COLOR GUIDE

HEDGEHOGS COME IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT COLORS, PATTERNS AND MASKS, BELOW IS A GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING YOUR HEDGEHOG'S COLOR!
*PLEASE NOTE, THERE TEND TO BE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE SAME COLOR, HOWEVER THE ONES WE HAVE LISTED ARE THE MOST ACCURATE AND COMMONLY USED WITH US AND FELLOW BREEDERS THROUGHOUT THE US AND CANADA!

BASE COLORS

Identify the base color:
The base color is determined by looking at the skin between the shoulder blades, the mask, ears, and the mottling.

SALT & PEPPER

Skin & Nose: Black
Mask: Black
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black/Brown
Quills: White with Black Banding
Body/Belly: White (black mottling accepted)

ALBINO

Skin & Nose: Pale Pink
Mask: White (may appear as pink)
Eyes: ruby red
Ears: white (may appear as pink)
Quills: white
Body/Belly: zero pigment (may appear as Pink)

APRICOT

Skin & Nose: Pink
Mask: light orange or no mask
Eyes: Bright Red to Ruby Red
Ears: Light orange or medium orange
Quills: White with pale orange-beige banding
Body/Belly: White

BLACK

Skin & Nose: Black
Mask: Black
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black
Quills: Majorly Black
Body/Belly: White

BROWN

Skin: Pink with Grey tints
Nose: Liver
Mask: Light Liver
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black/Brown
Quills: White with Oak Brown Banding
Body/Belly: White

CHAMPAGNE

Skin: Light Liver to Pink
Nose: Light Liver
Mask: Light Cream
Eyes: Dark Ruby or Ruby Red
Ears: Light Cream with brown Tint
Quills: White with Orange-Beige Banding
Body/Belly: White (May appear Pink)

CHOCOLATE

Skin: Light Grey
Nose: Dark Brown
Mask: Dark Brown to Light Chocolate Brown
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black/Dark Brown
Quills: White with Dark Brown Banding
Body/Belly: White

CINNiCOT

Skin: Pink
Nose: Liver to Pink
Mask: Light Liver to Orange
Eyes: Black, Dark Ruby or Ruby Red
Ears: Liver to Pink
Quills: White with Cinnamon to Pale Orange Banding
Body/Belly: White

CINNAMON

Skin: Pink
Nose: Liver to Pink
Mask: Light Orange or None
Eyes: Black or Dark Ruby
Ears: Light Orange
Quills: White with Medium Orange Banding
Body/Belly: White

DARK GREY

Skin & Nose: Black (Dark Grey around the Shoulder)
Mask: Oak to Dark Brown
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black/Brown
Quills: White with Black Banding
Body/Belly: White (black mottling accepted)

GREY

Skin & Nose: Black (Dark Grey around the Shoulder)
Mask: Light Liver to Oak Brown
Eyes: Black
Ears: Black/Brown
Quills: White with Black Banding
Body/Belly: White (black mottling accepted)

PLATINUM

Skin & Nose: Black
Mask: Black
Eyes: Black
Ears: Dark Grey to Black
Quills: 95% White with 5% Banded By Another Color
Body/Belly: White (Black Mottling Accepted)

PATTERNS

Identify the pattern:
The pattern is determined by looking at the quill color and variety of quills.

ALGERIAN

Algerian Pattern: the mask extends past the hedgehog's cheek. Most commonly seen with Full Masks, Quad Masks and Badger Masks.

PINTO

Pinto Pattern: the majority of the quills are Banded and the rest are random patches of white quills.

HIGH-PINTO

High Pinto : A majority of the quills are white while the rest are random patches of banded quills. High Pintos can have Pigmented mask, ears, and skin.

REVERSE-PINTO

Reverse Pinto: Similar to the High-Pinto, A majority of the quills are white while the rest are random patches of banded quills. Reverse Pintos DO NOT have Pigmented mask, ears or skin.

Leucistic

Leucistic Pattern: (also called black-eyed white) similar to the Albino Coloring, there is no pigment in the skin and no banded quills; however they have Black Eyes instead of dark/Ruby Red eyes.

SNOWFLAKE

Snowflake Pattern: a Blended mix of banded and solid white quills.
At least 30% of the quills are solid white

DOUBLE WHITE

Double White Pattern: has a base color (in this example, liver) but no banded quills. Their mask/ears are consistent with their base color. (also known as 100% snowflake)

WHITE

White Pattern: has a base color (in this example Grey) However, 90%+ of their quills are unbanded. The presence of 10% or less banded quills distinguishes them from the double white pattern.