Darkest Maiden
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Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/06 16:30
Hi, I'm just wondering if you guys know if it is possible to mate an African Pygmy and a Long-Eared Egyptian Hedgehog. The pygmy is the female and she is young still, (2 months old) but my Egyptian hedgehog is now 9 months old.
Is it possible?
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pricklesnquills
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/06 20:17
My guess would be yes, but I really don't know. I think of it as just like being able to breed two different breeds of dogs....
Emily
Prickles N' Quills Hedgehogs
Breeding for Excellent Health, Personality & Color
Charlotte, NC
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zorra578
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/06 21:10
There is the face that different breeds of dogs are still the same species, whereas different species of hedgehogs are well, different species. Their relatedness probably makes it possible, but no guarantees that the offspring won't be sterile.
Jessica
Des Plaines, IL
My critter list: Dilbert (welsh terrier), Bowser R.I.P. (betta fish), Quentin (hedgehog). |
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zorra578
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/06 21:16
Just checked and it appears that they come from two different separate genus' so it may not be possible. The two that were mixed to form the domesticated hedgehog we all know and love come from the genus: Atelerix whereas the long-eared comes from the genus: Hemiechinus.
Jessica
Des Plaines, IL
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HamorHollow
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/06 21:17
I am sure it's possible to mate them, but if that mating would result in a viable pregnancy, now that's the question.
The hedgehogs we have in the states are a cross between the white belly and Algerian hedgehog, both if which are from Africa. So the question then is what is your hedgehog? Do you have a cross or just one or the other? You still might be able to cross a cross into a long eared. I guess you will have to try it and let me know.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
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Darkest Maiden
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/07 02:58
Hi guys, thanks for all the information. Aparently the Egyptian Long-Ear is a wild natural breed, which I can tell from his character, he's less friendly and likes being handled less than African Pygmys. Since HamorHollow said that Pygmys "are a cross between the white belly and Algerian hedgehog, both if which are from Africa", then I guess it wouldn't be that much of a difference, since Egyptian hedgehogs are naturally also African. She (the pygmy) is young, still though, so I think it might take some time before (if) we see any results. Does anyone have any tips on mating them and getting them comfortable with eachother ETC? They've been kept in the same cage on odd days so that they may get to know eachother.
Thank you.
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/07 06:41
The female needs to be at least 6 mths old before you mate her. Taking a chance on mating her before that age could have disasterous consequences - ie losing her, the babies or both. Her body needs to be mature and strong enough to sustain a pregnancy and right now she is still a baby and still developing herself.
My strong recommendation is to NOT put them together til the female is at least 6 mths old. When you do put them together you should monitor their interactions as we have no idea if he could/would hurt her. If they seem ok and the mating takes place, remove them into seperate cages again. You can not leave the male in with the babies ..he will eat them.
Good luck and keep us updated
Julie Pierce
Pierce's Pogs
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jick
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/07 08:23
I can't really help you at all since I have no history breeding anything and please follow Julie's instructions as far as keeping them apart until she is 6 months, but I was wondering how he has reacted to her scent in the past?
The one time that I had a chance to play with both male and female hedgies the boys was completely distracted by the smell she left behind in the pen. A reaction like that might hint at his desire to mate with her? 
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HamorHollow
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/07 11:49
With the AHP, there is no 'introducing them and letting them get used to each other'. They interact only to mate and if they are interacting they will most probably mate.
With your female being only 2 months old, her body is too immature to deal with a pregnancy. Most times hedgehogs get pregnant too young and they are able to carry the babies full term, they do not care for them or they destroy them (I could go into details here about decapitated babies to really get the point across, but I will let your imagination take over).
You really need to read the articles on breeding over in our articles section and then really think about all the things that can go wrong. Then head over to http://www.hamorhollow.com/ and click on gallery and then go to the diseases and illnesses gallery. You'll see plenty of pictures of destroyed babies there and if you can't handle looking at the pictures then you definitely can't handle it when those cute little babies are yours and dead in front of you.
I don't mean to sound mean, but I do mean to be harsh. Breeding is not all about cute little babies and there are a lot of things that can go wrong. And you are considering putting together 2 different types of hedgehogs, so there is much more that can go wrong including the mother dying because her body is incompatible with the long eared hedgehog. Really think about this and read every breeding article you can find before you do it.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
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Stasi
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/09 07:23
Darkest Maiden wrote:
Hi guys, thanks for all the information. Aparently the Egyptian Long-Ear is a wild natural breed, which I can tell from his character, he's less friendly and likes being handled less than African Pygmys. Since HamorHollow said that Pygmys "are a cross between the white belly and Algerian hedgehog, both if which are from Africa", then I guess it wouldn't be that much of a difference, since Egyptian hedgehogs are naturally also African. She (the pygmy) is young, still though, so I think it might take some time before (if) we see any results. Does anyone have any tips on mating them and getting them comfortable with eachother ETC? They've been kept in the same cage on odd days so that they may get to know eachother.
Thank you.
They are from two separate genus' (as zorra578 mentioned), therefore, while they may go through the motions of breeding, chances are very good that there would be no offspring at all. It would be along the lines of breeding a cat and a dog...kindof. 
When they first imported hedgehogs into North America, they brought over some long ears too. I have not heard any accounts of them being bred successfully with white bellies or Algerians.
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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HamorHollow
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/09 11:37
Stasi wrote:
When they first imported hedgehogs into North America, they brought over some long ears too. I have not heard any accounts of them being bred successfully with white bellies or Algerians.
Are long ears legal to import now?
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor
Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. |
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Stasi
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/09 19:13
No, but they were imported back when others were - in the 80's and early 90's.
Stasi
Terrapin Hedgehogs
Joppa, MD
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thistle
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/10 15:59
I used to know someone who kept long-eared hedgehogs. She found in difficult enough to try and breed them with each other, never mind with a different species! Maybe that is why there are so few long-eareds around compared with the African pygmies.
I think that it's probably a good idea just to keep the hedgies apart and forget about breeding them together.
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HedgeHogHut
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Re:Mixing Breeds - 2007/11/12 19:45
Hmm..It's an interesting idea. But I don't think I would try it. It could end up Killing the female or the babies. If you really decide to breed I would suggest getting another male and not mixing.
-Jacob Cole-
http://HedgeofThorns.com
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