[Alfiehedgie]

hi i have an Egyptian long eared hedgehog, i know this forum is primarily african pygmy's but they arn't too different. so i got alfie when he was 4 months old he is now nearly 1. prior to about a week ago he had only biten me once and that was his first bath which he was understandably stressed about (he hates baths). i handle him every single night apart from the odd occasion im not at home and he normally huffs at me a lttle bit at first when i take him out but is mostly fine with being handled and crawls around me and naps beside or on me. last week i was picking up as normal and he just latched onto me hard and didnt let go for a few seconds! i didnt put him back in his cage right away as not to reward him. today i had him out and the same thing again except this time he wouldnt let go for longer and broke skin! it has made me nervous to handle him now please could someone give me some advice or tell me why he could have started this behavior all of a sudden. thanks.

 

[nikki]

Sudden changes in behaviour like that are often the first sign of illness or injury. I would take him for a vet check to rule out anything medical.

 

[Alfiehedgie]

Sudden changes in behaviour like that are often the first sign of illness or injury. I would take him for a vet check to rule out anything medical.

thanks for your reply. im just so confused because his behavior is otherwise the same i.e eating and drinking, poops are normal and running on wheel lots.

 

[nikki]

Hedgehogs are wonderful about hiding injury and illness and behaviour changes like biting are often the only sign they show. I have seen this with many hedgehogs.