A. NO. CLICK HERE to find out the difference.
2. Q. Does it make a good pet?
A. Hedgehogs make great pets. The question is, do you make a good pet-owner? Hedgehogs can be affectionate when handled properly, and they do bond with their owners when treated right.. Having a hedgehog is like having a hamster or gerbil, but better. Hedgehogs have a longer lifespan than small rodents, they won't make you sneeze if you have allergies, they usually don't squirm away from you when you hold them, and they don't poop all over you. In addition, hedgehogs have all the benefits of small pets: they don't need to go on walks, they don't require tons of attention, they can be left alone for a couple of days if necessary, they don't need needles or de-worming, and food costs are relatively low.
3. Q. But aren't they wild?
A. Not in North America. Pygmy hedghogs are wild in Africa, but none have been legally imported from the wild since 1990. In the last decade, hedgehogs have been domesticated and bred for good temerament, so they are quite different from their wild ancestors. You don't need to worry about things like rabies, tetanus, or cruel imprisonment that are often associated with animals that are captured from the wild. Hedgehogs that are taken care of properly can live much healithier, longer lives than wild hedgehogs.
4. Q. Are you sure its not a porcupine?
A. Yes. See answer 1.
5. Q. Are they hard to take care of?
A. Not any harder than other small pets. Hedgehogs just need food and water, a little attention, and a clean cage. The newspapers in the cage should be replaced everyday, and they whole cage should be scrubbed out once a week. Occasionally the little guy might need a bath too, and he also needs his nails clipped, but that's about it for care.
