African Pygmy Hedgehog
Insectivore; quills; illegal in some regions (e.g. CA, parts of EU)
Overview
The African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is a small pet, around 6–8 in, living 3–6 years. It is nocturnal — most active at night. Socially it is solitary.
Is the African Pygmy Hedgehog right for you?
A good match if — you're around in the evenings, when it's awake.
Think twice if — you want a pet that's lively during the day; you wanted a pair or group — this one must live alone; you want a simple, hands-off first pet.
What an African Pygmy Hedgehog needs from you
Day to day it needs a suitable enclosure with very little space, the right diet, daily care and fairly demanding upkeep. It must be housed alone; it is territorial and will fight cage-mates.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Atelerix albiventris
- Size
- 6–8 in
- Life span
- 3–6 years
- Social needs
- solitary
- Activity
- nocturnal
- Care level
- intermediate
- Notes
- Insectivore; quills; illegal in some regions (e.g. CA, parts of EU)
What it needs from you (at a glance)
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What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 180 g and a ~5-year life, keeping an African Pygmy Hedgehog works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →