One of the most important ways to bond with your hedgehog is to spend time handling them - we recommend at least once a day in a relaxed setting for 20-30 minutes. This is the bare minimum time you should spend handling and engaging with your hedgehog each day. As with any relationship, time invested matters.
Encourage the bonding process
The first two weeks with your hedgehog are the most important in shaping your new companion's personality and how they will react around you! Once home, you may notice a temporary personality change from when you picked out your hedgie, and this is completely normal.
The more the attachment develops between you and your hedgehog, the more you will grow to love and enjoy your pet. Some hedgehogs will bond to their owners for life (HHC). Bonding does require effort, persistence, and an understanding of hedgehogs.
Frequent, gentle handling is a great way to maintain this relationship and keep your hedgehog tame and social. Hand-feeding your pet, with treats like live mealworms, is a good way to bond and gain trust.
The average hedgehog is content to do its own thing and may not show any outward sign that it cares about its owner's existence unless you have a treat in your hand. Despite their somewhat solitary nature, they can become very affectionate with their owners and will even enjoy snuggling on your lap.
Some things your pet may enjoy include balls, small cars and trucks, and stuffed animals. You can also offer him DIY toys. For instance, the cardboard tubes from toilet-paper rolls make great chew toys. (It's probably worth noting that hedgehogs seem to prefer bright colors.)
Every hedgehog has a unique personality, but most aren't interested in human affection. Caretakers note that it takes a lot of time and effort to get a hedgehog to tolerate being held. Like porcupines, hedgehogs have sharp, prickly quills that they use to fend off predators.
It depends on the personality of the individual hedgehog and how much handling the hedgehog has had in the past. Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be shyer or simply prefer exploring and moving about over sitting still and cuddling.
A hedgehog's go-to vocal is huffing and puffing, but he's not trying to blow the house down. This sniffing is a normal vocalization he makes while going about his business of exploring. An unhappy hedgehog, on the other hand, will show his disdain with a hiss or a clicking sound.
their ears, chin, along the edge of their quill line or skirt, belly fur or feet.
Keep your distance from a hissing hedgehog, just like you would from a hissing snake. When a hedgehog hisses, it means he is really annoyed and wants you, other hogs or other animals to clear off. Hedgehogs will often make the hissing noise if their nest is disturbed or if they are cornered or approached by a predator.
Hedgehogs are mostly awake in the early morning and evening. When awake, they are very active and it's fun to watch them dig, go through tubes, push toys around and run on their exercise wheel. They should get at least an hour every evening out of their cage to explore.
Essential Oils: I have been advised that oils that are considered "hot" are toxic to hedgehogs. Oils that are considered hot: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Thieves, and Thyme. These are often contained in blends.
Pet hedgehogs do best if handled every day, even if it is for just a short amount of time. We recommend handling your hedgehog for at least half an hour a day. The easiest way to accomplish this task is 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening.
Four-toed hedgehogs (African Pygmy hedgehogs) may legally be kept as pets. Australia: All hedgehogs are classified as exotic pets that are illegal to import.
Sometimes a belly rub feels really good, and this hedgehog is here to show us just how good. Yep, it's impossible to ignore his blissful little face as he gets a mini massage!
Since hedgehogs are solitary animals, they will not get depressed or angry if you do not have loads of time to spend with them. It is important, however, to get your hedgehog out every day to be sure he is not ill or injured.
Talking to your hedgehog while holding, snuggling, bathing, and other enjoyable activities will help your hedgehog associate the sound of your voice with comfort and enjoyment. Over the years we have found the radio and music very soothing for a variety of different animals.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, and therefore do not like bright light.
Hedgehogs mainly eat creepy crawlies
The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects.
Scent & Taste
If you smell good, and taste good through licking… watch out! Sometimes hedgehogs will lick salt from sweaty hands and become tempted to bite, because they like the salty taste. When a hedgehog bites due to taste and smell it is exhibiting normal, but unacceptable behavior.
Hedgehogs may bite as a way to communicate if they are tired, stressed, or uncomfortable. Hedgehogs that are quilling may bite because they are uncomfortable. Some hedgehogs don't like nail polish and will bite polished nails but they will stop biting when the polish is removed.