African Crested Porcupine
Hystrix africaeaustralis
Africa

Comprising a squat but stock body, covered in coarse hair and quills of assorted lengths pending the location on the body itself.

Similar to the Brush Tailed Porcupine they can shake, rattle and roll their tail and quills when alarmed. The noise is similar to what one might imagine a giant salt shaker but with fewer grains of salt, therefore producing a hissing noise.

Their colour is black and their quills are black but ringed with white. They have a crest on the top of their head.

You can see by the photographs present just how imposing this ‘critter’ actually is.

In the main this is a nocturnal species, however mine like the Brush Tails are active throughout most of the given day with resting period in-between.

Housing

Hank & Sal are currently awaiting the construction of their new habitat, which will take place this year alongside other enclosures.

They are only five months old at present and as such their full strength is not present with them, so current housing is suitable at 6x6x10 full metal caging jackets.

However they will be moving into an 8W x 12L x 6H enclosure with a concrete base, and protected breezeblock surround. The protection to the breezeblocks arrives in the form of metal caging casing around the actual clocks themselves to prevent chewing.

For all porcupine species, the absolute must is a solid floor, as they are all remarkable diggers and burrowers.

Their internal accommodation will be a concrete slab house like an igloo, filled to the brim with soft bracken and hay. Bales of straw will form a perimeter around the actual sides of the igloo during the winter months to keep the frost conditions reduced.

Although due to their bulky size they are not known for their agility during climbing unlike the brush tails, my enclosure is to have a roof so as to keep out the rain from their den.

The walls around their enclosure will serve to reduce the Fenland winds, which course through my neck of the woods during the winter climates.

Environmental Conditions

Their enclosure will be soil filled to a depth of 30".

Lining the enclosure floor will be very large chewing logs rocks, large bark hides and smaller branches for disposable chewing.

Feeding

I have worked with this species in years past and they like my current pair have shared one thing common factor - they are quite possibly the biggest eaters l have ever come across in the rodent group. Their stomachs apparently see no end, upon saying this there is of course bliss to be had by those that are well fed.

Unlike the Brush Tails whom l have noted enjoy more on the fruit side of life, the Crested seemingly prefer the vegetable route, but are not unhappy with a fruit content added to their feeding schedules.

Their diet is alternated during the course of a week, and they will be offered three different types of dry mix.

1 Large Ceramic Dish: Filled Quality Rabbit Mixture

Or

Filled Quality Rodent Mixture

Or

Filled Quality combined Horse, Pig & Dog Compound

Once a week l also add monkey nuts [Nuts in shell], Whole Maize and Large Sunflower Seeds or Pine Nuts.

Each week they receive a large loaf of brown bread.

1 Large Ceramic Dish:

Filled with an assortment of halved fruit and vegetables:

Potatoes, Melon, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Carrot, Peach, Plum, Banana, Sugar Beet, Sweet Potato, Apples, Parsnips, Pears etc.

I always ensure that they have a huge pile of quality hay, and also some gnawing logs, from non-toxic producers.

They drink water from a super sized gravity fed water bottle, which is usually filled twice daily.

General Observations, Comments and Legislation

The Crested Porcupine is a EPS species, which means that it is an animal that falls under the European Protected Species legislation and as such requires a licence.

As your animals increase in size the severity of their spines and the damage they can inflict will also increase. So as such protection in the form of heavy gloves, and warding boards should be in operation. Similar to those used by farmers when moving sows or boars.

I think in the main, that if you are a porcupine enthusiast and are able to provide an adequate environment covered by the correct legislation, then this is a genuinely nice species to house within your collection. Personally l find this species to be overall animated and despite their size at times clumsy in their gaits and therefore do provide entertainment.

As they progress in age they do also change in their moods and tempers and can be become quite hostile, but my philosophy has always been to take it as it comes.

Personally l find this species to be stunning, they would l admit not be too everyone’s' taste, but if you like your porcupines, then these would be considered fantastic to your exotic collection.

Comprising a squat but stock body, covered in coarse hair and quills of assorted lengths pending the location on the body itself.

Similar to the Brush Tailed Porcupine they can shake, rattle and roll their tail and quills when alarmed. The noise is similar to what one might imagine a giant salt shaker but with fewer grains of salt, therefore producing a hissing noise.

Their colour is black and their quills are black but ringed with white. They have a crest on the top of their head.

You can see by the photographs present just how imposing this ‘critter’ actually is.

In the main this is a nocturnal species, however mine like the Brush Tails are active throughout most of the given day with resting period in-between.

Housing

Hank & Sal are currently awaiting the construction of their new habitat, which will take place this year alongside other enclosures.

They are only five months old at present and as such their full strength is not present with them, so current housing is suitable at 6x6x10 full metal caging jackets.

However they will be moving into an 8W x 12L x 6H enclosure with a concrete base, and protected breezeblock surround. The protection to the breezeblocks arrives in the form of metal caging casing around the actual clocks themselves to prevent chewing.

For all porcupine species, the absolute must is a solid floor, as they are all remarkable diggers and burrowers.

Their internal accommodation will be a concrete slab house like an igloo, filled to the brim with soft bracken and hay. Bales of straw will form a perimeter around the actual sides of the igloo during the winter months to keep the frost conditions reduced.

Although due to their bulky size they are not known for their agility during climbing unlike the brush tails, my enclosure is to have a roof so as to keep out the rain from their den.

The walls around their enclosure will serve to reduce the Fenland winds, which course through my neck of the woods during the winter climates.

Environmental Conditions

Their enclosure will be soil filled to a depth of 30".

Lining the enclosure floor will be very large chewing logs rocks, large bark hides and smaller branches for disposable chewing.

Feeding

I have worked with this species in years past and they like my current pair have shared one thing common factor - they are quite possibly the biggest eaters l have ever come across in the rodent group. Their stomachs apparently see no end, upon saying this there is of course bliss to be had by those that are well fed.

Unlike the Brush Tails whom l have noted enjoy more on the fruit side of life, the Crested seemingly prefer the vegetable route, but are not unhappy with a fruit content added to their feeding schedules.

Their diet is alternated during the course of a week, and they will be offered three different types of dry mix.

1 Large Ceramic Dish: Filled Quality Rabbit Mixture

Or

Filled Quality Rodent Mixture

Or

Filled Quality combined Horse, Pig & Dog Compound

Once a week l also add monkey nuts [Nuts in shell], Whole Maize and Large Sunflower Seeds or Pine Nuts.

Each week they receive a large loaf of brown bread.

1 Large Ceramic Dish:

Filled with an assortment of halved fruit and vegetables:

Potatoes, Melon, Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Carrot, Peach, Plum, Banana, Sugar Beet, Sweet Potato, Apples, Parsnips, Pears etc.

I always ensure that they have a huge pile of quality hay, and also some gnawing logs, from non-toxic producers.

They drink water from a super sized gravity fed water bottle, which is usually filled twice daily.

General Observations, Comments and Legislation

The Crested Porcupine is a EPS species, which means that it is an animal that falls under the European Protected Species legislation and as such requires a licence.

As your animals increase in size the severity of their spines and the damage they can inflict will also increase. So as such protection in the form of heavy gloves, and warding boards should be in operation. Similar to those used by farmers when moving sows or boars.

I think in the main, that if you are a porcupine enthusiast and are able to provide an adequate environment covered by the correct legislation, then this is a genuinely nice species to house within your collection. Personally l find this species to be overall animated and despite their size at times clumsy in their gaits and therefore do provide entertainment.

As they progress in age they do also change in their moods and tempers and can be become quite hostile, but my philosophy has always been to take it as it comes.

Personally l find this species to be stunning, they would l admit not be too everyone’s' taste, but if you like your porcupines, then these would be considered fantastic to your exotic collection.