Having a pet hedgehog is becoming more and more popular these days. African pygmy hedgehogs are now some of the most popular small mammals to keep at home, just like rabbits and guinea pigs!
However, the appeal of these prickly pets can often be too much, and owners do not do enough research before purchasing one. Before you buy any pet, especially a hedgehog, you should be aware of the equipment you need, the habitat it requires, and the cost it will take to own one.
With our guide, we have all of the information and prices you need to estimate the cost of buying and owning a hedgehog!
How expensive are hedgehogs?
Okay, so you want to purchase a hedgehog, but have no idea of the cost. That’s not a problem, because that is what we are here for! We can tell you everything you need to know about our favorite cute critters, and how much you can expect to pay for one.
So, how much are hedgehogs anyway? Well, the average cost of a pet hedgehog is anywhere between $100 and $300, depending on the color, temperament, age and where you purchase your hedgehog from.
If you purchase an African Pygmy hedgehog from a reputable breeder, then you can expect to pay more than you would at a pet store, but it may be a rarer color, or a more reliable purchase.
We always try to tell people to avoid pet stores, as it is best to purchase from a reputable and trusted breeder, and you can rest assured that there will be less of a risk of health issues, and that the animals have been bred safely and humanely.
It may be a bit more costly, but trust us, it will cost you more in vet fees if you have to keep treating a sickly hedgehog!
What impacts the price of hedgehogs?
The main thing that will impact how much you are going to spend on your hedgehog is the color of the hog. You can actually purchase and find hedgehogs in around 100 different colors, and different varieties can be more expensive or rarer than others.
This is something that you will have to take into consideration when purchasing. For instance, here are some of the average costs of various types of hedgehogs:
Black $250 to $300
Blonde $200 to $300
White $250 to $300
Pinto $150 to $250
Cinnamon $100 to $200
Salt And Pepper $100 to $200
Keep in mind that these are estimated prices, and will vary depending on the particular hedgehog you purchase, where you are purchasing from, and what your local breeder or seller’s prices are like.
Once you have your chosen hedgehog, and you are planning on purchasing one, you will need to calculate the initial costs of having a hedgehog if you are going to care for one properly.
What are the initial costs of having a hedgehog?
Once you have purchased your pet hedgehog, you will need to ensure that you have all of the initial items to keep your pet happy and healthy. Without these items, you should hold off purchasing for a while until you have prepared yourself and your home for your new companion.
One of the biggest and most vital things you need to purchase and prepare is the hedgehog cage.
We recommend purchasing an extra large habitat: Living World Deluxe Habitat for your hedgehog, as this will safely house your new friend, whilst keeping it safe, well ventilated and comfortable.
This particular habitat has a balcony and access ramp along with a hideout which is perfect for hedgehogs. You can also connect the water bottle to the side, and it is made with a safe design for no pinching or cutting!
After you have gotten your hedgehog habitat, you will need to purchase a good, quality food bowl, and a water bottle. Each of these can cost between $5 to $15.
Additionally, you will need heating pads and lamps for your hedgehogs, which can cost between $40 and $50, along with a thermometer to help you keep an eye on the cage for $10.
Once you have these items, and your pet hedgehog, you will need to consider how expensive it is going to be to keep your hedgehog, and the ongoing costs that you can incur.
How expensive is keeping a hedgehog?
It is hard to gauge how much you will be spending on your new cute little companion, but you can use this guide as a rough estimate. After purchasing the hedgehog, you will need to think about the ongoing costs of keeping your hedgehog happy, healthy and safe in its new home.
These costs include the price of food, bedding, and general checkups at the vet. For instance, most hedgehog owners will spend about $50-$100 a year on food for their pets.
In addition to this, you can expect about $100-$250 spent on bedding for the enclosure, along with treats, cleaning supplies – $25 and various other items that you will need on hand.
Additional costs of having a hedgehog
It is not just about keeping a hedgehog, you have to think about how much it costs to maintain a hedgehog.
Although you may have considered the initial fees, and the cost of purchasing enclosures and other accessories, you will have to keep up with food costs, veterinary fees and additional costs of having a hedgehog.
Food Costs
As an estimate, you can expect to pay about $50-$100 on food per year for your hedgehog. But, you also need to think about treats and rewards, which could cost an additional $20 per year. In addition to this, you have to pay for water bottles which are about $5-$8, but you can refill these.
Veterinary Costs
Hedgehogs can also become unwell rather easily. They may need additional veterinary costs covered, which will vary depending on the treatment needed and the severity of the medical issue. However, we can give you a rough estimate of what the most common medication for hedgehogs costs.
For instance, oral antibiotics to treat infections will probably cost about $40, whereas other treatments such as skin scraping to check your hedgehog for mites would cost about $10.
In addition to this, your hedgehog may need mite treatments such as selamectin, which costs about $15, along with ear smears for $20, eye drops for infections at $20, or anti-inflammatory treatments for about $30.
To help understand what your spiky companion will cost in vet fees, the average vet checkup for a hedgehog is about $45-$60 per visit.
Toys and Accessories
You will also need to provide toys, and accessories for your pet hedgehog if you want to keep them happy and thriving. You can purchase an exercise ball: Exercise Ball for your hog to run around in, which would cost around $20.
You can also invest in a small play pen to leave your hedgehog out in. For the most part, you should budget about $20 a year on cleaning wipes, along with about $50 per year on toys for your hedgehog.
However, each hog owner is different, and you may find that you spend less on toys and accessories for your hedgehog as they are not interested in them. On the other hand, you could spoil your prickly pal with lots of toys to keep them entertained and enriched.
What is the yearly cost of having a hedgehog?
To help break it down for you, we will lay out everything you could possibly need to spend on your hedgehog in one year.
Food $50 – $100
Bedding $100 – $250
Treats $25
Hedgehog bags $10 – $40
Toys $50
Vet Check up $50
Cleaning Wipes $20
With the above calculations in mind, you are looking at spending $305 to $535 a year on keeping and maintaining a pet hedgehog.
Summary
To conclude, we hope that this round up of the costs can help you get a better understanding of how much pet hedgehogs cost, how much it takes to maintain them, and what the annual costs will be.
This can help you make a more informed decision as to whether a pet hedgehog is the right choice for you.
If you are not prepared to spend hundreds of dollars a year on these cute critters, then steer clear of this pet, but if you know exactly what to expect, then you can keep your prickly companion for the years to come.
