The Basic requirements for your Hedgehog

ZooZone(1)/ZooZone(2) the larger the cage the better

Substrate: Wood Shavings / Hemp / Megazorb

Feeding Bowl

Water Bowl (If you wish to use a bottle please ensure you provide a water bowl until you are certain the hog is drinking from the bottle)

Exercise Wheel

Housing

Bedding material (Shredded paper)

Dry Cat kibble (meat based only)

Mealworm/Crickets (Livefood or Dried)

Seed / Nut Mix

CARE AND HOUSING

HOUSING

The Cage

The most common housing in use for African Pygmy Hedgehogs are the indoor cages in use for Guinea pigs, (Ferplast, Zoozone,Nero) to name but a few. These should be the fully plastic variety, I do not recommend the plastic base with mesh cover type as hogs will attempt to clamber up cages with the wire mesh tops and this can lead to serious injuries for you hog. It is adviseable to house your hogs individually as they are a solitary animal in the wild with only the Male hog seeking out females for breeeding,

(MALE HEDGEHOGS MUST ALWAY BE HOUSED ALONE TO PREVENT FIGHTING)

Bedding

I would recommend the following for your Hog. Woodshavings(Dust extracted), Hemp Bedding(used in reptile housing) Megazorb wood pulp.These provide a good surface for your hog to roam and root and in case of the  Megazorb and hemp also help neutralise any odours. Being quite soft in nature his type of substrate allows the hogs to root without the danger of injury. They normally require a full substrate change once a week with spot cleaning heavly soiled area's as required. When cleaning out do not use any heavly scented disinfectants, Your Hegehog has a very good sense of smell and any strong odours may upset your hog.

Sleeping Quarters

You will need to provide a secure place for your Hog to sleep and also to hide away. This can be in the form of a wooden hut, Box or Plastic Igloo type of homes. Ensure you add some shredded paper available from any pet shop and your hog will move this into there sleeping quarters to form a nest to sleep in. I use the plastic igloo housing and have not experienced problems of litter scattering as with other housing.

Exercise and Stimulation

Your hedgehog is a very active animal and is reputed to walk between six to seven miles in the course of the day. It is essential that a wheel is placed in the cage so your hedgehog can enjoy a high level of activity, I use a variety of wheels with equal success,They are Savic 11" rat wheels and the 11" Silent Spinner disks, I introduce a smaller hamster version of the disk to my hoglets when they start to emerge from the confines of the nest.

To further stimulate your hedgehog I place cardboard tubes (ensure they are split down the centre), and sprinkle a mix of seeds nuts and mealworms (see diet) and also around the cage to actively encourge them to explore there enviroment.