Course Content
Course Introduction
Get started with everything you need to know before beginning the course. Learn what to expet, how the course is structured, and how to get the most out of your learning journey.
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1. Species Overview
Discover the origins, natural behavior, and physical traits of the African pygmy hedgehog. This chapter explores their evolution, how they live in the wild, and what makes them unique among hedgehog species.
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2. Legal & Ethical Considerations
Learn the legal and moral responsibilities of owning an African pygmy hedgehog. This chapter covers regional laws, permit, ethical sourcing, conservation concerns, and what to do if rehoming becomes necessary.
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3. Choosing Your Hedgehog
Learn how to select a healthy African pygmy hedgehog from a responsible source. This chapter helps you spot health indicators, avoid unethical sellers, and understand the risks of wild-caught hedgehogs.
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4. Preparing The Enclosure
Set your hedgehog up for a safe and healthy life with the right housing. Learn about cage size, temperature, lighting, bedding, enrichment, and why hedgehogs should be housed alone.
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5. Daily & Weekly Care Routine
Build a consistent are routine to keep your hedgehog healthy and happy. From daily feeding and bonding to weekly cleaning and health checks, you'll learn how to make good care a habit.
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6. Feeding & Nutrition
Learn how to meet your hedgehog's nutritional needs with the right balance of kibble, insects, and natural foods. This chapter covers safe foods, feeding schedules, common health risks, and special diets like raw or BARF.
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8. Health & Hygiene
Learn how to keep your hedgehog health through proper hygiene, early symptom recognition, and preventative care. This chapter explores common illnesses, chronic conditions like WHS and IVDD, and how poor breeding can impact long-term health.
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9. Veterinary Care
This chapter helps you navigate veterinary care with confidence, from finding an experienced exotic vet to understanding routine check-ups, recognizing emergencies, and planning for costs. Learn how to communicate effectively and advocate for your hedgehog's health.
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10. Enrichment & Play
This chapter explores how to keep your hedgehog active, curious, and mentally stimulated. Discover safe toys, exercise essentials, stress-reducing setps, and how to build and enriching weekly routine. Including tips for supervised free roaming.
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12. Seasonal Care & Hibernation Risks
This chapter explains how temperature and seasonal changes affect African pygmy hedgehogs. You'll learn to recognize hibernation triggers and symptoms, how to respond safely, and how to prevent hibernation attempts through proper care and environment control.
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13. Traveling With A Hedgehog
Learn how to safely and comfortably travel with your hedgehog, whether it's a short trip to the vet or a long journey. This chapter covers preperation, carrier selection, minimizing stress, post-travel recovery, and important legal considerations for domestic and international travel.
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14. Your hedgehog journey continues
As you reach the end of this course, it's time to reflect on all you've learned. This final chapter brings everything together with a course recap, a final exam to test your knowledge, and practical next steps to deepen your understanding of hedgehog care. Whether you're a new owner or an aspiring expert, this is just the beginning of your journey. You've built a solid foundation, now it's time to continue growing.
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Introduction to African Pygmy Hedgehogs

Enclosure Requirements & Minimum Cage Sizes

Creating a safe and comfortable home for your hedgehog is the foundation of good care. A well-prepared enclosure supports both physical health and emotional wellbeing. It’s more than just a cage, it’s your hedgehog’s entire world.

In this lesson, we’ll cover:

  • Why enclosure size matters
  • Minimum legal or advised sizes in various countries
  • Tips for choosing or building a proper enclosure
  • Where to find a full list of regional guidelines

Why Cage Size Matters

African pygmy hedgehogs may be small, but they are extremely active animals. In the wild, they roam several kilometers each night in search of food. In captivity, a cramped enclosure limits this natural behavior and can lead to:

  • Obesity
  • Stress and stereotypical behaviors
  • Poor muscle tone
  • Aggression or withdrawal

A small enclosure may be easy to clean, but it does not serve the hedgehog’s needs. Giving them enough space to explore, exercise, and express natural behaviors is essential to their wellbeing.

Minimum Cage Sizes by Country

Here are a few minimum enclosure size recommendations or requirements by country. Keep in mind that these may reflect either welfare guidelines, expert advice, or in some cases, official legal requirements:

  • Germany: 120 x 60 x 60 cm
    Strongly recommended by Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT)
  • United Kingdom: 100 x 50 x 50 cm (bare minimum)
    Larger enclosures encouraged by the RSPCA and breeders
  • USA: No federal standard, breeders advise 3×2 ft minimum
    Some states provide guidelines at shelter level
  • Netherlands: 100 x 50 cm (under previous guidelines, now no longer legal)
    Used as reference by Dutch breeders pre-2024

For a full and growing list of regional cage size recommendations, see the downloadable exercise file at the bottom of this chapter. We’re working with breeders and rescuers from around the world to make this as complete as possible.

If you buy your hedgehog from a breeder, make sure to ask them which size enclosure they prefer at minimum. You can always go bigger!

Ideal Enclosure Types

You don’t have to buy the most expensive cage to create a suitable home. What matters most is the floor space,  not the height, and how the space is used.

Ideal options include:

  • Plastic-based cages with wire tops (e.g., C&C cages, large rabbit cages)
  • IKEA-hack furniture cages (like modified Detolf enclosures or DIY enclosures made from wood and acrylic)
  • Terrariums with proper ventilation
  • Bin cages (only if very large, well-ventilated, and safely modified)

Avoid cages with:

  • Wire flooring (can cause foot injury)
  • Multiple levels (hedgehogs are poor climbers and may fall)
  • Enclosure heights that allow climbing without barriers

Quick Checklist

A good enclosure should:

  • Be at least 100 x 50 cm (but preferably larger)
  • Be easy to clean
  • Have safe materials (no toxic glues, paints, or sharp edges)
  • Provide enrichment zones (see next lessons)
  • Offer privacy and safety

Want to Go Deeper?

We’ve created a growing exercise file with regional guidelines and examples from breeders, rescuers, and professionals in more than 25 countries. Be sure to download it after completing this chapter!


Sources

Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT) – Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Igeln in Menschenobhut. https://www.tierschutz-tvt.de

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA, UK) – Exotic Pet Care: Hedgehogs. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/hedgehogs

British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) – Pet Hedgehog Care Guidelines. https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Hedgehog Welfare Society (USA) – Care and Housing Recommendations. http://www.hedgehogwelfare.org

African Pygmy Hedgehog Club UK – Housing and Enclosure Setup Guide. https://www.aphc.co.uk

Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) – Guidelines for Exotic Pets. https://www.humanecanada.ca

ExoticDirect Pet Insurance (UK) – Housing and Environment Tips for African Pygmy Hedgehogs. https://www.exoticdirect.co.uk

The Hedgehog Welfare Society – Recommended Minimum Cage Size Discussion Forum. http://www.hedgehogcentral.com

Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine – Multiple articles on environmental enrichment and enclosure requirements for small mammals. (Access via university library or research database)

Exercise Files
Minimum cage sizes per country.pdf
Size: 52.60 KB
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