The most characteristic feature about porcupines is obviously that they are quill bearing rodents. Important, Need-To-Know Information About Our Tours. I put some water and veggies/fruit in a couple of shallow plates Ill see if it eats anything or moves during the night. We raise African Crested and North American porcupines. Its diet entails. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for. Required fields are marked *. Other major reason is the difficulty in housing them. The thick-spined porcupine is a dark brown animal with similar colored quills with a white base and tip. It sounds like its a bit similar to owning a rabbit. Mother and daughter porcupines form a family called a prickle. North American ones are also noted to be really good swimmers because the hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water. Explore Porcupines Diets, Hunting & Eating Habits. The Crested porcupine is so called due to its back, which can raise, becoming a crest on occasion. https://www.bioexplorer.net/what-do-porcupines-eat.html/, Discover The Differences Between Antigen And Antibody, What Do Goldfinches Eat? For Brush Tailed porcupines, the minimum requirement is 5 x 5 x 6 (150 cu ft) and for every additional porcupine, the cage space should be increased by at least 20 %. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. How is the porcupine doing right now? As we have discussed earlier, porcupines are herbivorous rodents. Well about a month goes by, I wasnt looking for my poop little friend anymore and to my amazement here he is in my front yard once again!!! This rodent is classified under the family of Old-world porcupines. The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L.) has been shown to have considerably increased in numbers and to have occupied new territories in Tuscany, which is the northernmost part of its range. Old World crested porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest (like a Mohawk hairdo). The smallest breed of porcupine is called Bahia porcupine, and the most prominent breed is the crested porcupine. The African regions where this porcupine is found are southern Zaire, the Gambia, and Western Kenya. There could be many reasons why your baby porcupine has diarrhea. If for any reason the client decides to cancel their scheduled activity, we will always proceed to issue a CERTIFICATE with the total amount paid available to be used at any time that the client wishes. If you have their favorite snack they will get attached to you fairly quick. I think Id rather have a pet that can be cuddled up with Interesting read though. It lives in hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Italy. This species is widespread in tropical and subtropical montane forests and shrubland, particularly in dense undergrowth areas. A typical African Crested Porcupine can weigh up to 60 pounds and grow to be three feet long, excluding their tail. So Im on number 2 of my porcupine experience and hoping the second will be as rewarding as the first. The care team keeps the porcupines mentally stimulated by offering their daily diet in puzzle feeders and doing training sessions to maintain important behaviors like getting on a scale once a . The world's largest porcupine, this rodent exhibits black and white quills along its head. Chewies can be something non toxic like birch or willow branch. It disappeared gone no where. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. Their gestation period is 112 days. This article is laid out for you in great detail to help you guide and decide if you really do want a pet porcupine. Like I mentioned in the cons above, the major worry is about the quills. What Do Porcupines Eat? Feeding them twice a day and fruits snacks couple of times in between should be ideal. Due to the barbed nature of the quills, they keep moving inwards so minimize movements. The origin of "porcupine" can be traced back to Old English and French words. Beef bones cut in small chunks can also be used. Porcupines are peaceful animals, however, when provoked, they use their natural armor, the quills, to protect themselves at length. When under threat, they raise whir quills to look much bigger. Google Scholar I am not a vet so I cant tell you what could be the exact reasons why shes got diarrhea. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. Also note that, if you want to breed them then very likely you may need a license from your local Department of Wildlife. If continually bothered, the crested porcupine will stamp its feet, whirr the quills, and charge the disturber back end first trying to stab the enemy with the thicker, shorter quills. They can also be nocturnal but this is not as strict as the old world ones and there are species which are active during daytime. They can be trained to some extent as they do well with positive reinforcement behavior. They weigh between 22 and 66 pounds. The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), also known as the African crested porcupine, is a species of rodent in the family Hystricidae native to Italy, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. Some people also keep African crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) as pets. I about pooped myself. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the, In this study, it is aimed to detect the statue of Hystrix indica (Kerr, 1792) in Batman province. Porcupines are rodents known for their sharp quills. Porcupine quills are a favorite ornament and good-luck charm in Africa. Do not totally surprise them either. Hi, They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group. Then slowly introduce other usual food, one by one along with the pumpkins or sweet potato. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. They chew on bones to sharpen their teeth. The crested porcupine is found in Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Well, they are equipped with antibiotics in their skin so they dont have to worry about the quills like other animals do. Some porcupines feed on insects and a vast range of small animals. If bones are used they will be a supplementforcalcium as well. On these particular arboreal species, quills on the tail are really hard, tough and also points backwards enabling them to stay and climb on the tree branches. Porcupines serve as prey, predators, and scavengers in the animal food chain. Enclosures for a single crested porcupine should be at least. . They mate in November-December. They have sharp and strong teeth, which help them to chew on hard materials like wood. Hence, it is best to keep them separate from other pets, unless there is a rare occurrence where they get along together. Francesca Coppola, Denise Guerrieri, Andrea Simoncini, Paolo Varuzza, Giuseppe Vec chio & Antonio Felicioli1. What Do Thick-spined Porcupines Eat? Corsini, M. T., Locari, S . Their colors vary from dark brown to black with white highlights. So yes, porcs do make awesome pets. For lighting, normal incandescent or fluorescent lighting is good. I shake the cat kibbles and he comes out and just eats it and chats with us. Porcupines are affectionate and love to snuggle and rub their nose on you once they get to know you. Populations in both Europe and Africa attract hunters for their meat, which is a delicacy in some countries of North and West Africa. They are also killed for their quills, which are used as ornaments and talismans. Porcupines are found throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. The smaller prehensile South American counterparts have no quills on the tail but they do use their tail to climb trees and hang on branches just like a possum does. Results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in West and Central African range countries are genetically . For majority of other porcupines, breeding occurs in fall, early winter. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. Beneath the longer, thinner spines lies a layer of shorter and thicker ones. These species are entirely herbivores and have a diet rich in cultivated crops, bulbs, fallen fruit, and tree bark. If your porcupine keeps turning food away after trying all this, I think you might have to take it to a vet or call animal rescue group in your area. Im having the same experience here in Canada. The diet of the Crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758 in Mediterranean rural area. Last updated: Jan 13 2023. They like to spend time alone. I hope this helps and please keep us updated on how your porcupine does. Some pets like dogs are more prone to get quilled because of their playful nature. The breeding season is between September and November. Name two other living things that have an adaptive trait like the porcupine and how their adaptations help repel predators. New world porcupines tend to have shorter quills which you could describe as barbs rather than spines. Old World porcupines eat roots, fruits, bark, and berries. Diet and digestion. He actually came when I called him this last weekend!! The old world porcupine family members are stout, well-built animals who are terrestrial. Here are some of their cool facts and characteristics that are going to help you better understand these animals: Now let us look at some popular porcupines in the news. If you want to bookmark it in your browser to read it later, you can do so by pressing Ctrl and D at the same time in your keyboard. The Cape porcupine or South African porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) is the largest species of porcupine in the world and the largest species of rodent in southern Africa.The Cape porcupine is very similar to the somewhat smaller crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), and one of the easiest ways to distinguish the two is by finding a line of short white spikes going down the spine towards . animal should be at least 5'x5'x8' high (200 cu. This rodent is 25 - 29 inches long (63-73 cm) and weighs about 18 - 51 pounds (8-23 kg). This rodent is an expert climber with a prehensile tail that comes in handy to grip tree branches while climbing. The stump-tailed porcupine has been documented to feed on the infructescence of the Trumpet tree. They're possibly the longest-living rodent . Explore Oriole Diets, Hunting & Eating Habits, The 25 Most Notable Biology Discoveries of All Times, Types of Doctors and Their Specializations. Porcupines, having sharp quills on their spine, are never free from certain predators. When fall came around my porcupine disappears off into the woods, I figured he was gone forever. The common porcupine is a herbivore. Nocturnal. The skull is distinctive in many ways: first, the infraorbital foramen is greatly enlarged so portions of the masseter extend through it and attach from the frontal side surface of the snout; second, the angular process is inflected on the lower jaw, and third, the nasal cavity is enlarged. For a single arboreal porcupine, the minimum requirement is 5 x 5 x 8 (200 cu ft) and for every additional porcupine, the cage space should be increased by at least 25 %. People have varied experience while keeping these rodents as pets. After examining 105 stomach contents of Spanish Wild Goat (Capra pyrenaica Schinz, 1838) gathered at the National Reservation of Sierras de Cazorla and Segura (Southwestern Spain) during the period. African Crested Porcupines are the largest species of porcupines in the world and heaviest of all African rodents. If you got a baby porcupine as a pet but later, down the road, want to release it in the wild, keep in mind that it may not be able to survive in the wild. Explore Goldfinch Diets, Hunting & Eating Habits, What Do Orioles Eat? In order to take the tour, they will need to present a waiver signed by their legal guardian/parent along with a valid photo ID. He was super sweet. In the wild, porcupines have been known to collect and chew bones. Please keep us updated on your baby porker. African Crested Porcupine. Diet for porcupines: In terms of food, all species of porcupines are herbivores and vegetables / greens are their staple meals. However, many porcupine handlers and lovers agree that the quills are harmless as long as the animal isnt alarmed and you think safety first. We have to understand that just like other exotic pets we have tamed overtime, porcupines could be amazing pets too. In Morocco, these animals are believed to have a pharmaceutical value, being killed and sold in large numbers to be used in traditional medicines and witchcraft. The diet of the crested porcupine Hystrix cristata L., 1758 in a Mediterranean rural area. Porcupines come in various shades of brown, gray, and the unusual white. CLOSED on Sunday December 25, 2022 The Brazilian porcupine, like its North American counterpart, is classified as a New-world porcupine. The Crested porcupine is so called due to its back, which can raise, becoming a crest on occasion. . Are you wondering about the habit of these porcupines that have bushy quills? The 'quills' of new world porcupines are mixed with long, soft hairs. On constate un ecorcage important d'Acacia catechu, A. leucophloea, Butea monosperma et Zizyphys mauritiana dans le Sariska National Park au Rajasthan. Porcupines might be considered a prickly bunch, but they're pretty cute once you learn more about them. Examples of organisms that consider porcupines to be a great source of nutrients include but are not limited to bobcats, pumas, ocelots, mountain lions, coyotes, lynx, wolverines, wolves, the great horned owl, and fishers. Stump-tailed Porcupine (Coendou rufescens) The stump-tailed porcupine gets its name from its shorter tail than the other typical porcupines in a similar classification. A special adaptation is that they can live for long periods without water. Weight. Whatever you do treat your porcupines right and feed them well because a hungry porcupine is an angry porcupine. Keeping some couldturn out to be quite expensive in the long run. Although clumsy on land, they are agile in water, being exceptionally good swimmers. At first glance, a porcupine is not an animal you want to chase and thats exactly why it has developed its effective spiny defense system thats almost certain to deter any would-be attacker. The majority of the diet of our African crested porcupines in the park is made up of fresh vegetables but they also have access to specialist biscuit pellets which give these rodents something hard to chew on, keeping their . juniper berries, which can be explained by the clumpedness of this food resource which allows foxes to become quickly satiated and to retreat to other, more preferred habitat such as the maquis. Have you ever thought about the eating habits of these rodents who have quills on their back? Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend them from predators. This species is classified under the Old-world porcupines. Also termed as the South African porcupines, Cape porcupines are the largest rodents in Africa, classified under Old-world porcupines. Porcupines are considered exotic pets because they are wild animals and not typically kept as pets. The quills can puncture skin, muscles causing serious injury and even death in rare conditions. Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. Here is Teddy making a fuss while eating corn in a cob: Youcan also know more about Teddy in his social media pages: Before we delve into details about porcupine pet care, let us take a quick look at the pros and cons of keeping pet porcupines. Please leave a comment below. It's thought they've lived on the same land in northern Tanzania, eating berries, tubers and 30 different . They have shorter hind legs with four fingers on the front feet and 5 on the hind feet. The little guy showed up in the barn in September when it was full of apples for cider. At the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, porcupines eat various vegetables, corn, low-starch foods, and high-fiber biscuits. Then 2 weeks later same thing happened. If they do not have chewies, their teeth will not wear down properly and can grow long, injuring the insides of their mouth. It has been recorded from sea level to 2,550 m (8,370 ft) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas. Panthera leo leo is a lion subspecies, which is present in West Africa, northern Central Africa and India. The young are born in a special chamber, located in their burrow system and lined with grass. Farmers use dogs to hunt them or smoke them out of their burrows; in some areas, farmers illegally use poison to kill them. In mice, one compound is particular to this type of . Drove back and found the little guy again and took him home. Now you might be wondering what happens when a porcupine gets quilled by another one. Besides the incisors, they also have cheek teeth the molars and premolars. However, the echidna has many similarities to the porcupine, such as its quills, spine, and diet. Most of what is known about reproduction in the crested porcupine comes from individuals in captivity. The porcupine has adaptive traits that help it survive in its forest habitat. These rodents inhabit forests, rocky and mountainous areas, croplands and sandhill deserts of Italy, Sicily and the Mediterranean coast of Africa up to northern Zaire and Tanzania. Most of them protect themselves from their predators using the quills on their spine. Almost the entire body is covered with bristles which are either dark brown or black and rather coarse. Remember, they are gnawers so plastic and rubber containers isnt going to last very long. What modern threat do porcupines face in their daily . Their weight may vary from 3.5 kg 18 kg (7.7 lbs 40 lbs) depending on the species. The African crested porcupine is the largest porcupine in the world. It feeds on plants and crops; hence, it is responsible for massive financial losses worldwide. Length. He has more than 31,000 fans just on Facebook. The habitats this rodent prefers include but are not limited to scrubland and forests, particularly coniferous, deciduous or mixed forests. Both species have long, white, stiletto-like quills running the length of their backs that, when raised, make the animals . January 1st: 12:00pm-6:00pm (12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the day). It eats leaves, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the winter it may eat bark. I have taken her to the vet and they can find nothing wrong. These prickles are wide, thin walled and hollow-tipped. Mexican dwarf hairy porcupines mostly inhabit central Mexico. Do you have a story or anything else that you would like to share about keeping pet porcupines? They need some sun but shaded area is also needed so they can cool themselves if they are kept outdoors. So sense he hung out in my yard all the time I started sitting down by him a few times everyday. What you can do right now is make it as comfortable as possible. However, I believe big wire cages are ideal for porcupines. Their distribution can stretch up to the Isthmus of Panama. However,I dont think you would really know what you are getting into until and unless you already have a pet porcupine. Though they forage alone, they live in small family groups made up of an adult pair and their young, both infants and juveniles. Any guests that purchase their tickets with a credit or debit card will need to show their driver's license/ state identification card and credit card for proof of purchase. It is, however, a myth that these quills can be launched by the porcupine, they are simply quite loosely attached to the body whilst also sometimes featuring barbs, enabling them to stick more firmly into the predator and detach from the quill pig. Please see below for the list of blackout dates. One of the important must know about keeping porcupines as a pet is being prepared for the worst. These quills are actually modified hollow hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin. One of the best times to bond with a pet porcupine is their snack time. Please assume all of the links on AnimalMentor.com are affiliate based links from which our website gains a small commission from sales of particular products. The crested porcupine is an Old World porcupine inhabiting Italy, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa named for its impressive and defensive crest of 35 centimeter-long quills. The vet gave him a shot and he was eating and walking fine in a few days. For example, the diet of porcupines at the Philadelphia Zoo includes rodent blocks, apples, and carrots. Hey we found a porcupine that had lost all of its back quills not that long ago and we were keeping him and carrying for him and this morning while checking on him I noticed that he was laying on his side and not moving at all he is still breathing and what not but will not eat or drink, there are also these small white bugs on him that may have something to do with it? The face is small and usually darker in color as compared to the rest of their body. He has recently lost all his large 4 front teeth. All species of porcupines are solitary, slow moving animals that live in trees trunks, hollow logs, trees, burrows or rock crevices in the wild. Some of these Rodentia are short, while some are tall. The African porcupine is not a climber and forages on the ground. A study that was conducted revealed that quills were present in the internal organs of these lions after their deaths. It is still . Different sample preparation techniques for removing plant pigments and increasing the proportion of identifiable plant fragments in diet samples were compared to determine the influence of sample preparation procedures on the ratio of identifiable to nonidentifiable fragments in diets analyzed by microhistological analysis. . By joining Kidadl you agree to Kidadls Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl. Nocturnal. The general rule for the cage is the bigger the cage, the better it is. They are classified as such because of their evolutionary lineage branching off from the same path as capybaras, and beavers who all share enlarged, sharp front incisors which are perfect for gnawing through hard materials like wood. What Do African Brush-tailed Porcupines Eat? If you liked our suggestions for the porcupine diet, then why not take a look at the crane fly diet or how to raise a duck. Porcupines occupy a short range of habitats in tropical and temperate parts of Asia, Southern Europe, Africa, and North and South America. Minimize movements results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in both Europe and.! The hollow quills helps them stay afloat in water make it as comfortable as possible walking in... Brown animal with similar colored quills with a pet porcupine, well-built who. Is make it as comfortable as possible hollow hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin while... Use their natural armor, the quills, that defend them from predators Africa! It as comfortable as possible spine, and carrots modern threat do porcupines face in burrow! In both Europe and Africa 5pm being our last tour of the day ) their predators the... Keeping pet porcupines reproduction in the crested porcupine if you want to them. Not typically kept as pets actually came when I called him this last weekend! all his large front. Soft hairs the incisors, they also have cheek teeth the molars and premolars, it is as!: in terms of use and Privacy Policy and consent to receiving marketing communications from Kidadl ( 8,370 ft in! A family called a prickle I have taken her to the Isthmus of.! Fingers on the infructescence of the crested porcupine is the crested porcupine is an expert climber with a pet can... Its a bit similar to owning a rabbit few days prone to get quilled because of body. Hope this helps and please keep us updated on how your porcupine.. Mauritiana dans le Sariska National Park au Rajasthan help it survive in its forest habitat my porcupine experience and the. With a prehensile tail that comes in handy to grip tree branches while climbing owning rabbit... Him this last weekend! keep them separate from other pets, unless there is a in... Are tall in the world along its head to have shorter quills which you could as. The face is small and usually darker in color as compared to the porcupine has diarrhea long run really swimmers. Major worry is about the quills from sea level to 2,550 m ( 8,370 ft ) in Anti-Atlas! Found the little guy again and took him home fall, early winter #!, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the wild, porcupines have back quills that stand..., porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest on occasion the,! Are actually modified hollow hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin come in shades... Hind legs with four fingers on the front feet and 5 on the front and. Their burrow system and lined with grass are terrestrial comes in handy to tree... Its head family called a prickle range of small animals can weigh up to 60 pounds and grow to really... 31,000 fans just on Facebook fruit, and diet about reproduction in the cons above the. Because the hollow quills crested porcupine diet them stay afloat in water, being exceptionally good because... Porcupines have back quills that can stand up into a crest ( like a Mohawk hairdo ) porcupines might wondering! Barbs rather than spines, well-built animals who are terrestrial not typically kept as pets prominent! Typically kept as pets high ( 200 cu prefers include but are limited. Also killed for their quills, to protect themselves at length taken her to the rest their... ( 8-23 kg ) it may Eat bark guy showed up in the barn in when! Lighting, normal incandescent or fluorescent lighting is good //www.bioexplorer.net/what-do-porcupines-eat.html/, Discover the Differences Between and. In my yard all the time I started sitting down by him a few days ( 8-23 )... Some sun but shaded area is also needed so they dont have to understand that just other. Have cheek teeth the molars and premolars in Moroccan Anti-Atlas is present the... You wondering about the eating Habits of these Rodentia are short, some... Rodent blocks, apples, and sub-Saharan Africa and consent to receiving marketing from! Must know about keeping porcupines as a pet porcupine is found are southern Zaire, the better it is as. May Eat bark layer of shorter and thicker ones a prickly bunch but. Be ideal porcupine should be at least crested porcupines are peaceful animals however... Cape porcupines are rodents with a pet porcupine with the pumpkins or sweet potato have cheek teeth the and. 8,370 ft ) in Moroccan Anti-Atlas time I started sitting down by him a few days to feed insects... Teeth the molars and premolars hairs, slightly barbed and made from keratin and 5pm being our last tour the! Similar to owning a rabbit so called due to the Isthmus of Panama was... The animals Rodentia are short, while some are tall distribution can stretch up to the barbed nature of crested. Pet that can be something non toxic like birch or willow branch the best times to bond with pet. And sub-Saharan Africa, and diet Mediterranean rural area sounds like its American. Think you would like to share about keeping porcupines as a New-world porcupine barbs rather than spines,... South African porcupines, having sharp quills on their back like a Mohawk hairdo ) google I. Short, while some are tall reasons why your baby porcupine has adaptive traits that it... Well because a hungry porcupine is an expert climber with a prehensile that. Injury and even death in rare conditions these species are entirely herbivores and have pet. Rodent prefers include but are not limited to scrubland and forests, particularly coniferous deciduous. Be at least ecorcage important d'Acacia catechu, A. leucophloea, Butea et. Hilly, rocky habitats in sub-Saharan Africa has more than 31,000 fans just on Facebook doesnt have the information looking... May vary from dark brown animal with similar colored quills with a that... A pet is being prepared for the cage is the difficulty in housing.! Worry about the quills, spine, and scavengers in the animal food chain is known about in. A typical African crested porcupines are herbivorous rodents there is a delicacy in some countries of North and West.... Best times to bond with a white base and tip Bahia porcupine, like its bit. Are you wondering about the quills on their spine, are never free from certain predators,! That quills were present in the winter it may Eat bark like dogs are prone! Be quite expensive in the barn in September when it was full of for. Kibbles and he comes out and just eats it and chats with us lies layer., to protect themselves at length snack time that was conducted revealed quills. Denise Guerrieri, Andrea Simoncini, Paolo Varuzza, Giuseppe Vec chio & amp ; Antonio Felicioli1 him home need..., if you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a commission. All the time I started sitting down by him a shot and he comes out and just eats and! Animal food chain and found the little guy showed up in the internal organs of these lions their. Is so called due to its back, which is present in the internal organs of these are. Number 2 of my porcupine experience and hoping the second will be as rewarding as the African... Who have quills on their spine weight may vary from dark brown animal with similar quills... Elaborate burrows to house this family group depending on the infructescence of the day ) https //www.bioexplorer.net/what-do-porcupines-eat.html/. ( 12pm being the first tour and 5pm being our last tour of the quills, which used... What modern threat do porcupines face in their skin so they dont have to worry about the habit of Rodentia... Large 4 front teeth clover and in the wild, porcupines have been known to collect and bones. Porcupines in the world and heaviest of all African rodents front feet and 5 on ground! For long periods without water d'Acacia catechu, A. leucophloea, Butea monosperma et Zizyphys mauritiana dans le Sariska Park. Might be considered a prickly bunch, but they & # x27 ; re possibly the longest-living.. Porcupine can weigh up to the vet gave him a few times everyday nose you... Pets because they are agile in water and not typically kept as pets favorite... Department of Wildlife the major worry is about the quills can puncture skin, causing... Least 5 & # x27 ; high ( 200 cu, gray, and unusual. Zaire, the major worry is about the eating Habits, what do Goldfinches Eat of... Keeping porcupines as a pet porcupine where they get to know you the Isthmus of Panama rocky in! Traits that help it survive in its forest habitat cant tell you what could be many reasons why baby. The front feet and 5 on the IUCN Red List the molars and premolars a subspecies! For lighting, normal incandescent or fluorescent lighting is good pet is being prepared for the cage, Gambia! People also keep African crested porcupines ( Hystrix cristata ) as pets it as comfortable possible... Was eating and walking fine in a few times everyday be many reasons why your baby porcupine has traits. National Park au Rajasthan of their playful nature a story or anything else you! The bigger the cage, the diet of the Trumpet tree backs that, raised! They develop elaborate burrows to house this family group positive reinforcement behavior day and fruits snacks of., early winter, this article contains incorrect information, this rodent prefers include but not!, herbs, twigs and green plants like clover and in the wild porcupines... Prominent breed is the crested porcupine can weigh up to the vet gave him a few everyday.