African hedgehogs keeping and breeding. Domestic African pygmy hedgehog. Temperature control, lighting

I want to tell you about the dwarf African hedgehog. I want to talk about the history of its appearance, how they look and how long they live. I will describe in detail how to equip life for a hedgehog, what to feed. I will also dwell on the features of care and share some secrets.

African hedgehogs are a type of pygmy hedgehogs. The species was obtained by selective crossing. Wild hedgehogs are different from domestic ones. Nature makes hedgehogs to be predators.

Ancestral genes are manifested in the behavior of domestic hedgehogs as follows:

• nocturnal tendency;
• smearing yourself with saliva.

Saliva smearing is a defensive reaction of the animal. This is a way of camouflaging in the wild. Domestic hedgehogs do this when they feel the need to protect themselves.

Pet size depends on gender.

Females are always larger than males. The length of such an animal reaches 20-50 cm, and its weight does not exceed 500 g. It is convenient to hold it in the hands, in a relaxed state the spines of hedgehogs become soft.

The hedgehog's muzzle is pointed, the eyes are black, resembling beads. The coat on the belly is usually white or pearl gray. Artificially bred hedgehogs have different shades of colors.

Life span

Wild hedgehogs live up to 4 years on average, but this is because living conditions are highly competitive. In a home environment, with a proper diet and hygiene, they live up to 5-8 years.

Wild hedgehog habitat

Wild hedgehogs are preferred for savannah and desert habitats. There they freely hunt small rodents. Predators-hedgehogs go hunting at night, they are free to navigate in the dark. Smell and hearing help to smell and hear prey even at a depth of 5 m underground.

The peculiarity of these small-sized predators is the ability to swallow and digest food, which reaches a third of its own body size.

Wild animals hibernate at certain times of the year, domestic ones, which are bred by breeders, do not have such a feature.

If hedgehogs are not accustomed to drinking from a drinking bowl, then it is difficult to retrain them.

Maintenance and care at home

The rules for caring for hedgehogs have several nuances.

Adaptation

Hedgehogs react sharply to unfamiliar smells and noise. An effective technique to help a hedgehog get used to a new habitat is to leave the hedgehog alone. This means that you do not need to pay close attention to it or constantly hold it in your arms.

Cell

Cage selection is the first step. The cage should be spacious and closeable. This detail will come in handy at first.

Important in the cell:

• darkening places or a house so that the hedgehog can rest there;
• drinker, feeder;
• toilet;
• running wheel, toys.

How to fill the cage? Sawdust from wood species is suitable for filling the floor of the cage, but materials with an element of essential oil content cannot be used, this is not suitable for keeping this species.

The hedgehog feeder should be made of heavy material. Hedgehogs often turn the trough or drinker over and unwittingly deprive themselves of food or drink.

Toilet and cage cleaning

A toilet for hedgehogs is equipped in one of the corners of the cage. You need to clean this place 1-2 times a day. General cleaning of the cage is done 1-2 times a week.

Temperature control, lighting

The pet will live comfortably at a temperature of +20 or +25 degrees, they do not like drafts, as well as cold or excessive heat. They do not like bright lighting, it is best to pick soft light.

Small animals are naturally energetic, they must be able to expend energy, for which toys are needed in the cage. You can walk with such pets in the warm season, but you need to be careful and make sure that they do not run away.

Nutrition

Food for African hedgehogs must be fresh and of good quality, and should not be fed with leftovers or skins. Milk is contraindicated for hedgehogs, they do not tolerate lactose.

List of approved products:

• (the composition must contain meat);
• boiled meat;
• boiled fish (it can affect the smell of hedgehog waste);
• boiled eggs;
• carrots, cucumber, broccoli;
• pear, watermelon, kiwi, banana;
• insects.

There is a list of foods that are prohibited for eating by pygmy hedgehogs.

Forbidden for consumption: pineapples, milk, citrus fruits, dried fruits, seeds, grapes, raisins, avocados, chocolate.

Diseases

Diseases accompany these cute pets throughout their lives. They actively and actively sort through their paws and string threads, hair, small debris on them. This leads to injuries to the paws and the development of tumors. An unbalanced diet leads to stomach problems.

Buying a pygmy hedgehog is a crucial step. It is necessary to make sure of the ability to provide comfortable maintenance and care of the pet, taking into account all the features of this breed.

The African pygmy hedgehog is a mammal that does not live in the wild. The animal was bred artificially, which is why it must not be released. The animal was obtained by crossing the Algerian and other breeds of African hedgehogs.

Before you get this cute pet, carefully read the instructions for its care and maintenance.

How to tame an African pygmy hedgehog

To tame a hedgehog, you need calmness and patience.

To tame an animal, surround it with affection and care. Have regular conversations with your pet and create a safe and calm atmosphere for it. The hedgehog has poor eyesight and a very sensitive scent. He will distinguish you by touch, smell, voice.

Try to gently lift your pet by the abdomen. If he uses needles, do it with a blanket or towel - the hedgehog will stop panicking and calm down. If attempts to pick up your pet are unsuccessful, don't be nervous. In no case shout at the animal, let alone throw it! Instead, be balanced but persistent.

The hedgehog is a nocturnal animal. Therefore, try not to disturb him during the daytime, especially in the first days after purchase. To make your pet get used to you as soon as possible, try to hand feed it as often as possible.

Talk to your pet in a calm, gentle voice. Take it in your arms every day for 15-20 minutes. If you follow the simple recommendations, the hedgehog will soon begin to approach you himself.

Description and varieties

African pygmy hedgehogs differ in a large number of colors

The African pygmy hedgehog grows no more than 20 cm in length, and its weight is about 500 g. Individuals of this breed differ in color.

The salt and pepper hedgehogs have black eyes, mask and nose. The number of black needles exceeds the number of unpigmented needles. The skin around the ears and on the back is also black. There are specks of the same color on the belly and legs.

Gray individuals have black eyes, a mask, and a nose. On the belly and paws, spots of the same shade are observed. The needles of this species are dark gray or dark brown. On the back and in the area of ​​the ears, the color smoothly passes from a dark gray to black.

The brown variety of hedgehogs has light brown needles. The eyes are black with a blue border. The mask of this individual is light brown. The nose is chocolate-colored. The abdomen and legs are evenly colored. The skin on the back and ears has a pinkish tint with a gray tone.

Variety "chocolate" has brown needles. The eyes are black. The mask and nose are pale brown. The skin on the back and in the area of ​​the ears has a grayish tint. Subtle specks may be observed on the abdomen and paws.

The champagne variety has light beige needles. Their mask is not expressed. The nose is pinkish. The back and ears are of the same color. The eyes are ruby-colored. The abdomen and limbs of this individual are evenly colored.

"Tsinakot" has half of the needles in a light brown tone and the other part in a pale beige. The mask practically does not appear. The nose is pink with brown specks. The eyes of this individual are black or ruby ​​tone. The belly and legs are evenly colored. The skin on the back and in the area of ​​the ears is pinkish.

Variety "cinnamon" has a needle-like cover of a light brown tone. The mask practically does not appear. The nose is pinkish brown. This individual has black or dark ruby ​​eyes. Legs and belly are evenly colored. The skin on the back and ears is pink.

In addition to these varieties, any individual may exhibit a color anomaly:

• Pint - any part of the skin may not have pigmentation;
• Snowflake - 30–70% of needles become discolored;
• White - almost all needles become discolored.

The mammal can be born albino. Animals with this abnormal color have white needles, pinkish skin, and scarlet eyes.

Pros and cons of keeping a pygmy hedgehog

African hedgehogs are smart and energetic, but do not get along well with other animals

• People who breed these animals claim that a hedgehog is able to relieve fatigue and even lower blood pressure;
• Hedgehogs are very intelligent creatures. They can quickly get used to their master and become attached to him;
• The African pygmy hedgehog can be easily accustomed to eating, resting and communicating with the owner;
• The animal does not require a lot of time to take care of. It is enough to keep the cage clean, sometimes wash the pet and trim its nails;
• Hedgehogs rarely make sounds. If this happens, then they are practically inaudible;
• The hedgehog has a very compact size. A place will be found for him even in the smallest apartment;
• Since the animal lives in a cage, it will not spoil your wallpaper, furniture and other valuable things;
• Hedgehogs do not need to be walked. They fulfill their need in a certain corner of the cage;
• African pygmy hedgehogs are unpretentious in food. They can even eat regular cat food.

However, despite such a number of positive aspects, the content of a hedgehog also has its drawbacks:

• If you often let your pet out of the cage, you will have to collect needles around the apartment;
• The hedgehog is a nocturnal animal, it is not recommended to put his cage in a room where people sleep - it will interfere;
• The hedgehog has a highly developed hunting instinct. If there are other pets in the house, this trait can cost a hedgehog his life;
• Not all veterinary clinics will be able to help the African pygmy hedgehog. This is due to the fact that this animal is not particularly common in our country.

Many people may wonder if the animal has an unpleasant odor. If the animal's cage is kept clean, as well as to monitor its health and proper nutrition, there will be no repulsive smell.

In order for your pet to live as long as possible, you must follow a number of rules and recommendations.

What to feed

Insects are a real delicacy for a hedgehog

The hedgehog is a predatory animal. The best food for him is insects and meat.... Specialty stores sell feed. But it is still better to give preference to natural products.

It is recommended to feed the hedgehog with boiled or steamed meat. For example, 1 tbsp. spoon of beef, chicken, turkey. The meat product must be finely chopped or minced from it before feeding. You can also give your pet chicken necks, stomachs, liver, and more. One serving takes 1-2 units of offal. Boiled or steamed fish can be given to your pet once a week.

Please note: any meat, poultry and fish should not contain salt and spices!

Of insects, hedgehogs prefer crickets and zofobus. But this food is quite fatty. Therefore, it can only be given a couple of times a week. The pygmy hedgehog is also fed with grasshoppers, mealworms, caterpillars, marble cockroaches, locusts.

The hedgehog will not refuse vegetables either. He loves zucchini, carrots, green beans, asparagus, pumpkin, cucumbers, broccoli, spinach, bell peppers. Of fruits and berries, the hedgehog prefers apples, pears, bananas, peaches, watermelon, cherries (necessarily pitted), strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries and kiwi.

You can diversify your pet's diet with a chicken or quail egg. It can be fed steep and raw. The hedgehog also loves baby food.

Hygiene and bathing

For hygiene procedures, draw about 5 liters of water into the basin. Its temperature should not be higher than 34.8 degrees. It is necessary to immerse the animal in water slowly, slightly holding it by the upper part of the body. First of all, you need to thoroughly rinse the legs and belly. After that, proceed to the back. The needles can be cleaned with baby shampoo and a soft toothbrush. Make sure that no water gets on the muzzle. After bathing, the animal must be wrapped in a warm towel. The hedgehog must dry naturally. Protect your pet from drafts.

Video: African hedgehog bathes

Diseases and treatment

African pygmy hedgehogs are susceptible to a whole range of diseases.

With good maintenance, as a rule, hedgehogs rarely get sick. But you still need to know what sores you may encounter and how to treat them.

Pneumonia. Such a disease can occur as a result of hypothermia. The animal refuses food, often licks its nose, sneezes, coughs. Breathing becomes difficult, characteristic clicks are heard. This pathological condition is treated with antibiotics.

The pet needs to be shown to the doctor. If this is not possible, veterinarians recommend treating the animal with Ceftriaxone or Catosal. To eliminate a runny nose, you can use saline for rinsing the nose, children's "Pharmozolin" or "Maxidin". The antibiotic is injected intramuscularly into the thigh. Catosal is applied to the fold of skin on the back.

Gastrointestinal disorders. The feces of the African hedgehog are elongated, approximately the size of a pencil. The color of the discharge in a healthy animal is dark brown. If there is mucus or bile in the pet's stool, this means that the hedgehog has impaired digestion. This is often due to the introduction of new foods into the diet. Just eliminate them from your diet and watch your stools. If nothing has changed within 2-3 weeks, see your doctor. The animal may have an infection. If the color of the stool is healthy, but it resembles cow cakes, the digestive tract must be cleaned. Cockroaches will help you with this. If you have diarrhea, make sure your pet is drinking plenty of water. If he refuses, saline must be injected subcutaneously. For the treatment of the stomach, you can use "Nifuroxazide". If diarrhea persists for more than 2 days, see your doctor.

Wounds, scratches, fractures. Wounds and scratches should be flushed with hydrogen peroxide. After that, the damage must be treated with "Chlorhexidine". Then you should wait a little and lubricate the wound with Levomekol. For serious injuries, only a veterinarian can help. Fractures usually require amputation.

Fungus. The animal's needles and wool fall out. The skin is covered with a crust, flakes. In this situation, it is recommended to use "Imaverol". A cube of medicine requires 50 cubes of water. Spray your pet with this solution 3 times a day.

Ticks, worms. When infected with a tick, scratches and wounds will be observed on the animal's body. With worms, the animal loses weight even with a good appetite. In the feces, mucus, bloody discharge is observed. In this case, Stronghold, Front Line, Advocate help. The exact dosage is described in the instructions.

Vaccination

Choice of cages and accessories

In a cage, a hedgehog needs to provide a sufficient level of convenience.

The cage for the animal must be spacious, the size of the bottom - at least 60 * 60 cm... It must be continuous. The distance between the rods should not be too great. The animal can crawl through them and run away or get stuck between them.

Do not buy multilevel cages for dwarf hedgehogs!

You must put a wheel in the cage for running. It must be solid, at least 28 cm in diameter. Depending on the nature of the animal in the cage, he needs to make a shelter. For a sociable hedgehog, you can just lay a soft towel, blanket. For a shy pet, a house is needed.

You need to put a bowl for food and a drinker in the cage. The bowl should be heavy so that the pet does not roll it around the cage. It is best to choose a nipple drinker.

Many hedgehogs love to play. Toys for cats are perfect for them - for example, a ball with bells inside or tunnels.

Breeding

Breeding African pygmy hedgehogs is a very crucial step. First, weigh the pros and cons carefully. You should have enough free time to care for your pregnant hedgehog and babies.

How to determine gender

To determine the sex, hold the hedgehog in your arms so that you can see its belly. In females, the genitals are located near the anus. In males, they are at a distance of about 1 cm from the anus in babies and 2–2.5 cm in an adult.

Knitting

For the mating to be successful, it is necessary that the hedgehogs are in the same age category.

Hedgehogs become sexually mature at 5.5–6 weeks. Animals should not have related crossbreeding until at least the 3rd generation, so babies must be separated by gender in advance. It is impossible to knit weakened and sick hedgehogs.

A young male should not be mated with an adult female. Due to inexperience, he can cause aggression and be bitten as a result. Knitting can be done at 5.5-6 weeks, not earlier.

The female can become pregnant earlier than 5.5 weeks. This should not be allowed. She may not bear offspring or refuse to feed the cubs. The female should not be allowed to mate for more than 11 weeks if she has never given birth. The fused pelvic bones can make childbirth difficult and lead to the death of the hedgehog.

Mating takes 6-7 days. It is not worth keeping the animals together any longer. If mating does not occur, plant the hedgehogs for a week, and then reconnect them.

The male can be knitted every 2 weeks. Female - no more than 2 times a year. Otherwise, she will kill her hedgehogs.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy in hedgehogs lasts 34–36 days. For a couple of weeks, the female gains weight 10–50 g. On the 25th day, it is already clear that the hedgehog is pregnant: she is rounded, and her behavior also changes. She begins to take care of herself, her gait slows down.

How to care for newborn hedgehogs

It is better to touch newborn hedgehogs only through a cloth.

In the first days of the babies' life, the female behaves very nervously. She must be planted in a separate cage and ensure complete rest. Otherwise, she may refuse to feed the offspring or even kill him.

It is better not to touch small hedgehogs - the female can refuse them if she smells a person... But sometimes situations arise when it is simply necessary to pick up the baby. In this case, wash your hands thoroughly with plain water, put on clean clothes and try to be free of any odors. When you take the baby, distract the female. The same must be done when you put it back.

For the first 2 weeks, hedgehogs feed only on mother's milk, then she begins to bring them other food. By the age of 2 months, hedgehogs cease to be completely dependent on their mother.

Training and playing with your pet

Little thorny Africans are great to train

The African pygmy hedgehog is very trainable. For example, you can create an obstacle course for him with treats laid out on it - this way the pet will train on its own.

If you practice a hedgehog regularly, he will learn his name and will respond to it.... Also, the pet can be taught the commands "stand" and "towards me". To do this, lure the animal to you with the words "to me" with some delicacy. Then tell him to "stand" and block the path with your foot or a book. The hedgehog will quickly understand what needs to be done and will follow the commands.

The most important thing during training is not to scream or frighten the animal. Otherwise, it will be afraid and refuse to do anything.

Life expectancy of an African hedgehog at home

With good care, the African hedgehog lives up to about 7 years. Cases were recorded when the pet lived up to 10 years. With a caring and responsible owner, the hedgehog will live a long and happy life.

How to name a pet

In choosing a name, you can only be limited by your own imagination.

The hedgehog can be called any nickname that you like. For example, push off the pet's thorns (Cactus, Kolyuchkin, Needle, etc.) or transform the word hedgehog (Ezhana, Hedgehog, Hedgehog, etc.).

You can call a hedgehog based on external features (White, Snowflake, Ember, etc.). In other words, you can think of a huge number of nicknames for a prickly pet. Just use your imagination.

The African pygmy hedgehog is an ornamental animal that was bred specifically for living at home. The hedgehog is quite unpretentious in food, has a small size, and requires a minimum amount of time. In addition to these positive aspects, the pet lends itself well to training and can become a loyal friend to its owner.

I'll tell you a story, as old as the world. Surely many will recognize themselves in it ...
The most common mistake of homo sapiens is to humanize animals and endow them with all sorts of virtues for outward cuteness. But we are even more mistaken, bringing into the house the cutest creature from the wild (completely not knowing about him) and think that we will be mutually in love and happy. When I was little, friends gave me a hedgehog caught in the forest for my birthday. It is unknown whether it was a male or a female, but he was immediately christened the Yozhka and solemnly brought into the house.


On the very first night, the Yozhka showed his essence in all its glory. I stripped off the wallpaper, tried to "dig up" the wooden floor of my grandmother's house and "checked in" in all corners. He stomped like a herd of rabid mammoths (of course, at night), emitted the aromas of the barracks and the station restroom at the same time, and after a couple of days of this pitch hell he was expelled from the house under my roar and lies of adults that “the hedgehog ran into the forest, he had there are little kids. "

Everyone loves hedgehogs, but they are afraid (and rightly so) to have a copy of the cartoon thorny charm at home. Therefore, today we will tell you about the wonderful hedgehog, which is a pleasure to keep. He does not stomp, almost does not smell, does not show aggression towards humans and lives, by the way, much longer than most small cell pets (for example, decorative rodents, and the hedgehog is a representative of the order of insectivores): about 5-8 years. The fashion for dwarf hedgehogs is just beginning to gain momentum, but undoubtedly this adorable pet has a great future. Perhaps you will order your first hedgehog in Moscow or abroad, but several years will pass, and hedgehogs can be found in a good pet store or seen at an exhibition ...

Does not occur in the wild. This is a species artificially bred by man! The fashion for hedgehogs reached Russia from the USA and Canada, but even the most inquisitive and understanding hedgehogs in genetics and biology did not give an exact answer in online publications: who exactly, in which city, in what year and in what way brought the first African hedgehogs. One of the links indicates that the ancestors of the hero of our story were the Algerian and white-bellied hedgehogs: animals with a very similar genome, exterior, ecology and lifestyle. These hedgehogs differ only in the size of the "mask" on the face, the shape of the ears and a slight difference in size. Through both intraspecific and interspecific crossing of Algerians and white-bellies, man has managed to obtain many bright and beautiful morphs (colors) of the African pygmy hedgehog. However, we will return to morphs later ...

In order not to mislead readers, let's start with warning information.

Warning information

1. A good hedgehog is like a good car - it can't be cheap! The price of hedgehogs varies depending on the rarity of the color. If you want to have a healthy, beautiful and affectionate pet, get ready to shell out and say no to poultry markets, resellers and questionable advertisements on the Internet. The proverb that a miser pays twice is also true for hedgehogs: dreaming of free cheese in a mousetrap, you risk buying an old or sick animal from dishonest people, subsequently splurging on a veterinarian and disillusioned with your dreams and hopes.

2. Now in our country there are very few good nurseries of African pygmy hedgehogs. Therefore, you may have to choose a pet, guided by photographs on the Internet and look for an opportunity (train conductor, intercity bus driver, etc.), or follow the hedgehog to another city on your own.

4. For all the simplicity of care and the good-natured disposition of the pet, the African pygmy hedgehog is not a "childish" animal. When purchasing a hedgehog for a child, remember your personal responsibility for the one you tamed. Perhaps some of the actions for caring for the animal will be overwhelming for the little man (detecting symptoms of diseases, visits to the veterinarian, mating, caring for a pregnant or lactating female, feeding a hedgehog with insects, etc.).

5. When purchasing a prickly pet, find out in advance if there is a veterinarian in your city who has experience in dealing with exotic animals. Many therapies and some medications used for dogs and cats are contraindicated and even deadly for hedgehogs! For more detailed information and lists of all "Do's and Don'ts" we advise you to contact the VKontakte group (see the list of references at the end of the article).

6. Hedgehogs DO NOT eat grains like rodents and birds. You will have to buy super premium cat food for your pet all year round, fresh meat (fillets), vegetables, fruits and food insects. Cat food is the staple of a hedgehog's diet, but treats, supplements and vitamins are essential.

If this information did not frighten you - congratulations! Perhaps you will become the first African pygmy hedgehog breeder in your city. But, even taking a pet "for the soul", you will get great pleasure watching its habits, admiring its beauty and communicating with like-minded people on the Internet.

Keeping the African pygmy hedgehog

Cell for a pygmy hedgehog it should be spacious - the more the better. Use commercial sawdust or rodent filler as filler. You can not use cedar sawdust, sawdust of resinous tree species and any bedding materials containing essential oils - they are toxic to hedgehogs!

In a hedgehog cage there should be shelters, a "toilet" corner, feeders, drinkers, and certainly - running wheel... The diameter of the wheel for the hedgehog is at least 28 cm. The hedgehog needs to run in the wheel: he is nocturnal, must move a lot and needs outdoor games that cannot be replaced by walking around the room. The wheel must be solid, solid (plastic) and in no case have a honeycomb or lattice structure in order to avoid injuries to the paws. It is also contraindicated to keep hedgehogs in a cage with a slatted floor! All hedgehogs (both African and others) are adapted to walk on a flat surface.

When purchasing a cage for a hedgehog, remember that hedgehogs are great climbers, so an open-top cage or terrarium will not work for you: the pet will certainly try to escape. Do not buy a cage with a large distance between the rods (as for ferrets or rabbits): a small hedgehog may "seep" through the grate or get stuck.

The cage (or terrarium) must be well ventilated. Avoid drafts, merciless direct sunlight (the hedgehog should be able to hide from them). The optimum temperature in the room should be 20-25 ° C, overheating is extremely dangerous for the health of the hedgehog.

Cleaning the cage should be done frequently. If the hedgehog has chosen a certain corner for his toilet, which is not always, but it happens, clean it every day, and 1-2 times a week carry out a major cleaning in the cage, washing the pallet and wiping the rods. The feeder and drinker must always be clean!

If the hedgehog does not drink, this phenomenon has two reasons:
1) he is sick and you urgently need to run to the veterinarian;

2) he is used to drinking from a bowl and is not accustomed to drinking. Call your breeder and ask him if the pet knows how to use the drinker and in what conditions he was kept before. It is possible to "retrain" a hedgehog, but it is difficult - and this applies not only to habits, but also to the diet. Cases are described on the Internet when a pet brought to a new home did not want to eat or drink, not only because of stress, but also due to the slightest changes in feeding and maintenance.

Into hibernation african pygmy hedgehog does not flow... His "summer" lifestyle should not differ much from the "winter" one: in no case break, impoverish or abruptly change his food and temperature regime. Additional lighting and ultraviolet radiation are not required for hedgehogs, however, in crisis situations (frost or heat burst out, the batteries were turned off, etc.), the hedgehog will need artificial sources of light and heat, or, conversely, cooling. Under no circumstances place the cage or terrarium next to a radiator or fan so that the animal does not overheat or, conversely, does not catch a cold. Injecting, saving from dehydration, heatstroke, or treating a hedgehog with antibiotics at home can be difficult (especially if you don't have the appropriate experience).

Myths, legends and facts about hedgehogs

The first myth:

"My hedgehog drinks milk from a saucer"
Stop. Let's leave that to the writers and animators. Adult African pygmy hedgehog categorically intolerant to lactose. Try to feed him "like in a cartoon", and in the mild case, you will get off with diarrhea, and in the worst case - gastrointestinal diseases and even death. Dairy products (except for mother's milk during the suckling period) are contraindicated for a hedgehog.

The second myth:

“The hedgehog loves apples and mushrooms. He carries them on his pins and stores them. "
Again, warm greetings to children's writers and artists of the USSR. It is possible and necessary to give fruit to hedgehogs: it is a source of vitamins, vegetable fiber and just a deliciously tasty treat. But there can be no question of any mushrooms or dried fruits (some storytellers have brought their creativity to complete insanity and claim that the hedgehog supposedly dries fruits and mushrooms strung on needles, or drags them into the hole and dries there). We will tell you about what you can and cannot feed your domestic pygmy African hedgehog in the section "Feeding".

And further - in no case do not string various objects on the hedgehog's needles. Hedgehog needles are not turtle shells. They really serve the hedgehog for self-defense, but are not his privilege or the rarest species feature. The porcupine (rodent) and the echidna (marsupial) and other animals also have needles. A hedgehog needle is a keratinized epidermis - the same as hair or nails, only a slightly different structure. Inside, the needles are hollow, contain transverse partitions and are constantly renewed (not in the form of intense molting, but constantly, throughout the year, 1-2 needles at a time).

The hedgehog's needles in no way negate the presence of a coat (the hedgehog is "all" furry; thin, delicate, short hairs are also found between the needles). Now imagine if some alien creature, imprisoned you in a cage for experiments, tied various objects to strands of your hair and ruffled them. The hedgehog feels about the same, over the needles of which small children and especially "smart" adults are mocked and amused.

Let's go back to our cartoon hedgehogs ... Indeed, in the wild you can find a hedgehog with leaves pricked on needles. Most likely, they accidentally hit him on his back when he was lying on the ground or curled up in a ball (by the way, special muscles are responsible for the hedgehog's ability to curl up). Apparently, this touching sight of a hedgehog with leaves gave rise to so many literary delusions.

But there is one interesting fact that cannot be dismissed: a lot of eyewitness accounts constantly discovering hedgehogs with ... butts on their backs (in the light of the latest anti-nicotine programs and laws: may the Ministry of Health forgive me). Why do hedgehogs carry this muck on themselves? There are two versions:

The third myth:

"To eat a hedgehog, the fox pushes him into a stream, after which he turns around."(

The dwarf African hedgehog is considered the most unpretentious of the exotic pets. It is a breed of hybrid origin, obtained by crossing several varieties of hedgehogs from Africa. In natural conditions, animals are not found, they were bred specifically for keeping at home. They are appreciated for their pretty appearance and affectionate disposition. They differ from their wild counterparts in demeanor and more sociability. They live long if you take care of them properly.

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Description

The decorative hedgehog does not fundamentally differ from the forest hedgehog in its external description. It has a similar compact body with short legs and a pointed muzzle covered with fluff in the eyebrows and cheeks. The ears are small in size, oval in shape, pressed to the head. On the hind legs there are 4 fingers, on the front - 5. The weight of an adult is 350-500 grams with a length of up to 20 cm.

One hedgehog has up to 10 thousand needles, which are renewed every three years.

The length of the needles reaches 2–3 cm. There are several colors of hedgehogs, depending on the color of the thorns:

• Black (salt and pepper)- in addition to the pigmented needles, there is a resinous mask on the face and a similar darkening around the ears.
• Gray- needles are either gray or brown. The mask is black, the ears are a rich gray shade.
• Chocolate- a similar color is inherent in a thorny cover, a little lighter - a mask, gray ears.
• Brown- pink ears, combined with a light cream mask and an oak-colored needle cover. A characteristic feature is the eyes with a blue border.
• Cinnamon- The needles are light brown, pinkish ears and maroon eyes. There is no darkening on the face.
• Cinakot- a combination of brown and beige shades.
• Champagne- scarlet eyes against the background of a pale beige fur coat.
• Pinto- White needles are partially present.
• Albino- the animal is absolutely white with red eyes.

In nature, such a variety of colors is not observed in hedgehogs.

In total, there are 4 types of African hedgehogs, which are presented in the table:

Name	Characteristic	What does it look like
Somali	Inhabits open spaces with dense vegetation: meadows, savannas. It is found exclusively in the territory of the East African state of Somalia. The body is about 25 cm long with an average weight of 500 grams. The needle cover is brown, with white tops. The belly and head are covered with white fur. The nose is bare. Differs from the dwarf in five-toed rather than four-toed hind limbs
South African	Natural habitat: Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe. They live in forests and gardens, in the fields. Avoid deserts. They are distinguished by a contrasting white stripe of fur on the forehead. An adult hedgehog has about 5 thousand needles up to 2 cm long. The ears are small, pointed and elongated. The legs are long, with five toes. Color options vary, and there are also albinos. The muzzle is gray-brown, the tail and paws are resinous, the belly is gray. Behind the needles are snow-white, and on the rest of the surface - combined, where they combine: white, cream, black, brown. Dimensions: body length - 17-25 cm, weight - 280-350 g
Algerian	Natural distribution area: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, southern France and Spain. They prefer mixed and coniferous forests, savannas. With a total weight of 350–600 g, they do not grow more than 25 cm in length. The muzzle is elongated, the tail is short, the legs are thin and long. The ears are large and noticeable. Brown prevails in color, white inclusions are possible on the abdomen. The needles cover the top and sides, and are absent at the crown. The color is similar to the general one, but with a bluish bloom. In nature, they settle alone and converge only during the mating season - from October to March
White-bellied	They live in the Sahara Desert, as well as in Senegal, Nigeria, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Sudan. Compact animals from 15 to 21 cm long and weighing 350–700 g. Tail - up to 2.5 cm. Females are much larger than males. The color is brown-gray, white at the tips of the needles. In a peaceful environment, hedgehogs quietly snort, but in case of danger they begin to scream loudly. They feed mainly on animal food: snails, snakes, worms, scorpions. They love spiders and insects



Habitat

African pygmy hedgehogs, which became the progenitors of the artificial species, live mostly in Somalia, Ethiopia, Senegal and Tanzania. While pets are generally good-natured, wild representatives are true predators. They avoid tall thickets, but skillfully hide in the grass and stones. Thanks to excellent scent, keen hearing and nimble paws, they hunt successfully.

They are predominantly nocturnal. At dusk, they are threatened by large predators. During the day they hide in secret places: under branches, in foliage or in abandoned rodent burrows. They are constantly in search of food, since they are able to eat up to a third of their total weight per day. They hibernate for several months from the beginning of summer. With the onset of autumn, they are looking for a pair for breeding.



Character

Each African hedgehog is individual in character and demeanor. Some prefer silence and solitary existence, others willingly make contact. But all of them are united by one feature - love for people without showing the slightest aggression. These decorative animals cannot stand gripping and ironing.

It is undesirable to leave children alone with such pets. Although they are not aggressive in behavior, they are traumatic.

If the pet leads a secretive existence and is shy, trying to hide from strangers in the house once again, you need to be able to establish contact with him. When buying, preference is given to sociable hedgehogs, which willingly go into the hands. If a stubborn person is caught, it will be problematic in the future to earn his favorable disposition. Mostly dwarf hedgehogs are balanced and peaceful creatures, but there are also quarrelsome individuals who constantly strive to run away and bite.



Maintenance and care at home

Hedgehogs living at home do not experience the difficulties encountered in the wild, according tothis their life expectancy reaches 6 years. There are centenarians reaching the ten-year mark. The main conditions for longevity are a balanced diet, hygiene and regular veterinary examinations.

Cage and accessories

The main accessories for a comfortable stay are shown in the table:

Name	Description	Image
Cell	It should be comfortable and spacious, with dimensions of at least 50 x 50 cm. A structure with a frequent arrangement of rods is selected to exclude the possibility of unauthorized escape. A closed top is mandatory, since hedgehogs climb excellently (ptherefore it is not recommended to purchase a terrarium)... A soft bedding is poured at the bottom so that the animal does not injure its paws. Suitable: sawdust, crumpled paper, corn cobs or ready-made loose filler. Avoid coniferous materials, as resin is poisonous to hedgehogs
Small house	A place where hedgehogs like to hide from prying eyes. Purchased chinchillas or a sleeping bag can be adapted for these purposes.
Wheel	Hedgehogs are naturally active, so they need to somehow release their energy. A running wheel with a diameter of 25-30 cm is ideal for this. For safety, priority is given to a one-piece construction without crossbars. Such daily jogging will prevent obesity, which hedgehogs are especially prone to.
Toilet	These animals are extremely clean, therefore, immediately upon arrival, they will adapt some corner in the cage to cope. They put the tray there
Feeder, drinker	It is recommended to choose heavier dishes so that it is not possible to turn them over. The drinking bowl must have sides, but not higher than 5 cm.Otherwise, the small hedgehog will not be able to reach the water
Toys	Hedgehogs love to play. For a fun pastime, balls, bells and other things are suitable

The location of the cage is selected based on a number of tips:

• The optimal temperature regime is 22-25 degrees. Overheating and hypothermia are undesirable. With a sharp cold snap, hedgehogs hibernate, which is not entirely natural for them - the animals may not wake up.
• Avoid drafts and direct sunlight. Despite this, pets need enough light.
• Place the cage away from the bedroom so that animals do not interfere with sleep at night.

It is not recommended to release hedgehogs unattended for a walk around the house: inadvertently, you can step on the animal, crush it, or injure yourself. You can sometimes take them with you to nature or to the cottage, where they can crawl on fresh grass to their fullest.

Water at room temperature is poured into a basin and the animal is slowly immersed. The first step is to wash the abdomen and paws, then move to the back. It is more convenient to clean the needles with a toothbrush using baby shampoo. It is important that no water gets on the muzzle. After bathing, the animal is wrapped in a towel and allowed to dry naturally.

The diet

Nutritional problems usually do not arise: hedgehogs can eat both natural food and premium cat food. The latter should contain meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits. Artificial inclusions and starch-rich components (corn, potatoes) are unacceptable. It is important to eat a balanced diet to keep your hedgehogs from digestive and dental problems.

Dry food is essential in nutrition. You can supplement it with natural products, such as:

• boiled chicken meat;
• boiled chicken eggs or raw quail;
• vegetables: asparagus, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, pumpkin;
• fruits: apricots, pears, kiwi, bananas;
• berries;
• fish without bones, after heat treatment.

No salt or spices are added during cooking. As a treat, they give baby puree and crickets, which are sold in pet stores.

You can't feed hedgehogs:

• milk and dairy products - animals are lactose intolerant;
• citrus and pineapple - due to the acid in the composition;
• dried fruits, seeds and nuts - stick to teeth and can lead to suffocation;
• raisins, avocados and grapes - cause indigestion;
• chocolate, chips, fast food.

After eating, all the leftovers are removed, since the animals tend to turn over the bowls and scatter the food.

Injuries and illnesses

Dwarf domestic hedgehogs, in comparison with their forest cousins, have less strong immunity, therefore, 1-2 times a year it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, including:

• palpation of the body;
• blood and feces tests;
• diagnostics of the skin and teeth.

The most common health problems in hedgehogs are described in the table:

Breeding

The breeding process for African hedgehogs is a responsible undertaking. This will require a lot of free time needed to care for hedgehogs and hedgehogs. First of all, the sex of the pet is determined. To do this, turn it upside down with its stomach: in females, the genitals and anus are located close to each other, in males - at a distance of about 2 cm (in babies - 1 cm).

Sexual maturity in hedgehogs occurs at the age of 5-6 weeks... For knitting, individuals of the same age and without close related weaves are selected up to the third generation. If the male is young and the female is adult, the inexperience of the former can provoke aggression in the partner, so the cubs need to be separated in advance by gender. It is unacceptable to mate sick and emaciated animals.

For fertilization, a female who has not previously given birth and an individual over the age of 11 weeks are not suitable. In such hedgehogs, the fusion of the pelvic bones usually occurs, which complicates childbirth and leads to the death of the offspring. The entire crossing process takes no more than seven days. It is not advisable to keep the pair together any longer. If no contact has occurred during this time, the animals are seated separately and the procedure is repeated a week later.

Males are allowed to mate once every 2 weeks, the female - twice a year. If this happens more often, the hedgehog will begin to kill the hedgehog.

Pregnancy lasts 35–36 days. In the first 2 weeks, the animal gains weight up to 50 grams. After 25 days, it noticeably rounds up and changes in behavior: gait slows down, increased caution appears.

After the birth of the babies, the mother hedgehog behaves nervously, so it is recommended to move her into a separate cage. The hedgehogs themselves should not be touched, since someone else's smell can force the female to refuse to feed the newborns. If there is an urgent need for this, hands are thoroughly washed with water and put on clean clothes. When the baby is taken, the mother is distracted. They do the same when returning it back. At 2 months, hedgehogs become completely independent.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before you finally decide to start an African hedgehog at home, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the key characteristics. They are outlined in the table:

pros	Minuses
They have a friendly character and a beautiful exterior. They have funny behavior. They do not spoil furniture and things like other pets. Miniature, take up little space. They do not need long walks and training. Do not hibernate. Do not mark the territory. Not prone to mood swings. They love communication. They quickly adapt to new conditions. Do not cause allergies	Do not get along with other pets in the house. They need a careful selection of the diet. Lubricate themselves with saliva or urine to protect themselves from danger by masking their odor

African decorative hedgehogs are ideal for people who do not have a lot of free time. Such pets feel good in solitude, however, sometimes they show a desire to play with the owner. Caring for them is not burdensome, it is important to have fresh food and clean water. The cost of such exotic pets in specialized nurseries does not exceed 2–3 thousand rubles.

At the word hedgehog, we all imagine a thorny animal, we roughly know its habits and we can say that in winter it should sleep. But the African pygmy hedgehog is not at all like that. Of course, he has thorns, but all other habits differ from the usual behavior of hedgehogs. First of all, this is so due to the fact that the African pygmy hedgehog is an artificial species and does not occur in nature. It was created for home maintenance and will not survive without a person.

Cell

First of all, the cage should be spacious. at home, it should be enough to move and walk on a flat surface, so the floor of the cage should be solid. The top of the cage must be closed, otherwise the animal can escape. There should not be large distances between the rods, because a small animal can crawl through or get stuck between them.

The bottom of the cage must be covered with filler, evenly over the floor of the cage, a couple of centimeters thick. The filler can be wood filler, sawdust, flakes or paper pellets intended for rodents. For females or adult hedgehogs, crumbled corn cobs can be used as filler, but they should never be used for young males.

Cedar sawdust or sawdust from any coniferous trees, as well as sawdust with essential oils, cannot be used for bedding, as they are toxic to the hedgehog.

The bottom of the cage can be covered with a cloth that quickly absorbs moisture and does not form tightness, so that claws and hedgehog legs do not get entangled in them. The fabric is cut to fit the bottom, the fabric can be stitched in half, or even absorbent material such as super absorbent towels can be inserted inside. If you take a light-colored fabric, then it is easy to notice any changes in the discharge of a hedgehog on it, which will allow you to monitor its health, and also such a lining can be washed. Unfortunately, such a bedding does not allow hedgehogs to bury themselves, which these animals love very much.

In the cage, you need to equip shelters, a feeding trough, a corner for a "toilet", a drinking bowl and a large running wheel. The wheel will help the hedgehog move and run. Therefore, it must be smooth and solid without holes and cells, so as not to injure the hedgehog.

Climatic conditions for keeping a pygmy hedgehog

The hedgehog's place of residence (his cage or terrarium) must be well ventilated. In no case should drafts and hot sunlight be allowed. The ideal temperature for a hedgehog is 20-25 ° C.

Having bought a hedgehog and put it in a new cage, do not touch it for a while, let it be alone for the first day.

Hedgehogs are playful creatures and need to be given toys, it is best to use toys designed for cats, such as plastic balls with a bell in the middle and others.

Cleaning the cage

The cage should be cleaned frequently. Sometimes it happens that the hedgehog has chosen some corner for his toilet, then it needs to be cleaned once a day and a couple of times a week to thoroughly clean the entire cage, wash the tray and wipe the rods. The drinker and feeder must be kept clean at all times.

The domestic hedgehog does not hibernate, so there is no need to change the conditions of its keeping in winter and summer. You can not change the food and temperature regime of the hedgehog. In cases of emergency (frost or overheating), you need to provide the hedgehog with additional light, heat, or, conversely, artificial cooling, but overheating or hypothermia should not be allowed, since the animal can get sick, and treating the hedgehog at home is quite troublesome.

Power features

In nature, all hedgehogs are omnivores, they can eat animal feed and even carrion. There are also stories where hedgehogs are fed with milk, and what to feed the African pygmy hedgehog so as not to harm him?

Since this species was bred by humans for home keeping, it is not difficult to feed it. In a city environment, premium cat food will be a pretty good option, in which the first components should be meat products, and then vegetables and fruits. There should be no starchy foods. There must be water in the cage.

In their natural habitat, wild hedgehogs love to feast on crickets. But if there is no time to collect fresh insects for your pet, you can pay attention to canned products. Not so long ago, a modern manufacturer of such feed, ONTO, appeared on the market. The manufacturer preserves products without adding chemicals and preservatives. The contents of the jar are immediately ready for use and do not require additional preparation. Crickets contain a lot of protein, iron, calcium, 9 amino acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin B12, chitin, oligosaccharides. Their composition is low in fat, which means that you can offer such food to your pet with virtually no restrictions.

As an additional treat for hedgehogs, you can:

• Lean meat cooked or cooked without salt or any spices.
• Seedless fruits and berries: bananas, watermelon, cherries, pears, melon, apricots, pumpkin, banana, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, Jerusalem artichoke, kiwi, cranberries, peaches, cranberries.
• Vegetables: carrots, zucchini, asparagus, peppers, peas, cucumber, spinach, green beans.
• Steamed fish is boneless and salt-free, but fish can change the smell of feces and urine.
• Insects: tormentor, crickets, grasshoppers, woodlice, zoophobus, cockroaches, silkworm pupae.
• Hard boiled eggs or cooked as an omelet without added salt.
• Baby food without added dyes and preservatives.

You cannot give:

• Foods containing essential oils such as garlic or onions.
• Potatoes and corn.
• Milk and milk containing foods, as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Grape.
• Pineapple, which has high acidity, can irritate the hedgehog and cause sores in the mouth.
• Raisins can get stuck and stick to the palate.
• Dried fruits, as they can stick to the palate and larynx.
• Avocado, as it is toxic.
• Any citrus fruits.
• Chocolate.
• Chips and other fast food.

Remember, the African pygmy hedgehog is an unpretentious animal, but he really does not like to change his habits and the slightest changes in its content or diet can lead to stress and illness.

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