CHILDREN’S WORLD – PYGMY ANIMALS, African pygmy hedgehog

African pygmy hedgehog (Erinaceus albiventris / Atelerix albiventris) The name of this little animal tells us a lot about its origin – Africa – but they are present throughout Europe, Asia and New Zealand. Europe is also home to the common hedgehog, much larger than our little friend. African pygmy hedgehog weighs some 450 to 600 grams and has a lifespan of three years in its natural habitat. Kept as a pet, it can live up to eight or nine years. We do not take wild animals as pets, we breed them. The controlled breeding yielded a tame and lovely little animal that comes in several colours: starting from completely white, to off-white and brown, with grey as its natural colour. The African pygmy hedgehog’s spines are noticeably shorter that the common hedgehog’s. In nature, they are solitary animals, but when kept as pets and under supervision when adapting to other animals, several of them can be kept in an adequate space, although it is much easier to have only one animal. The gender is not important, but one should have in mind that males are somewhat larger than females. African pygmy hedgehogs can be kept in cages with deeper trays or in glass terrariums, because they have a habit of messing up the bedding. Woodshavings, newspaper or special bedding may be used as the substratum. African pygmy hedgehog’s diet is not complicated as they are omnivores – when in nature, they eat insects, earthworms, snails, fruit and vegetables. At home, we can offer them cat food, insects used for feeding reptiles and almost all fruit and most vegetable species. They can occasionally be given a boiled egg and low-fat cheese. Fresh water is mandatory, as well as water bottles, as they often topple their bowls. They can also be allowed to roam through the apartment under supervision, because they are curious and research-oriented animals, whose teeth pose no threat to electric cables or furniture. In time, they start recognising the voice of their human companions, to which they gladly answer, allowing the companion to scratch parts of their bodies not covered with spines. African pygmy hedgehog is not recommended as a pet for small children because of its spines and because it is a nocturnal animal, so it is not very friendly during the day. It is actually an ideal pet for busy people who go to bed late at night.