WHAT IS A HEDGEHOG?
The African Pygmy Hedgehog is an exotic pet, about 6-8" long and between 225 grams and 700 grams in weight. They have soft fur on their bellies and face, and hard, pointy spines, or quills, on the top portion of their body. They have a special muscle that runs along their back that allows them to tighten themselves into a ball if they are frightened or threatened. They can also cross their spines as a form of protection. They come in a variety of colors from white to black, and their spines are banded - meaning they have multiple stripes on each spine. They have 5 toes on their front feet and 4 on their back. They are not rodents, but instead, part of the family Erinaceidae. Hedgehogs' life span is 3-9 years, but generally, live to be 4-5 years.