With a lifespan of up to six years, you need to know well ahead of bringing home a hedgehog what type of pet you will be bringing home. They have several personality and behavioral habits that can make you love them more, but some can also drive you a little nutty.
Digging Delights
Basically every hedgehog loves to dig around. It is how they build their homes and how they hunt for tasty insects. If you want to keep your pet happy, you will need to create a space where he can dig. This may include shredding newspapers and piling them in a shallow box.
If you really want to delight him, toss in some mealworms so that your hedgehog can forage for his own special treats.
Rolly Poley
These animals curl into a ball when they feel threatened in the wild. As danger passes, they will gradually loosen up and their quills will flatten out. When you first bring home your hedgehog, you will likely see a lot of him as a balled-up pin cushion until he gets used to you. He may also ball up when he begins to shed his quills with maturity and again if he isn’t feeling well. During this time, he may also be a little cranky.
Huff N Hiss
Sniffing around is something that all hedgehogs enjoy doing. They love to get the whiff of some new scent and will spend a lot of time searching for it.
When angry, they will often make a hissing sound as well. If not a hiss, then you could hear a click. Either way, you know that they are upset. If you ever see him throw in a lunge as well, then you can bet he is quite angry and the target is on his radar.
Anointing
Perhaps one of the most shocking things for some hedgehog owners is that they do make a mess of themselves. When anointing, they find a scent that they enjoy, start drooling a lot, and eventually foam at the mouth while “painting” themselves with this scent. It is not something you can prevent. You simply have to allow it and sometimes give them a bath a little more often because of it.
A Head Up
Curiosity may be the driving force for hedgehogs, but don’t be surprised when your pet gets stuck somewhere they shouldn’t. Toilet paper rolls and yogurt cups or other similar items can be a challenge for the curious hedgehog. They may need your help to get their heads out of a bind.
Slightly Solitary
It may change from one to another, but overall, hedgehogs do not need other hedgehogs or you to be happy. They are anti-social and may fight with one another if another hedgehog is on their turf.