The hedgehog has become very popular as a pet in recent years. Especially for those who do not have much space, such as those who live in apartments, and for those who are looking for a small pet that spends much of the day sleeping, they represent an ideal companion.
Having a hedgehog at home does not imply too much work, as they are calm and mainly nocturnal animals, in good general he alth and easy to tame. However, it may sometimes happen to you that it sinks its teeth into you, which is painful. If you wonder why your hedgehog bites you, keep reading this article on our site.
If your hedgehog bites you it's because…
First of all, you should know that biting is not a usual behavior in hedgehogs, not even when defending against possible dangers, when, in fact, they prefer to use the action of their spikes to protect themselves and hurt those who dare to get too close. This is why if your hedgehog starts to bite you, whether it hurts you or not, you need to know why it does so in order to detect possible ailments, understand it better or even avoid future unwanted behaviors.
Below we list the main reasons why these small animals use their teeth:
You are sick
Physical discomfort caused by illness can cause the hedgehog to bite you if you try to pick it up and pet it, because, just like with yourself, when it gets sick the last thing it wants is to be bothered. In this way, the hedgehog will try to be returned to its cage to continue resting.
However, if it is a disease it should be accompanied by certain signs, such as drooping of quills or bad appearance of the same, itching, tiredness, problems with balance and lack of appetite, among others. Check our article on the most common diseases of the African hedgehog to check if this is the reason that causes your hedgehog to bite you.
Shedding tines
In case you didn't know, those quills that form the hedgehogs' best defense mechanism fall off during shedding season, to be replaced by new ones, of course. This happens to baby hedgehogs It usually causes a little pain and discomfort in the little animal, so he will not want you near or handling him.
Under stress
Stress or situations that make your hedgehog nervous wreak havoc on his he alth, both physically and emotionally. When it feels this way, the hedgehog tries to hide to stay away from what makes it afraid or nervous and to be safer, so if you try to pick it up it may bite you hard to make you let go and allow it to return to its hiding place.
If this is the reason why your hedgehog bites you, you need to know what is the stimulus that is causing the problem to eliminate it and give the animal peace of mind. Among them, it is possible to mention exposure to loud noises, alterations in their natural sleep cycle (hedgehogs are nocturnal, so they need to sleep during the day), changes in temperature, the presence of other unknown animals nearby, or strong, pungent odors that you are not familiar with.
Need to explore
Although small, hedgehogs are extremely curious animals, who enjoy exploring everything around them. One of the ways they discover the world is by using their teeth to weigh the texture of materials and even the taste, because when this is their intention what they do is not bite but nibble, which does not cause pain and is accompanied by licking the area.
If this is what your hedgehog is doing, it may be recognizing you, or it may be that your hands are impregnated with the smell of food or some body lotion, which it dislikes or is curious about.
Behavior problems or rudeness
Like the other animals that we want to have at home, the hedgehog requires some training to adapt to its life among humans in a satisfactory way, and that the coexistence between people and it is harmonious.
By nature they are solitary animals, which even find it difficult to live with other individuals of the same species, since they often create competitive situations. That is why they are not really pets that enjoy being with humans 24 hours, because not only do they need to sleep during the day, but they also need to have their own space
That's why, unconsciously, you may have “taught” your hedgehog that when he bites you he manages to stay alone. Has he ever bit you and immediately put you in his cage, or have you reacted by emitting loud screams? Well, this is all a mistake, when he discovers that he generates this type of response in you, he repeats the unwanted behavior (in this case, the bite) in order to get what he wants.
How to react when your hedgehog bites you?
Now, in order not to encourage your hedgehog to continue biting and put an end to this behavior, we give you a series of recommendations on how you should act when this occurs.
- Never pick up the hedgehog to free yourself. If the hedgehog has bitten part of one of your fingers, for example, pulling it loose could hurt the little animal, plus it will only make it set its jaw even more.
- Never yell. Yelling or yelling will startle the hedgehog and frighten it, causing it to interpret being with you as a negative experience, as well as teaching it that it is capable of eliciting such a reaction from you.
- Never hit him Roughly tapping his snout or hitting him in any other way is completely prohibited; you will hurt him and then he will be afraid of you. Being with you will cause him too much stress, a fact that translates into other behavioral problems.
- Do not let it go. Although it is difficult to control your reaction when your hedgehog suddenly bites you, do your best not to let go, as a fall to the ground would be very dangerous.
- Blow to be released. The most affectionate way for the hedgehog to free you from his teeth is to blow a little on his snout to distract him. If this doesn't work, try distracting him with a toy or something else.
- Don't put him back in his cage. If the hedgehog wants you not to bother him and bites you for it, under no circumstances should you do it immediately, as he will quickly learn to control you this way.
- Never apply punishment Ignoring the hedgehog, not giving it food or anything else you can think of as a reprimand for biting you will do nothing effect, because the animal will not interpret that this deprivation is related to its behavior, in addition to the fact that you will only damage its he alth and the relationship with you.
How to prevent your hedgehog from biting you?
The best way to prevent your hedgehog from biting you is to give it the proper training from the first day it arrives home, knowing and respecting its life cycles and personality. To do this, we recommend:
- Create a link Being such a small animal that usually spends many hours in a cage (precisely because of its size, this is what safer for him), you should strive to become someone he trusts. Approach him delicately, take him gently, use gentle and affectionate words; avoid sudden movements and annoying sounds.
- Provide enough food and water A hungry or dehydrated hedgehog can react in any way due to the desperation that this produces, and among these reactions includes biting you (after all, you are responsible for it). Make sure they have a proper diet and access to fresh water throughout the day.
- Control stimuli A noisy environment with excess light, which prevents you from sleeping during the day or staying calm, will only stress the hedgehog and will bring a violent attitude. A room with natural light, with a shelter where he can sleep peacefully and away from irritating sounds will be the he althiest for him.
- Respect their schedules. To avoid being bitten and, at the same time, have a harmonious relationship with the hedgehog, it is best to respect its sleeping hours and not take it out of its cage during the day just for the whim of hugging it a little.
- Avoid strong odors If you are used to using lotions, creams, soaps, among other personal hygiene products, with strong odors, consider changing them, as they are annoying to the hedgehog's nose. Likewise, wash your hands very well before handling it to remove any food-scented residue.
