About African pygmy hedgehogs
The African pygmy hedgehog is a hybrid of the four toed hedgehog and the Algerian hedgehog, and is the most popular species of domesticated hedgehog in the world. The practice of domesticating hedgehogs and keeping them as pets began in the 1980's, a relatively recent timeframe in animal husbandry terms.
They are very delicate little animals, and not suitable as pets for younger children. Hedgehogs, like any domesticated animal, can bite when alarmed or hurt and so you will need to treat them with respect. They need gentle, patient handling, and you must be willing to spend the necessary amount of time taming them and getting them used to you during the initial months.