Worksop woman’s African pygmy hedgehog is an Instagram superstar

Antonia Milson, 22, started the profile to document the adorable mammal’s life while shielding during Covid-19 lockdown.

Spiky pal Charlie now has over 4,500 followers - many of whom regularly send Antonia messages for tips on how to care for the curious little creatures.

The prickly little pet - not far from full-grown at just 12 weeks old - weighs less than a kilogram at 346 grams.

Asthmatic Antonia, who is unable to work during the pandemic told how ‘character’ Charlie had ‘kept me going’ while isolated at home.

She said: “I don’t have any kids or anything so it’s something to look after - he’s amazing and such a little character.”

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Though Antonia - who works 12-hour shifts as a carer - opted for Charlie because keeping a dog would have been cruel she admits the little hog needs ‘a lot of love and affection’.

Pampered Charlie is kept in a special heated tank - custom-decorated with Antonia’s favourite bee theme and kept at a constant 24 degrees Celsius to keep him warm enough.

The delicate critter - who has his feet bathed daily to avoid infection - is also regularly swaddled in snuggle blankets to prevent his body temperature dropping.

Besotted Antonia said: “They’re nocturnal so he spends a lot of the day asleep but I start by checking him in the afternoon to make sure he’s warm enough.

“Then I feed him between 3-5 different types of cat food and live food high in protein and low in fat – he eats locusts, mealworms, wax worms and his favourite - cockroaches.

“I give him a foot bath every day to keep his feet free from infection and also bath him twice a month to clean his quills.”

Antonia told how she had finally decided to give an African pygmy a home after researching them ‘‘for years’ due to their complex needs.

However adventurous Charlie has a life outside the vivarium - accompanying Antonia and boyfriend Lewis, 28, on regular walks.

She said: “I’ve made my house completely hog-proof so he can run around the whole house.

“He has a Chinchilla sand bath which he absolutely loves - he absolutely goes mad for that.

“Sometimes we take him for a walk and put a playpen on the grass - which he adores because he loves the smell of it.”

Speaking about Charlie’s thousands of online fans Antonia said: “It’s funny - people message me to ask questions or just to say how much he brightens their day.

“He always looks so happy - like he’s smiling but you have to spend time with them and bond with them or they do get quite grumpy.

“I’ve heard from others who keep them that they spend a lot of time just curled up in a ball if they’re not regularly handled.”

You can follow Charlie’s exploits on Instagram HERE.

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