Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog) (Atelerix albiventris)

Short answers

Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog): How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 200×100×60 cm (at least 2 m² of floor space per animal according to the Thieme pet info and Austrian regulation point 7.3.1, +10 % per additional animal); levels with ramps and fall protection count extra. Escape-proof and well ventilated, running disc or solid wheel from about 30 cm.

Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog): What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–30 °C in the enclosure (Vet Times); room temperature alone is usually not enough – a heat source with thermostat is needed; never let it fall below about 20 °C. A warm spot under a heat lamp is mandatory according to Thieme., at night Keep above 22 °C at night as well – the animals are active at night; a drop leads to dangerous torpor.

Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog): Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not needed – nocturnal; room light with a fixed 12-hour day-night rhythm, no direct sun.

Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog): How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 4–6 years, up to 8 years.

Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog): Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–30 °C in the enclosure (Vet Times); room temperature alone is usually not enough – a heat source with thermostat is needed; never let it fall below about 20 °C. A warm spot under a heat lamp is mandatory according to Thieme.

Night temperature

Keep above 22 °C at night as well – the animals are active at night; a drop leads to dangerous torpor.

Humidity

Below 40 % (Thieme) up to about 50 % – dry indoor air, do not place the enclosure in damp rooms.

UVB

Not needed – nocturnal; room light with a fixed 12-hour day-night rhythm, no direct sun.

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 200×100×60 cm (at least 2 m² of floor space per animal according to the Thieme pet info and Austrian regulation point 7.3.1, +10 % per additional animal); levels with ramps and fall protection count extra. Escape-proof and well ventilated, running disc or solid wheel from about 30 cm.

Substrate

5–10 cm of small-animal litter, hemp bedding or paper shreds (no fine sawdust), plus areas with a soil-sand mix for rooting and a sand bath; several hides.

Feeding

Food

High-quality special hedgehog food with 30–50 % protein and 10–20 % fat as the base (cat food only as a supplement, as it easily causes obesity), supplemented by insects such as crickets, cockroaches and locusts (dusted with a vitamin-mineral powder), occasionally boiled egg or lean cooked meat and some vegetables. Feed at night and remove leftovers in the morning – obesity is common.

Feeding interval

A measured portion every evening; insects as a supplement two to three times a week, and check the weight regularly.

Key facts

Adult size

Head-body length 14–25 cm, tail 1–1.6 cm; weight 300–600 g, males heavier.

Life expectancy

4–6 years, up to 8 years.

Origin

Dry savannahs and steppes of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Sudan, East Africa and Zambia.

Protection status

No papers needed for the four-toed hedgehog. Important: the native European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is specially protected and may not be caught, kept or traded – only animals in need may be cared for temporarily and must be released afterwards.

Brumation

None – hibernation must not be allowed. In the cold, four-toed hedgehogs fall into torpor, which weakens the immune system and can be fatal. 24–30 °C all year; a cool, limp hedgehog must be warmed slowly and examined by a vet.

Cohabitation

Solitary. Four-toed hedgehogs are territorial loners and should be kept alone to avoid fights (Vet Times, Thieme); pairs only briefly for breeding.

Notes

Animal welfare organisations such as Pro Wildlife consider proper private keeping hardly possible; animals in the trade are partly wild-caught – only take captive-bred animals of traceable origin. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans: wash hands after contact.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

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• African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) – Intermediate
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• Common degu (Octodon degus) – Intermediate
• Fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) – Intermediate
• Cairo spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) – Intermediate
• Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) – Intermediate
• Barbary striped grass mouse (Lemniscomys barbarus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog) (Atelerix albiventris) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 200×100×60 cm (at least 2 m² of floor space per animal according to the Thieme pet info and Austrian regulation point 7.3.1, +10 % per additional animal); levels with ramps and fall protection count extra. Escape-proof and well ventilated, running disc or solid wheel from about 30 cm.), substrate (5–10 cm of small-animal litter, hemp bedding or paper shreds (no fine sawdust), plus areas with a soil-sand mix for rooting and a sand bath; several hides.), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.