The Colors of Live Hedgehogs

The color variation of hedgehogs has exploded as people started breeding them for specific colors. In the wild, African Pygmy hedgehogs are usually found with variations of the standard "salt and pepper" color, while European hedgehogs are a mottled dusty brown. The International Hedgehog Association (IHA) currently recognizes two general color ranges for pet hedgehogs -- white-bellied and Algerian -- with many color variations within each type.

  1. Differentiating White-bellied from Algerian

    • The easiest way to determine the color is first figure out if you have a white-bellied or Algerian color strain. Looking first at the nose, white-bellied hedgehogs have a mask only on their nose, while in Algerians the mask extends up around their eyes, giving them eye and cheek patches. Second, look at the quills that extend from the forehead to see there is a distinct separation between the two colors, which is commonly found in the white-bellied hedgehog. Third, check the skin color on the back and belly. In white-bellied hedgehogs, the skin color on the back is lighter for the color classification, and there is less or no mottling on the belly.

    IHA Color Classifications

    • Within each color type -- white-bellied or Algerian -- there are a number of standard color classifications that are further broken down. Algerian colors always include "Algerian" in the title to differentiate from the white-bellied. White-bellied standard colors include salt and pepper, dark grey, grey, chocolate, brown, cinnamon, dark cinnicot, black-eyed cinnicot, ruby-eyed cinnicot, champagne, apricot, and pale apricot. These are repeated for the Algerian standard colors, with the exception of salt and pepper, which is instead the Algerian black. Snowflake and white are the two other color categories that are further broken down by the standard colors, such as dark cinnicot white, or Algerian cinnicot snowflake.

    Albino and Pinto

    • Albino hedgehogs do not have any color pigmentation, placing them in a separate color category. Their quills and fur are all completely white with no banding or mottling. The skin and nose are pink, and their eyes are red. Due to all the cross breeding, some hedgehogs are born with combinations of colors. These are called pinto, and are identifiable because they have white quills, usually along the sides, with a patch of colored quills along the top of their back.

    Genetic Color Classification

    • Further research into the genetics behind the colors has resulted in another color classification system based on those used in general domestic mammal breeding programs, such as dogs and horses. This is an attempt to further standardize the color classifications, basing them on genetics rather than observation, but has not, as of 2011, been officially recognized by the International Hedgehog Association. The categories are broken down into the base colors -- chestnut and cinnamon; the sepia-orange dilutes -- tawny, argente, cinnicot, apricot; the blue-fawn dilutes -- opal, blue-amber, amber, lilac, lilac-cream, cream; and albinism.