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Tenrec Breeders

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Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec
(Echinops telfairi)

Interview with David Kupitz, Valerie B, and Mardou van Leuven

Positives of Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs as pets?
DK: They are not really pets, as least they can't be regarded as animals to "pet" or "cuddle"... They are fascinating animals with a lot of behavioral pecularities that make it very interesting to observe and explore their biology, also in terms of their reproduction. The Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec brain is among the most primitive of all mammals, so they are not extremely "sophisticated", which can be interesting, too.
VB: Very low maintainance! They are "focal eliminators" and will "potty" in one spot . Ours use a small bowl of sand. The rest of the cage has pine shavings for bedding, and it is changed completely once a week.
ML: Easy to keep, fun to look at the behaviour and to feed them.

Negatives of tenrec Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs pets?
DK: They are nocturnal (active at night), need high temperatures, sufficient exercise, live prey and behavioral enrichment, adjustments to climate during their overwintering, they have spines, they are not extremely active, they are NOT domesticated but WILD animals.
VB: They are nocturnal, so the same care must be taken to awaken them gently like you would for a hamster or sugar glider. Also most will go into a hibernation-like torpor during Madagascar's summer (our winter) and become very inactive and eat very little. They are not particularly affectionate or playful. Some can be downright viscious!!
ML: In hibernation from october untill march you don't see them.

Anecdotes/stories about your Lesser Hedgehog Tenrecs pet?
DK: Again, I don't like the term 'pet', but I can still tell a little story... Once, just a couple days before I was scheduled to leave for a long overseas trip for which I had to give my tenrecs away, I suddenly faced the problem that one 6-7 week-old young was missing from a cage it shared with two of its siblings. I basically disassembled the entire upper level of our house searching for the tiny animal, and I had mealworms and water sitting in little bowls in every room... Finally, after several days without food (it hadn't touched the mealworms) I was about to give up. But I decided to try it one more time and I went through the house on my search mission once more. In the last room, I found a little tiny tenrec sitting frightened unter the heater (turned off, it was summer) in a dusty corner. It was really thin and appeared a little weak, but after about two minutes it voraciously killed a large grasshopper and from then on it was a speedy recovery... That just goes to say that they can be really hardy animals at times.
VB: Don't be concerned if your tenrec likes to sleep on its back! We have one that loves to dig out a depression under his log then scoot under there on his back and fall asleep.
ML: I don't have them very long. they like to wash themselves with the fat of the skin on your hand, that is really nice to feel and see, you can get them very tame and they recognise you voice and smell.

Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
DK: They can smell, but it's a rather nice smell, at least to me.
VB: Male tenrecs secrete awhite fluid from their eyes to mark their territories. They do have a musky odor.
ML: No, absolutely not.

Whatis their average lifespan?
DK: Maximum is 18 years, average is shorter but not exactly determined.
VB: 10 -15 years

Do they tolerate interaction?
DK: Some do, some don't. Some animals get extremely nasty and bite forcefully. I don't handle mine too often because they don't seem to like it very much, but it can be of advantage to have them a little accustomed to humans (for cage-cleaning, treatment etc.).
VB: Some do! A friendly one will keep itsquills flat and not roll itself into a ball
ML: With the owner? Yes, they can get tame, I don't think you can keep them with other animals.

What is their general personality, disposition, and attitude?
ML: Friendly, they seldom bite. They are also a bit shy, they don't like sudden movements or noise, you must be carefull and patient and take your time with them.

Are they sweet and petable, or mischievious and playful?
VB: Most will just sit in your handl, or may walk from hand to hand like a rodent pet. They often sniff and/ or mark the hand holding them. An unfriendly one will bite with a bulldog-like grip and not let go! (Being sprayed with water usually loosens their grip!)
ML: Not petable, although you can stroke them in direction of the spines. No animals to cuddle or hug. They are mostly nice to look at, to feed and sometimes to hold.

Are they hyper, or more sedate when being handled?
ML: Depends on the animal itself. You can handle them but they don't really like it.

How destructive are they in their cage?
DK: They are insectivores, so they don't gnaw. Still, items in the cage should be changed frequently to give them something to do.
VB: Not very. Ours live in 10-15 gallon aqauriums(one per cage) With something to hide in, a sand bowl, and food/water dishes. They might occassionally spill the water, but not very often.
ML: They like to climb and you must give them wood and stones etc.

Are there any problems associated with their claws?
DK: They can scratch a little bit.
VB: The claws grow quickly and are very small and difficult to cut. It doesn't help that they can not only roll into a ball, but also pull folds of skin over their feet!!
ML: No.

How messy are their droppings?
DK: Not very messy.
VB: Solid and relatively dry
ML: Dry and scentless. Change the cage ones in a while (1-2 months if it is a big cage with few animals) They mostly use one corner to defaecate.

Can they be litter box trained?
DK: Haven't seen or tried it (unnecessary).
VB: yes
ML: See above.

Can they be trained?
DK: See above - they are stupid. They come out at feeding time, but that's about it.
VB: Not that I know of
ML: Not really I think, did not try yet.

What size cage do they need?
DK: As large as possible! Minimum for a pair or female with young about 24-24-24 inches (60-60-60 cm), but larger if possible.
VB: At least a ten gallon aquarium
ML: Terrarium of at least 1m 40-40 cm.

What is the best diet for them?
DK: Carnivorous and as varied as possible, with the occasionaly vegetarian treat. Mainly live insects and other invertebrates, dry and canned cat food, and the occasional banana/kiwi etc. (not all eat it). They tend to become obese, so watch their weight closely!
VB: Most diets are based on a high quality cat food (dry or canned) plus various invertebrates(crickets, mealworms, waxworms) Occassional feedings of fruit and greens is recommended too.
ML: live insects (crickets, mealworms etc with vitamin powder for right calcium/phosphorus ratio), some fruit (melon), dry cat food.

What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
DK: No vaccinations; vet care when ill. Provide hard food to prevent teeth problems.
VB: none, unless ill
ML: No vaccinations, they are sucseptible for teeth problems and respitory infections.

At what age would it be best to get one?
DK: Doesn't make a difference - if you are truly interested in the behavior of these animals, all ages are good.
VB: Younger the better if you want one friendly and tame

Are they difficult to breed?
DK: Can be very difficult to breed (some pairs and keepers don't ever breed), but if you start having success, it seems very easy. It all comes with good care and a little luck with the animals you have. Overwintering is essential for breeding.

Other Consideration for owners of tenrecs?
DK: Don't buy wild-caught animals! They may be exported illegally as they are protected under law in their native country of Madagascar and need special export documents. Provide lots of things to occupy them, like branches, rocks, soil as a substrate, live food etc.
ML: You must feed them life insects! temperature is very importent, you need to buy an elstein lamp, temperature regulator. and don't forget they are nocternal so wake up at night and sleep during the day.

What kind of person should own these animals?
DK: Someone who has a genuine interest in these insectivores and their behavior and does NOT expect a 'pet' to play with. Only keep them if you have the ability to breed them, and in Europe if you can participate in the studbook for the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec. Look at http://tenrec.xardas.lima-city.de/ to find out more about tenrecs and the studbook.
VB: Someone who likes to watch and learn about unusual animals. NOT for children or anyone looking for lots of interaction.
ML: Someone who is interested in the behaviour of the animal, must be serious and patient, it is not a very spectacular animals to have.