Albino hedgehogs
As you might expect, albino hedgehogs are incredibly rare. The albinism is caused by a recessive gene resulting in a lack of melanin pigmentation in their skin, eyes and spines. It is said that only 1 in 100,000 hedgehogs are born with this recessive gene. They eat the same as any other hedgehog and their favourites are mealworms and crickets. They can also eat beetles, maggots, grasshoppers and millipedes. Do they make good pets? Well the video on this page shows an albino hedgehog as a pet because they’ve made friends with the dog. They are quiet, entertaining and active. But they are nocturnal animals. It is advised that you do not make them a pet. They are odourless and therefore they don’t smell badly. The normal lifespan is 4 to 6 years in the wild but a pet hedgehog can live up to 10-years-of-age. They don’t bite normally and if they do they are trying to tell you that something is going on that they don’t like. They are lactose intolerant, a bit like cats and some people. Don’t feed them cows milk but instead a dish of fresh water each night would be fine. The best time to put food and water out is after dusk when they start searching for food.
