how to find a reputable hedgehog breeder

​You've decided a hedgehog is the right pet for you, but where do you begin to find the perfect hedgehog for you?

Like any pet, you will not want to buy your new family member from just anywhere. 

We realize it can be hard to discern a quality hedgehog breeder from a back-yard breeder, so we've put together some helpful resources on where to look for breeders and questions to ask potential breeders before purchasing your hedgehog. 

---

Where to find breeders

First, let's cover where to not find your reputable breeder. I would avoid the following:

• AVOID Craigslist | Unfortunately many of these are scams or back-yard breeders
• AVOID Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups or Facebook only | Facebook bans the selling of animals on their site. Breeders can have Facebook pages, of course, but the transaction should not take place on Facebook. It's best if the breeder has a legitimate website with more information on their breeding program and available hedgehogs
• AVOID Pet Stores | Most pet stores have very limited information on where their hedgehogs came from, which includes any health information, health guarantees and the like 

So where, then, is the best place to find a breeder?

• Hedgehog Central
• Hedgie List
• NAHHI
• Ask another breeder | If a breeder you trust does not have any hedgehogs available or is not in the location you're in, ask if they know anyone in the area. Many times they do!

questions to ask breeders

Most reputable breeders are happy to answer questions about their breeding programs. If you receive push back, it may not be the best fit. 

• How long have you been breeding hedgehogs?
• If you haven't been breeding long, who is your mentor?
• Do you maintain pedigrees of your hedgehogs?
• Do you have any health guarantees on your hedgehogs?
• Do you provide post-purchase support in case I have any questions after I bring my hedgehog  home?
• What are your herd initials? Are you registered with organizations such as Hedgie List or NAHHI?
• How many hedgehogs do you have? (If more than 4 females, are you USDA licensed?; *USDA license is required for any breeder with more than 4 females)

For example, here are the answers to the above questions For Penny's prickly pigs

• How long have you been breeding hedgehogs? 
  • We've been breeding hedgehogs since 2008
• If you haven't been breeding long, who is your mentor?
  • When we first started out, Shannon at Dreamflower Meadows, was our mentor. She was excellent and cared so much about her hedgehogs. She also had a lot of hedgehogs and was USDA licensed. 
• Do you maintain pedigrees of your hedgehogs?
  • Yes, we have extensive pedigrees on each of our hedgehogs. We provide the pedigree for each hedgehog that goes to an approved breeder. 
• Do you have any health guarantees on your hedgehogs?
  • Yes, we guarantee our hedgehogs against WHS (Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome). In the rare and unfortunate instance if your hedgehog were to pass away from WHS (with proof of a necropsy performed by a qualified exotic vet), we would replace your hedgehog with one from our next available litter at equal or lesser value.
• Do you provide post-purchase support in case I have any questions after I bring my hedgehog  home?
  • Absolutely. We want to make sure you and your new hedgehog have a great transition to life together. We're happy to answer any questions you have.
• What are your herd initials? Are you registered with organizations such as Hedgie List or NAHHI?
  • Our herd initials are PPP, established before herd initials were transitioned to four letters. We're registered with the IHR and Hedgie List and are updating our initials with NAHHI, a newer organization.
• How many hedgehogs do you have? (If more than 4 females, are you USDA licensed?; *USDA license is required for any breeder with more than 4 females)
  • You can see all of our breeding hedgehogs on our Our Prickly Pigs page. We maintain a small family to ensure we can provide them all with the proper care and attention. Since we have fewer than four breeding females, we are not required to be USDA licensed. 

Where did you find your breeder? What other questions were helpful when you were looking for a breeder? Is there another great resource for hedgehog breeder listings? Let us know!