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African Pygmy Hedgehogs can make fantastic pets. However, before deciding that they are the pet for you, there are some things that you may want to take into consideration....
- Hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means that they sleep during the day and are active at night.
- They live an average of 3 to 5yrs, although they can reach as much as double this.
- They are still basically wild animals, with wild instincts. Your hedgehog may never want attention from you as other pets would. If you want a pet that you can easily train as you would more domesticated pets, then these probably aren't the animal for you.
- Every hedgehog is different. While some will be happy to be handled and to interact with you, others, however hard you try, will never want anything to do with you.
- No matter how tame your hedgehog may be, if it gets scared or annoyed by something it's natural reaction will be to raise it's quills or roll into a ball. As someone who has on many occassions gone, in a split-second, from holding a happy hedgehog to a huffing ball of needle-sharp quills, I can tell you that it can be rather painful.
- They are solitary animals and so if you want more than one then you will have to have a separate cage for each hedgehog.
- You will need to spend time daily with your hedgehog to keep it well socialised.
- Hedgehogs need to be kept warm. If the temperature drops too low then they will attempt to hibernate, which can kill them. Some hedgehogs are fine as long as the temperature is above 65 degrees, while others need it to be at least 70 or over.
- As with all animals, vet's fees can be expensive.
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