Frustrating Behavior! Advice??

[pleionetherat]

Hi there,

I'm wondering if someone out there can offer me some advice on a couple of things, i'm ready to tear out my hair!!

First Problem:

I have an albino hedgehog (eowyn) that either hates me or is terrified of me/everything else in the world that moves. It's not that I can't get her to unball or that she bites, it's that she will not sit still if she's in my hands or touching me in ANY way (I have claw marks on my arms to prove it). As soon as I put her down she runs about a foot (or to the nearest wall), abruptly stops and won't move. I have never seen a hedgehog that moves as fast as her. When she moves it's honestly rodent like (hence the claw marks). She doesn't abide petting AT ALL, and she wont run around when you take her out for some extra exercise (even when you bother her as minimally as possible). It's so strange! It's not that I'm inexperienced with hogs, I've been a hog-mom for many years now, I'm just at my wit's end!

Other info: I got eowyn when she was about 2 months old (I think) and she's been that way since the day I took her home (just over a year ago). My other girl Pleione WILL NOT abide her at all and will take a chomp at her any chance she gets (so they're obviously separated and spend no time together). That in itself is strange, as Pleione used to have a cage mate that she got along great with.

Second Problem:

I've just gotten eowyn a companion in the hopes that it'll help calm her down. The hog (victim) is Meara, a sweet, dark little 7 month old that eowyn wants nothing to do with. Eowyn balls and huffs while Meara vainly tries to make friends, until I think she's going to hyperventilate. She also tries to poke her with her spines when she comes near. I'm worried about Meara's well being though it's only been a couple of days since I put them together.

Advice, PLEASE! Any way to bribe/desensitize eowyn? Is this some teenager phase that I somehow missed out on with my other hogs? Aargh! :dunno:

Christi

[illinidairychic]

I have some hogs that are huffy when I let my girls out. One, Rosie wouldn't tolerate anyone coming near her and would normally hide out in a corner huffing and poking at the others as they wondered by...not even paying attention to her. It took her about a month before she figured out that play time was fun!! Now she runs around with everyone else likes nothings wrong.

The weird thing was though that she got along with one other female really well in a cage situation. When I first put them together she puffed, and Bianca ignored her. By the end of the day they were snuggled up together.

I think it depends on the situation and the hedgies. I would give them some alone time, but keep a keen ear out for them. See if they can just tolerate being in the same playpen or area together and go from there. Might try treats too...that way it's a postive experience.

I know this is a lot but I hope it helps out in some way.

[yourmine]

If you want to try to desensitize them to the presence of other hedgies, put a clean blankie in with each where they sleep. Let them use it for about a week, then switch the blankies around. This should help them get a little more used to the idea of a playmate/roommate before there are any violent introductions.

[Ododad]

You may have to face the fact that that is just how she is. This may be her personility. Three out of four of my hogs won't sit still when I hold them. It's just the way they are. Marco won't explore unless Dar is sitting on the floor with him and even then seldom. But he likes to be held. It's just the way he is. I don't try to change them, I accept them the way they are.
Hedgehogs are by nature solitary animals and don't really require companionship although some seem to abide by it. If Pleoine dosen't like her then I don't think they should be together. Likewise, if Eowyn dosen't like Meara and you fear for Meara's safety, then don't put them together. I have had Odo for almost two years now and she will not abide ANY other hog, male or female, near her. So she gets her own home and her own play area. I don't try to make her get along with the other two.
Eowyn is being who she is. After a year, I wouldn't hold much hope of her changing. On the other hand, one never knows with a hedgehog so I guess you could keep trying to get her to accept you holding her. I would be very careful of trying to make her like another hedgehog or making another hedgehog like her.

[hedgie girls]

I have two hedgies that are as opposite as day and night. Cuddles is a climber and does not have time to be held or stay still. She would rather climb all over you than be held. Huggles would rather be held and snuggled. She does not like to climb. They are housed seperately because of their personality differences, but we love them both for who they are. So I guess you could say Cuddles does not like to cuddle and Huggles loves to cuddle.