[kristinmarissa]

So I'm obviously new to this whole hedgehog thing, and kind of being neurotic about it, but I really want it to work out. So we (my boyfriend and I) have had Pasta Batman for over a month and a half, and she's about 8-10 months old. I just get worried because I'm not sure if she's happy or if she likes us. We try to let her out to run around the same time every night but the past few nights she's just hid under something and slept. She's also been a little more hissy lately. A few nights ago she was running around and we were sitting on the floor and she would come up to us and smell us happily (seeming) and crawl on us and stuff, but then the next few nights she wasn't so friendly. She doesn't really seem like she wants to be taken out and mostly she just sleeps all the time. I never see her in her cage unless she's eating, she's mostly sleeping or hiding under stuff. It seems as though maybe she used her wheel once, as we found a little bit of poop on it, but no more since then. Also I read on this forum about hedgehogs who will sleep on their owners or who like to be petted, but she doesn't really do that or seem very affectionate. For a month or so after we got her, she would sometimes nap on us but never anymore. And she won't sit still long enough to be held really. She's either running around or burrowing/hiding/sleeping and no in between.
We've done various things to socialize her: I put a shirt I had worn for a few days in her cage and she loves to sleep under it, we give her treats every time we take her out, before we let her run on the floor we sit w/ her on the couch and let her run around (always w/ the lights out), and we let her run around on the floor for an hour or so a night.
Sometimes I don't even know if she recognizes us as something other than just her surroundings. She barely interacts w/ us. I get so sad when I read posts about sweet, friendly, affectionate hedgehogs and wonder if she'll ever be like that. We got her at a pet store, so maybe that's a problem?
Anyway, I guess I'm just wondering if there's anything else we can do to further the bond or make her happier, or if we should just be resigned to the fact that she's not very affectionate. Or is she just acting like a normal hedgehog and I'm being overly worried? I'm used to cats, so maybe I'm expecting too much!
Sorry this is so long, I really appreciate any help and responses you can give!!

 

[adena]

I don't really have any advice to give, either, as I am a very new hedgie owner. Our girl definitely falls in the category of explorer. She won't let you hold her, and she doesn't like to be petted, either. She hisses and pops a lot, but I take it as a good sign that she doesn't put her quills up or roll up ever. I think it's just the personality of some to not be cuddlers.

I completely understand what you mean about being a little sad when reading about all the affectionate hedgies. I, too, feel that way. I love her lively personality, but I'd love for her to allow me to hold her, too, even for just a few minutes.

The way I try to bond with her is by sitting in our bathroom, which is very small and letting her run around and on me. I feel that maybe this will get her used to my presence. Who knows! I have found that she does settle down a lot after a bath and is at her calmest then, so I do get a little more interaction.

So, not really a lot of advice, just wanted you to know you are not alone!

 

[LizardGirl]

Welcome to HHC! I love your hedgie's name. :lol:

My first questions are:

1. Does she have a wheel?
2. What temp is the room she is in?

Usually slowing up and sleeping more, being less energetic etc etc in an otherwise healthy hedgie is from being to cold. They should be kept at 73-78*F ideally. She should be getting 12-14 hours of light each day, which you could provide just by turning a light on near her cage.

Don't be discouraged by her behaviour. Some are runners and just don't pay attention to humans, while others are more snuggly. You might just have an independent hedgie. Her being from a pet store should not affect her personality except for the fact that she likely was not handled, and may be a bit skittish because of it. Bonding takes time. Just holding her in a pouch in your lap during the day would help.

Good luck with her!

 

[hedgie_kid]

In addition to the advice reptilegirl gave, try dimming or turning off the lights in the room(s) that you let her run around in. The reason she is so mute and huffy could be that she wants to get away from the light. My hedgie has what you could call lightphobia and immeditaly makes a run toward my bed where she spends most of her time under. I know it seems kinda dumb but it could actually affect her mood. This may be a useless tip but maybe feeding her treats will keep her in a better mood. Even in the light, my hedgie will kill for a mealworm...or an apple, or my finger...you get the point. It does usually put her in a more social mood...even if it is for a few seconds :lol: Also, don't feel bad about Pasta Batman being a little huffy ball. I don't like reading those "My hedgie has never huffed once in her life" stories either but they do give mesome encouragement. When I got Hot Dog, I was looking forward to a little, social sweet friend to cuddle with. But what did the petstore give me? A little huffy puffy prickly ball that still thinks my hand is a lethal weapon. But to this day, I still love her to pieces. Really, don't feel like your the only one out there with a hedgie like that. Never give up no matter how hopeless it seems.

Oh, and to reptile girl, I think she does mention something about having a wheel.

 

[LizardGirl]

Oh yes, I see that now. Sorry, sleep deprived! :lol: I thought maybe she was so energetic because she wasn't running on a wheel.

And hedgie_kid, I believe she mentioned she has dimmed the lights already.

 

[hedgie_kid]

I guess we both need some more sleep. That or an eye doctor.

Oh, and back to the question...KEEP US UPDATED!!! If something does end up working, I'm sure I lot of people would want to know. Not that your question isn't important, but I see a lot of questions like yours that get great answers but u never hear if they work. You could be 1 in a million!!!

 

[kristinmarissa]

So it looks like maybe she's run in her wheel a few more times, which is good...and yes, we do dim the lights when we take her out
Maybe she is just an "explorer" and not as cuddly. Is not that she's mean or even very afraid, as even when we first got her she didn't really ball up. She's just kind of...aloof.
Sometimes I hold her in my hands a little bit even though I can tell she wants to get down and run around. Do you think if I continue holding her for a bit every time we take her out she'll get to like it more, or will she just start to hate it and me?
Also, last night we had her out on the couch w/ us and she kept running from me toward my boyfriend, then she found a spot beside him and kind of splatted out, it seemed (her 2 front legs were laid out to the side, anyway). Do you think it's possible that she's bonded w/ him and not me? It seems like maybe that's the case...

 

[Hedgierrt]

Henry is my 3rd hedgie and the snuggliest, that is him, very mellow. My first , Boris, would bite or pee on anyone but me, and when I came back from being gone he would puff and huff at me as if to say,"How DARE you leave ME???" I adored him. Boo was our little girl, we hd her for a short time but she was an explorer and puffed and huffed at me every time I got her up, I ignored it and played with her and all of them every night, all hedgies are different.
Hang in there, Pasta B will come around to be more and more herself. By the way, after a bath try wrapping her in a warm flannel pillowcase out of the dryer, even this would turn miss Boo into a limp, calm, content girl. :mrgreen:

 

[kristinmarissa]

So just an update: Tonight after a bath, we wrapped her in a towel and gave her some treats and then she curled up between my legs and after smelling my hand a little bit, took a nap with her chin in my hand and her little nose against my palm. So cute! She's been doing that more lately, smelling me, licking a little, then resting her chin against my hand, so I figure that's a good sign! Thanks for your responses, I appreciate all of them.