If you are a first-time Hedgehog owner, you might have noticed that mostly your hedgehogs sleep in a curled-up position. Surely, you might be wondering, do Hedgehogs sleep curled up? Even I was amazed by this habit, so I researched the same, and here is what I found out!
Hedgehogs will curl up into a ball for warmth and safety. By turning into a ball, Hedgehogs can conserve their body heat. Hedgehogs will also curl up into a ball for safety. Experts have found that this curious sleeping position is common because it creates a sense of security when in a defenseless state. By curling up into a ball, Hedgehogs can protect themselves — even while asleep!
While there are many different positions that Hedgehogs sleep in, it’s relatively common to see them in this one where their bodies are tightly wound into a ball. This isn’t just for comfort purposes. There are some more practical reasons that they lay like this.
Do Hedgehogs Roll Up To Sleep?
The rolled-up position is one of the most common sleeping positions for Hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs mostly sleep in this position due to their instincts. It is mostly adopted by the Hedgehogs living in the wild habitat. When Hedgehogs curl up in a ball, it conserves warmth and protects their vital organs from possible predators.
This position, however, limits the movement of Hedgehogs during sleep. Hedgehogs sleeping in this position are considered gentle, easy-going, and of sweet personality.
Why Does My Hedgehog Sleep Under His Wheel?
Hedgehogs and wheels make a successful pair, as long as the wheel is considered a piece of equipment for your Hedgehog to run and exercise in.
If she adopts it as her bed, there’s something wrong. This behavior shows your Hedgehog considers her own little house unsuitable, either because of too much light, or of improper temperature, or too exposed.
Hedgehogs need privacy and darkness when they sleep; a single ray of light would be enough to keep them from resting, and this would cause them to move to the wheel.
The solution is simple: get her a more reserved little house, ideally without a transparent floor.
Hedgehogs Troubled To Sleep?
Sometimes you will notice that your Hedgehogs are not taking proper rest as they should, or you find them awake most of the time.
What could be the reason that is bugging them out?
Why are they having so much trouble feeling relaxed and comfortable? Let’s look into some reasons for the same.
The Perfect Bedding
Like we human beings need a perfect bed to have a good night’s sleep, Hedgehogs also require good bedding to take a good night’s nap.
It can be very difficult for Hedgehog owners to find the perfect bedding for their little ones. Bedding made out of biodegradable paper or wood is ideal for Hedgehogs.
As Hedgehogs are sensitive toward the smell, always choose odor-free bedding. Also, make sure it is dust-free so that your little one does not face any respiratory tract infection.
Always select dry bedding for your Hedgehog; this keeps them warm. Provide a lot of burrowing space for your Hedgehog to dig in.
Never give your Hedgehog cotton-based bedding. Cotton fibers can choke your Hedgehog and can be life-threatening.
Improper Diet
Improper diet could be another critical aspect of why Hedgehogs are getting troubled while sleeping.
Can you sleep when you don’t have enough food? No, right, the same thing applies to Hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs do need enough food all the time. As we had discussed earlier, they are active throughout the day and night; thus, if they don’t have food at night, they might get hungry and make noises.
The best way to avoid this is to serve them with some kibble before a few hours of bedtime, and right when you are going to sleep, put away the leftover food and top up lots of water so that they have something to chew on if they wake up at night.
Insecurity
It is very important to have at least one hiding place for your Hedgehog in its enclosure. Hideouts prevent anxieties, provide a place for Hedgehogs to sleep, and help them to stay calm.
You can also prepare hideouts at your home for your little ones just by following the necessary measure:
Cut slash a small opening out of a cardboard box to make an opening. Ensure that you do not leave any sharp edges, or your Hedgehogs might hurt themselves. Your Hedgehog can use this place to relax.
You can either get a wooden made hiding space for your Hedgehogs or a fleece made snuggle bed, which they can get into and feel at home.
Inadequate Floor Time
Floortime is essential to provide your Hedgehog to keep them fit and healthy. Floortime will also keep your Hedgehog happy and engaged.
You must try to provide your Hedgehog with floortime for at least 1 hour each day. If not, at least once in 2-3 days. Lack of proper exercise can lead to various health complications in your little pet.
If they don’t have a few hours outside their cage or a reasonably large cage where they can play and exercise, they might have trouble sleeping at night.
Environment Around Enclosure
It is important to take care of the environment around our Hedgehog’s cage. Hedgehogs need a comfortable range of temperature. It is important to ensure that they do not feel uneasy and sleep well.
The ideal temperature for Hedgehogs ranges from 75°F-85°F (24°C- 30°C).
Anything cooler can make them cold, and anything more significant than that can increase the chances of heatstroke.
It is best if you could maintain the environment around their enclosure at this particular temperature range so that they can get a good night’s sleep.
Also, ensure your cage placement is not in such a place where the temperature changes very rapidly.
Do Hedgehogs Sleep A Lot?
Hedgehogs are very active animals, and most of the time, you will find them moving around, chewing cage bars or some toys, or just goofing around.
However, sometimes you might find them sleeping a lot, being lethargic, or hiding in the hiding spaces for hours and not coming out.
Although this can be a normal phenomenon for a new Hedgehog when introduced into a new enclosure.
But if it’s something you are noticing with your old Hedgehogs, then you might want to look into it.
Hedgehogs are great at hiding their sickness for a long time, so it’s good if you look for the early signs themselves.
- Lying around the care for several hours throughout the day and night.
- Burrowed in the hiding space for long hours
- Not eating their diet as earlier
- Not taking a feeding of treats
- Difficulty in breathing
- Sleeping in unusual positions and breathing heavy
If you find any of the above symptoms in your Hedgehogs, then it might be best to visit a vet as soon as possible.
Can I Sleep With My Hedgehog?
Hedgehog owners often wonder if they can sleep with their little pets. So, I did some research, and here is what I found out.
You can sleep with your Hedgehog. However, it is not that great an idea. There are a few reasons for the same.
Hedgehogs do pee and poop several times in a few hours. Therefore, even if you have litter-trained your Hedgehog, the chances are that you will end up with poop in your bed and maybe all over you as well.
Besides this, your Hedgehog’s safety will be at risk. If you move or just turn around while you are asleep, you might hurt your little pet.
Also, Hedgehogs hardly sleep during the night. This means they do need their food and stuff even at night time.
Therefore, if you sleep with your Hedgehogs and they don’t have access to their food and water, then they might make a lot of noises, thus disturbing your sleep.
In addition, one of my other concerns is the allergy and diseases they carry. Hedgehogs are not hypoallergenic animals. They do carry some allergens and illnesses which can be bad for our health.
