African pygmy hedgehogs are kept as pets in many countries, but their specialized needs are frequently misunderstood. Good welfare requires specific husbandry attention to temperature, diet, and exercise.
Pet hedgehogs are often kept in conditions that cause chronic frustration of natural behaviors. Small cages prevent adequate exercise, leading to obesity and associated metabolic disease. Many hedgehogs develop fatty liver disease and heart conditions from sedentary captivity. They are prone to wobbly hedgehog syndrome, a progressive neurological disease with no cure. Handling stress is common as hedgehogs have limited domestication history. Owners frequently underestimate their nocturnal nature and attempt daytime interaction, causing sleep disruption and stress.