Hedgehog Exercise, Play and Handling: Tips for a Decent Life!
Do You Know What to Do for a Hedgehog to Stay Active?
Being shy and sometimes defensive animals, it’s essential to learn how to handle your hedgehog properly.
This will ensure that they are not getting hurt, you are safe, and you’re giving them plenty of opportunities to bond with you.
In addition, your hedgehog must get some exercise each day so they stay healthy and avoid becoming overweight.
Read More: Hedgehog Health and Issues – Learning How to Read Their Symptoms
Below, I’ll discuss simple ways to play with your hedgie and allow him to get the proper exercise.
How to Pick Up a Hedgehog?
With all those quills, picking up a hedgehog from underneath is the easiest to avoid getting poked or harming your hedgie.
Being such sensitive and shy creatures, it’s important to approach them with a quiet voice and gentle temperament.
To pick up your hedgehog correctly:
- Wash your hands with a non-fruity-smelling soap (if your hands have food on them, your hedgie may be tempted to take a bit).
- Scoop your hedgehog up with both hands from underneath.
- Do not scoop him up roughly, but also not too slowly – use gentle yet confident movements.
- Once in your hands, gently roll him onto one hand, or place him on your lap.
Tips for Handling Your Hedgehog
– Takes practice to handle them around. If you aren’t comfortable handling your hedgehog and his quills, you can use a blanket to scoop it up.
– Try to pick it up and play with it when awake. Also, remember that they are nocturnal and typically sleep during daylight hours.
– If you just brought it home and look very nervous and shy, you may want to avoid handling him too much for a couple of days until they feel comfortable in its new environment.
– You should handle it for at least 30 minutes daily to ensure enough socialization and bonding with you.
– If your hedgehog begins to become aggressive, shaking, starts biting you, or you notice green poop, this is a sign that he’s becoming stressed and had too much handling that day.
Playing With Your Hedgehog
You can allow it to play by ensuring there is a wheel to run on inside the cage, along with letting it explore around when out of it.
Some tips for letting your hedgehog play out of the cage:
– Always make sure it is always supervised when out of the cage.
– You can get a gated playpen for your hedgehog to explore in so that you can keep a close eye on it while out of its usual sleeping area.
– There are always opportunities to feed them with treats directly from your hands during playtime, so again there is a bond with you.
– Another approach is to let them walk around your laps and arms if you are, of course, sitting comfortably.
– If your hedgehog seems shy when you take it out to play, let it snuggle on your lap for a few minutes until it is ready to explore. He may also want to stay snuggled on your lap, so that’s fine too!
– Some hedgehogs are very snuggly and may prefer to lay on your lap during playtime while you watch TV or work on a hobby.
Hedgehog Exercise
It must get enough exercise in order to stay healthy and avoid obesity.
Playing with your hedgehog and letting it explore out of the cage is an excellent idea for exercise, as well as allowing it to run on its wheel as long as it wants.
These are most hedgehogs’ favorites toy and do a great job of keeping them active. I’d suggest getting an exercise wheel for it. To see some wheels we recommend, click here.
Helen’s Little Critters, a hedgehog breeder in Texas, mentions that hedgehogs can even get exercise by playing with toilet paper rolls and boxes. Sometimes they’ll even play with these for hours straight!
I have a question about my hedgehog, we have a wheel for him but he has no interest in it. So what can I do for him so he can get more exercise? I have read that it not a good idea to get a running ball. And it seems like all he wants to do is sleep. I get him out at night and socialize with him. So what else can I do for him?
Hi Angie, you may want to get a small pen that you can let him in on the floor so he can walk around. He may just have a lazy personality, so it’s okay if he’s not super active!
I have made my hedgie a “playground” in the tub of our spare bath. It’s mostly throw away things so if she soils them too much, I just toss them. An empty soft drink case – the long 12 pack kind, a round oatmeal box open on both ends, a plastic tub that had dog treats, a tennis ball, and always a couple of wads of tissue paper. She doesn’t get as much exercise as I really think she should but she’s safe and happy in there.
just let her be. she might enjoy just wandering about.
I am planning to get a hedgehog soon, but I’m worried it will keep me up at night if it runs around on its wheel. Is there anything I can do about that?
You can buy a silent wheel or put the cage in a different room at night. The wheels that say silent should be quieter than others.
Sometimes it can get loud and I’ve heard that you can put a scrunchie on the back and that helps. Also that make SILENT wheels.
Aubrey, this is not a problem. I recommend silent runner because it really works well. You should also get the bigger ones, like a 12 inch. If it’s smaller they sometimes do not like using it.
I have a silent wheel and you will get use to him running on it and it won’t bother you. Mine like to play with his water bottle and move it around the pin. LOL Thats what usually wakes me up but he mostly does that in the morning when l am getting up
You can go to a local Petco and they have good silent wheels!
we let our hedgehog wander the house in a large hamster ball and we also brought in a baby pool which allows her to run laps
yes l got the baby pool also and mine loves his
I was planning to let my Hedgehog run around in a large ball however, read they can get little feet can get injured in the holes/slits – have you ever had an issue and what size is your ball?
Also does yours pee&poo while running around the house in the large ball?
I got a hedgehog 5 days ago. At night I give her 2 mealworms and then let her run in her hamster ball. But when I try to hold her, she gets really wiggly and doesn’t let me hold her. What should I do?
Let her be they take some weeks to get used to, after a while if she doesn’t use a blanket to pick her up
thank you for all the lovely and useful details
how do you find them if they get loose in the house?
I made a sleeve type of thing for my hedgehog and now they won’t leave it but i need to check on them, see if they’re healthy or not but he wont let me take him out. What should I do?
I’m only 12 and I cant wait to get a hedgehog this site has helped so much a big thanks to hedgehog 101
Hi…I just adopted a hedgehog. Been doing some playtime with her. Today I took her out to play for three times and the third time(night) she wasn’t as active as she was during the evening. She started to go and snuggle against the door and sleep. Is that unusual I’m worried!
Hi Chelvi, thanks for asking and sorry for this very late reply.
It is normal to see them taking additional breaks if they need to. Also, the lack of energy could be related to the initial diet but most importantly, the fact that she was also adjusting to the new environment.
Regards,
Margarita.
Is it okay if I don’t handle my hedgehog everyday?
Hi Josie, thanks for asking.
It is advisable to give them love at least once a day. This is mainly because they, somehow, are kept in a cage for most of the time, therefore it is good to have some interaction.
Regards,
Margarita.
Hi. I got my hedgehog Simon maybe about one and a half weeks ago. It’s been good he is very friendly and cute. The only problem is that all he really wants to do is sleep. I’ve been taking him out of his cage at around 5:30 or 6:00, laying him on my lap or putting him in a baby play crib with toys and such. He still only wants to sleep. I don’t know what to do to get him to exercise. He’s fine getting stroked and pet but that seems to just make him fall asleep faster. Aaaah.
Hi Zoe, thanks for your questions.
Sometimes they just need to sleep more. Sometimes could be an illness. I would suggest to check with a vet (Hedgehog Vet Near Me) for more professional advise.
Regards,
Margarita.
I am hoping to save up for a baby hedgehog, though I still have to ask my parents. I’m only ten years old.This site was super helpful. Wish me luck!
Hi Chiara,
If you really want one, make sure you and your parent learn more about them. I know they are adorable but also very sensitive small mammals. Good luck!
Regards,
Margarita.