Emily Chan
Traditional pets, like cats and dogs, are always adorable. However, some individuals prefer to keep more exotic, unusual animals in their homes, such as hedgehogs. You’ve probably met very few people who can say they are the proud owner of a hedgehog.
If you’re looking to nurture and befriend a new pet without any fur to trigger your allergies, consider adopting a hedgehog! These small, spiny mammals are laid-back, relatively low-maintenance, and a great source of entertainment.
Here is some important information you should know about caring for a pet hedgehog.
Choose The Right Species
There are 17 different species of hedgehogs, and not all of them are suitable for an indoor lifestyle. The African pygmy hedgehog is the most common species to keep as a pet since it’s smaller and tends to have a calmer temperament than other hedgehogs. The average lifespan of pet hedgehogs is four to six years.
Before buying your pet hedgehog, make sure to do your research. A lot of amateur breeders attempt to domesticate hedgehogs without the proper techniques or training. Spend some time looking into the lineage of potential pet hedgehogs to determine if any wild hedgehogs were captured in recent generations.
Diet And Habitat
Hedgehogs enjoy eating insects, plants, and roots. To keep your pet healthy, feed it a high-quality, balanced diet. Fresh fruits, veggies, mealworms, and crickets are some of their favorite foods. It is recommended that only one to two insects per day be offered to prevent overfeeding.
At one point, it was a common practice to feed pet hedgehogs dry cat food. However, it is now considered outdated and should be removed from their diets.
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