New Hedgie Behavior

[CMorrow]

We have a new hedge (and a first) in the apartment. I've read that they sleep quite a lot, both in general and when they're young. This one is supposedly about 3 months and ~5 inches long. So definitely still on the youngish side. She was fairly active the first night, but since she's been sleeping -a lot-. We don't really see her moving around. And if we wake her up and get her moving around, she seems really wobbly. Is this normal, post-wake-up wobble? How much sleeping is "normal"? And about how much water do hedgies drink? I haven't really seen mention of that anywhere.

[Dena]

This happened to my hedgie once. My husband inadvertantly turned down the heat too low and my hedgie went into hibernation mode. I was terrified by the wobbling when I woke her. Forgeting that they will hibernate, I thought she was going to die. I watched her for a few minutes (as I was getting ready to go to the vets) and she finally stopped wobbling and started to eat. I would make sure that you have plenty of heat on her. If you don't want to turn your heat up you might want to invest in a snuggle disc. They are microwavable and stay warm for 12 hours at a time. They are perfectly safe and might help you out. Also make sure you have a little hidey area with a washcloth or piece of a blanket so they can curl up and keep warm.

I am not an expert, but I don't think the wobbling is a good thing so if you are really worried you may want to take your hedgie to the vet. In the meantime I am going to try to find some info on this. Everything I have read never mentioned this happening.

If any other hedgie knowledgable people can give us some insight this would be greatly appreciated!

Hope this helps a little.

[Dena]

Please view this information. It is much more serious than I thought!

Important Hedgehog Info

[nannyogg]

It sounds more like hibernation symptoms than anything else, here's another good article to read: what is not WHS .

Tig

[Sassy]

I don't have hedgehogs but a friend of mine does, I called her about what you have described she also says it sounds like she is going into hibernation she suggested that you put a heating pad under her cage on the lowest setting preferably under where she lays-sleeps

[CMorrow]

All the information was very helpful guys. I really appreciate it. From what ya'll said and from what the articles said, we decided it was hibernation. We're used to keeping the temp a little lower without worrying so much 'bout the heat. Since her underbelly was cool, that seemed like the problem right there. So we turned up the heat and put some more snuggly bedding in her cage. She's doing much better now...eating quite a bit, drinking, running on the wheel. She's also created a good little nest of bedding for herself under her igloo. Thanks again for everyone's help and advice.

[Sassy]

I am glad the hear that she is doing better. We would love to see pics!

[CMorrow]

Heh....soon as I can get some on the computer, I'll be sure to post them. Without a scanner or digital camera, I have to always wait to get my pics developed and then pull 'em off the internet. They'll come though! I have to show off my girl!