Domesticated hedgehog

A hedgehog bred or kept as a companion animal, most commonly the African pygmy hedgehog. Unlike a fully domesticated species, it retains many wild behaviors and specialized care needs.

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Four-toed hedgehog: A central African hedgehog species, Atelerix albiventris, commonly called the African pygmy hedgehog. It is the species most often bred and kept as a companion.
Hedgehog husbandry: The practices used to house, feed, handle, and monitor hedgehogs in human care. It brings together the daily care decisions specific to companion hedgehogs.
Domestication: A multigenerational process in which populations adapt genetically to life alongside humans. Keeping hedgehogs as pets does not by itself make them a domesticated species.
Captive breeding: The reproduction of animals under human care, often to maintain or increase captive populations. Breeding practices shape the health and genetic diversity of companion hedgehogs.
Hedgehog: A small spiny mammal in the subfamily Erinaceinae, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Companion hedgehogs belong to this broader group of mammals.
Exotic pet: A nontraditional companion animal whose care often requires specialized knowledge or veterinary services. Domesticated hedgehogs are commonly treated as exotic pets.
Wild hedgehog: A hedgehog living outside human care in its natural or introduced environment. Wild hedgehogs have different welfare needs and legal protections from companion animals.
Inbreeding depression: Reduced survival or reproduction caused by mating between genetically related individuals. Limited breeding populations can increase inherited health problems in pet hedgehogs.
Quilling: The gradual replacement of a young hedgehog’s juvenile spines with adult spines. This normal developmental stage can affect a young companion hedgehog’s comfort and handling.
Hedgehog diet: The food and feeding practices used to meet a hedgehog’s nutritional needs. A suitable diet helps prevent obesity and nutritional problems in captive hedgehogs.