Even though the spiny hedgehog is a solitary creature, it is growing in popularity as a pet in South Africa, with breeders earning up to R5,000 for the uncommon animal.
The Western Cape prohibits the keeping of animals without a permit, thus the National Council of SPCAs calls this practice “worrisome” because people are going to Gauteng to avoid the restrictions.
On Monday, the classifieds website Gumtree included at least 100 advertisements for the sale of hedgehogs. Prices were between R1 000 and R5 000.
Is it worthwhile to keep a hedgehog?
Hedgehogs can be entertaining and low-maintenance family pets, but they do require some specific attention. They might be challenging to handle due to their pointy quills.
What is the lifespan of a hedgehog?
Hedgehogs in the wild: 2 to 5 years
Do hedgehogs bite?
Hedgehogs can bite you, although it won’t happen very often. When they are young and believe that you will feed them, this typically occurs (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother)
What food are hedgehog pets fed?
The primary components of a pet hedgehog’s diet should be premium hedgehog food combined with premium, low-fat cat food. Small portions of the supplemental foods listed below can be given two to three times per week: insects that have a lot of guts, such mealworms and crickets.
Do hedgehogs make clean pets?
Despite the fact that hedgehogs aren’t particularly dirty, you should wash your hands well after handling them and touching objects in their cage.
