[dr.percy]

Hello,

I adopted my hedgehog a few weeks ago. He is around two years old and has had two owners before me.

A acquaintance approached me because I had shown interest in her hedgehog and owning my own on previous occasions. She felt like she didn't spend enough time with him, so she was looking for a new home. I agreed to meet him and see if I wanted to keep him. Before doing so, I did a bunch of reading on the internet and got some books from the library.

When I went over, I was saddened by the circumstances he lived in. When I took him home I wasn't surprised that he was lazy and lethargic, as the research described would happen when hedgehogs are under-stimulated and under-exercised.

I would really like to make sure he is a happy hedgehog and have bought him a wheel, some balls, and provided him with other toys to play with. He's not interested in any of them however, and would just rather burrow away for a nap, no matter the time of day or night.

Does anyone have any tips on how to reverse his lethargy? I would really appreciate any help!

 

[Hedgieonboard]

Getting the wheel for him was good. Alot of hedgehogs won't wheel when people can see though so he might be up wheeling when you're sleeping. Just as a side note I'd make sure that the hedgie has a warm belly, that he's getting 12 to 14 hours of light a day and that the temperature is at least around 75 (some like it warmer, few like it a tad cooler). I bring these up because they can be another reason for lethargy. Also what food was he on, it may be a clue also.

Hope your hedgie gets to feeling better

 

[krbshappy71]

A wellness check from a vet wouldn't hurt either.

 

[silvercat]

My hedgie is similar, the result of a weight gain when on medication. In addition to diet changes, I have a play area set up on the floor (warm room) that she runs around in. In it is a small fleece blanket, some stuffed animals, paper towel rolls, a body pillow, pvc tube & her food. I removed all play things she normally hides under & when she's hiding under the blanket for a long time I will pick her up & move her somewhere else. She really seems to love the PVC tube (even had it out on the sofa with her last night while friends were over & they commented it was the most active they've seen her). The body pillow is towards one side of the pen, with a small space between the pillow and fencing. She likes to run along it 'hidden.' She also get's occasional 'swimming lessons' which she doesn't care for too much but she is a lot more active following them, almost like a 'warm up.'

Some owners also suggest putting some live crickets (store bought) in the cage or tub (empty) with the hedgie for them to hunt. Similarly, hiding treats/food around the cage encouraged foraging activity. *Watch out with live meal worms on this one if you have a wire cage. My hedgie normally attacks meal worms within seconds so I gave her a couple one day, as they crawled towards her cage I figured they were goners. Couple days later I came home to find a meal worm crawling across my kitchen floor.... :roll: