy to learn some basic behaviors, you can train them through conditioning and positive reinforcement with treats.
Human Interaction
As I’ve said before, hedgies aren’t very sociable creatures. They will take some time to warm up to you, and they don’t crave human interaction. You will have to earn their trust slowly before they’re comfortable around you.
Although their spines aren’t poisonous or have barbs, they’re still pretty sharp, like steel bristles. If you want to hold a nervous hedgie, use a towel! You wouldn’t want to get pricked. The scent and voice of their human could relax them and let them unfurl, so don’t pick them up without their owner around.
For your health and safety, don’t kiss them! Hedgies could harbor bacteria bad for humans, and they could bite if you startle them. Remember, always wash your hands after handling a hedgie.
The Litte Hog Diet
You have to keep in mind that hedgies are insectivores – that means their primary meal consists of small insects, like beetles, earwigs, slugs, and worms. If you’re not in the mood to hunt for these critters, I suggest that you go for commercially available food.
There is a range of hedgehog feeds available in the market for your spikey buddy. But you have to be vigilant as they’re not all created equal. Some of them have low nutritional value and are inappropriate for your hoglet. Read through the nutritional contents before buying the food so that your pet could get everything that they need.
If you can’t find hedgehog specific food for your buddy, you could go for cat food, as these contain the proteins and other nutrients they need.
Pros and Cons of the Hedgie Lifestyle
Here’s a quick list of the benefits and disadvantages of having a hedgehog buddy:
Hedgie Benefits
Hedgehogs can be great pets when you know how to take care of them. All the reasons below make them ideal pets especially when you are renting:
- They’re small and easy to manage
- They don’t cause much noise and commotion
- Their cage only requires weekly cleaning
- They generally do not need to bathe often, just once a month, using a toothbrush to clean through spines
- A healthy hedgehog isn’t stinky
- Hedgies don’t have dander and are suitable for people with allergies
- They don’t chew and won’t destroy their surroundings
- They’re not aggressive and won’t cause trouble
- They do not really need regular vaccinations or shots, just at least once a year check-up if your hedgie seems fine
- Hedgehogs are cute, curious, and cuddly!
Hedgehog Disadvantages
- Hedgies are prickly, especially if you’re a first-time hedgie mom/dad
- They’re shy, and it will take some effort to get close to them
- No fun during the daytime – as they’re asleep
- Daily bonding is required to develop trust and a relationship with your little buddy
- They sometimes bite to communicate, so you must know their behavior to limit it
- Hedgehogs are temperature sensitive; they do best between 70° to 80°F
- Their self-anointing habit is yucky
- Owning a pet hedgehog is not legal in all states. They’re considered as exotic animals and may fall under bans.
The Takeaway About Owning a Pet Hedgehog
Owning a pet hedgehog is not really that difficult. As long as you learn about your hedgies, put in your effort, and have a support system around you, you can be a good parent to this little hog. And when you take care of your cuddly buddy, you will find that you’re personally growing as well.
Let’s get hedging!
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