Knowing the age of your pet hedgehog not only gives you an idea of how much time you can reasonably expect to spend together but it could also serve as a guide when seeking the right treatment for them during illness. Hedgehogs sourced from reputable breeders typically come with vital information such as age and breed so no need to guess when they were born.

This article focuses on how to tell a hedgehog’s age when you have no access to its veterinary or breeding records. We reveal how to estimate a hedgehog’s age based on physical features like body color, claws, quill appearance, and teeth.

How To Tell A Hedgehog’s Age

Spine color variations are the most common sign of aging with European Hedgehogs undergoing a ginger-like transformation in old age while African Pygmy breeds also experience spine color changes. Wild hedgehogs typically suffer wear and tear in the claws and teeth due to heavy usage. Unfortunately, there’s no clearcut way to tell a hedgehog’s age from physical features.

They come in 17 species across different continents but the most popular varieties raised in homes are the European and African Pygmy Hedgehogs. It is always a good idea to find out details such as their age from the breeder before purchase but this is not always possible especially when you adopt one from a pet charity.

How To Determine The Age of A Baby Hedgehog

Detecting the age of hoglets is relatively easier compared to adults due to the limited development and presence of distinct features. They are delivered in a pure white color with a protective membrane covering their spines to prevent injuries to the mother during gestation.

Within 24 hours after birth, the protective membrane dries up revealing the spines which appear in white color. Hoglets can be extremely delicate during their first 2 weeks of life since they’re born blind and rely on their mother for food and hydration.

This is the point where they’re likely to be cannibalized by their mothers when rejected due to physical defects or as a means of survival in the face of food and nutritional shortages. After 2 weeks, they undergo a range of physical developments including the opening of their eyes and hardened quills.

Their soft underbellies also undergo specific changes resulting in a delicate peach-colored appearance. At 3 weeks, the first sign of teeth development appears in the form of lower incisors around the jaw area.

More teeth spring up for the next 6 weeks until their milk teeth are complete by around week 9. Hoglets should be able to eat the majority of solid foods at this point and preparations to wean them off their mothers should be ongoing.

Quilling i.e. the falling out of baby quills in favor of adult quills begins around the 3rd and 4th weeks of a hoglet’s life and continues until they reach 7 to 8 weeks old. Hoglets can be in significant pain during this critical period as the quilling may be uncomfortable leading to signs of irritability.

The replacement quills are often darker compared to the paler infant quills which give away the hedgehog’s age at that point.

Does Aging Change A Hedgehog’s Spines?

Age typically has an effect on the spines of hedgehogs right from their first quilling episode. Most hedgehog varieties experience changes in spine color as they grow older and European Hedgehogs are no different.

The color changes are equivalent to humans growing “grey” as they age and should be taken as normal. However, there are instances when spine color changes indicate health problems so you may want to check with your vet to rule out diseases and infections.

Their quills typically change from dark to a ginger-like color with age and start off from the midsection of the back until the whole spines are covered in ginger. If your European Hedgehog’s spines are coming off with a gingery appearance, it is time to consider them elderly because age is definitely catching up.

Not all hedgehogs experience spine color changes with aging and the situation is more predominant in the European breeds than the African Pygmy Hedgehogs which often experience little signs of spine color changes if any.

The African Pygmy Hedgehog’s spine color gets darker after the first quilling round but the new appearance is maintained for the rest of their lives. Signs of spine color changes in the breed should trigger an immediate trip to the vet because that could be a clue that all is not well.

Can You Tell A Hedgehog’s Age From Its Teeth?

A hedgehog’s teeth can provide clues about its age since they’re more likely to show signs of wear and tear in senior citizens than in hoglets. It is not uncommon for older hedgehogs to have dental problems including halitosis, and broken, or missing teeth.

The dental problems typically originate from the consumption of diets like hard kibble, wet cat food, and insects such as crickets and mealworms. Insect-based diets primarily take a heavy toll on the dental health of hedgehogs compared to those that are fed wet cat diets and soft baby food.

Also, wild hedgehogs are more likely to experience dental issues compared to domesticated breeds due to the varying nature of their diets. They are often exposed to “tougher” foods that are relatively harder to chew compared to their domesticated cousins that enjoy softer meals.

Besides, the harsh environmental conditions in the wild may also take a heavy toll on all aspects of the hedgehog’s body including the teeth compared to the often pampered habitats caged hedgehogs enjoy. Imagine how much damage a wild hedgehog’s teeth may suffer from walking several kilometers on hard ground to find food every day.

In some instances, a hedgehog’s teeth may experience significant problems due to the supply of calcium-deficient diets. Relying on their teeth’ appearance to determine age can result in false assumptions.

What Age Signs Can Be Deduced From A Hedgehog’s Claws?

The hedgehog’s claws can also take a beating as they age since it is heavily used especially in the wild for movement through trees and shrubs. The claws may not only look more worn out physically but they could also appear shorter and thicker.

Dietary deficiencies could negatively affect the appearance of your hedgehog’s claws and give a false alarm of old age when that might be far from the case. Again this is common in wild hedgehogs but not impossible among domesticated breeds.

Is There Any Way To Estimate A Hedgehog’s Age?

It is much easier to estimate the age of hoglets during their first couple of months because the signs can be clear. For instance, a hoglet that is still developing baby teeth is likely to be under 9 weeks depending on the number of existing teeth.

A newborn that is yet to gain vision is probably only a week old because the eyes typically open up from week 2. If a hedgehog is experiencing its first episode of quilling, it could be 4-5 weeks old.

Also, you can get the idea that a hedgehog is a senior citizen based on color changes. For instance, a ginger-colored European hedgehog is probably enjoying its final years because the current color only occurs during old age.

Unfortunately, we can only estimate a hedgehog’s age by looking at physical features. Some hedgehogs may suffer significant physical wear and tear resulting in false alarms of old age even when they’re relatively young.

The only reliable way to estimate the age of hedgehogs is to conduct a jawbone ring count but that is only possible when they’re dead. Guessing the age of hedgehogs that are alive can be much more difficult.

What Age is Considered Old Age In Hedgehog Years?

The lifespan of a hedgehog can range between 3-8 years depending on the breed, genetics, and habitat. Wild hedgehogs often live from 3 to 5 years due to the harsh weather conditions and exposure to external factors like predators.

When proper care is provided, caged hedgehogs may live up to 8 years and there have been instances of African Pygmy Hedgehogs enjoying a lifespan of a decade. However, those are rare cases because most caged hedgehogs typically live between 3 to 4 years.

Even in the wild, there have been few discoveries of hedgehogs that are 15 or 16 years old but those are rare cases.

At 2 months old, a hedgehog is equivalent to a 10-year-old human while a 6-month-old is equivalent to a 20-year-old human. A 14-month-old hedgehog is comparable to a 30-year-old human and a 2 years 8 months old hedgehog is estimated to be close to a 60-year-old human.

Unlike in humans and other animals, there’s no statistical difference in the life expectancy of male and female hedgehogs. (Source)

Conclusion: How To Tell A Hedgehog’s Age

The aging process can vary widely in hedgehogs depending on factors such as breed and habitat but generally, the teeth, spines, and claws can be good indicators. Wild breeds typically suffer more physical wear and tear compared to domesticated hedgehogs and this is typically evident by looking at their claws and teeth.

Estimating the age of hoglets could be easier since their development is much more predictable with more obvious physical clues.