African pygmy hedgehogs kept as pets have highly specialized needs that most owners are unprepared for, resulting in widespread obesity, hibernation-related deaths and chronic stress.
Hedgehogs have become popular pets largely due to their appealing appearance, but their welfare needs are frequently mismatched with typical household conditions. As nocturnal animals, they are active when owners want to sleep, leading to disturbance of their rest cycles when owners attempt interaction during daylight hours. Without a large wheel for exercise, they quickly become obese. Their temperature sensitivity means that cool rooms trigger attempted hibernation — a reflex inherited from European hedgehog ancestors that is dangerous in the African pygmy hybrid. Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome, a progressive neurological disease, is prevalent in captive lines, suggesting poor breeding practices that compound welfare problems.