Grumpy when awake

[kevrlee]

Just a quick question (hope it's not a silly one) -

Do hedgehogs generally get really grumpy if you try to wake them up when they are asleep? The one I have right now is usually hyperactive at daytime and sleeps at night (which is the opposite of how it should be, since they are nocturnal creatures, must have been how the breeder trained it to be).

I try to wake it up at night when it's asleep (just a gentle rub at it's side) and it get's all puffed up and starts hissing at me. HAHA. I really need it to be awake at night, because it's the only time I can bond with it as I have work from 12:00pm to 9:00pm and my workplace is relatively quite far (would take about 2 hours ride just to reach work --- no thanks to the massive traffic here in the city).

 

[smhufflepuff]

Depends on the hedgie. But, in general, yes -- they're not too keen on being awoken in the middle of their sleepy-time. I had one who was ever so sweet... very snuggly... a real love bug. But, wake her during the day and her diva side came out: huffhuffhuffhuffhuff...

I would go ahead and choose a couple times in your daily schedule, keep them consistent, and interact with her then. If you're at work 12-9 with two hours travel each way (you're gone ~10am through 11pm?), I'd aim for maybe 11:30pm and 8:30am. Perhaps she'll be a sweetie in the morning and a grump-a-puss at night for some time to come. And if she's still grumpy, you can certainly scale one of the more grumpier times back to a shorter interaction. Either way (snuggly or grumpy), it's good to scoop her up, let her know you're home, check for any problems (eg, cool belly, etc...) -- even if she insists on being a grump.

 

[kevrlee]

sweet. will do so. thanks so much!