In Photos: African pygmy hedgehog, the latest must-have pet!

The African Pygmy Hedgehog is a curious species found in central and eastern Africa. The latest must-have pet is also known as the four-toed hedgehog. It is basically a nocturnal animal that likes to live alone. Though it can climb and swim, it also loves to move along the ground. It is a bundle of energy as it can spend long hours searching for insects, grubs, snails, spiders and plants. The most striking feature of these animals is the high tolerance levels towards toxins. There has been reports of African Pygmy Hedgehogs consuming scorpions even. These cute little animals can be scooped up in a tablespoon. They are very popular with pet shops in UK.

After seeing all these pictures you might be tempted to keep an African Pygmy Hedgehog as a pet. However, there are certain tips for keeping these pets. These hedgehogs cannot be friends with your dog or cat as they may feel distressed. You may come across several websites or books wherein there will be picture of pygmy hedgehogs playing with other animals but that is a rarity. Again, they are used to human handling but don’t overdo it. Now the most important question. How much do they cost and where will you find them? The diet of a Pygmy Hedgehog consists of food which are usually given to cats or ferrets. The baby hedgehogs cost around GBP 120 but there can be other ancillary expenses like feeding costs and installation cost. You can contact your nearest pet shop for a Pygmy Hedgehog.