THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280028
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROY A. BAHLS, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY BREAK
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
THEY LOOK like guinea pigs with a punk haircut, but these little critters have their fine points.
In fact, this pet has hundreds of fine points. Or quills.
They're African pygmy hedgehogs, sweet-faced and prickly bodied scant handfuls of animals that are the latest craze on the pet scene.
Some of them are toddling out of Surry County, where Dianne Campbell raises homegrown hedgehogs.
``They have the cutest little black snout, sparkling black eyes and little Mickey Mouse ears,'' Campbell said. ``They don't take up much space and are very clean. They make a snuffle sound and are just adorable.''
But what about those sharp quills?
``They are nonaggressive,'' Campbell said. ``The way they deal with fear is roll into a ball and erect their quills and turn into something that you wouldn't want to touch.''
Soft fur, varying in color from cream to dark brown, covers the face, legs and underbody. The spines, actually modified hairs filled with air chambers, cover the back and sides. Relaxed hedgehogs lay their short quills down flat; then, it feels like coarse hair.
``People either fall in love with them right away,'' Campbell said, ``or they look at them and say, `Why would anyone want a walking pin cushion?' ''
Locally, they cost between $200 and $250 - quite a change from the $1,000 range they fetched just a few months ago. In some areas of the country, they reportedly reached a high of $4,500 for a pure white pair.
Sales at local pet stores haven't been as heated as other parts of the country, but there are plenty of inquiries.
``Most people ask, `What is it?' and when we tell them they say, `Wow' and start asking more questions,'' said assistant manager Debbie Aquino at Pet Center at Chesapeake Square Mall.
Richard Funderburg, 22, of Virginia Beach has owned his hedgehog for a few months.
``I think it is a fascinating pet,'' he said. ``My wife and I let it walk around on the couch when we watch television. It likes to burrow under the pillows.''
Funderburg has one piece of advice to would-be hedgehog wranglers: ``Because of the quills, you have to handle them with care.''
Although this type of hedgehog is native to Africa, those found in this country have been bred here. They are solitary animals that grow to 8 inches long, about half the size of the European hedgehog. They weigh about 1 pound and live eight to 10 years in captivity. Being nocturnal, they are most active in the morning, evening and at night. The friendly fellows also readily learn to use a small litter pan.
Hedgehogs are insectivores. In the wild, their diet consists of beetles, termites and other insects. But Campbell has found that they are easily maintained on a quality cat food.
``They also love cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and crickets,'' she said.
Campbell owns 25 adults, which she calls her personal pets.
``There's Twiggy, Beetle Juice, Ivan and Houdini,'' she said. ``Houdini has escaped many cages in his time.''
Two years ago, Campbell first saw the cute little critters while visiting a friend in New York. ``I just had to have some,'' she said.
When she returned home, she immediately called a few breeders around the country and had three sent to her. Two weeks later, she bought four more and became a breeder herself.
Then, she could only locate eight breeders countrywide. Now, Campbell estimates there are about 100.
``It's inevitable,'' she said. ``People are going to want to get pairs and raise their own. The babies are so cute, and they look like little troll dolls.'' ILLUSTRATION: ROY BAHLS
African pygymy hedgehogs are the latest on the pet scene.
by CNB