Got my hedgie!!! whats he doing...

[HeDgEhOgSzzzzzz]

I just got My hedgehog but when I try to touch him he sneezes and jumps into the air... whats he doing? Hes also pooing a lot. :dunno:

[illinidairychic]

The sneeze and popping is their "back off" noise. They do this when they are scared and haven't gotten use to you, although some never grow out of it or stop doing it. Usually the more you work with them the more relaxed they become and they will stop doing this. I have a few that still do it when I first wake them up but once I'm holding them they are perfectly content. Try using a small blanket to pick your hedgie up with at first to protect your hands and prevent you from dropping it. Also the pooping a lot is a baby thing. If you have a hedgehog that is younger it will almost always without a doubt poop when you get it out. Even older hedgehogs tend to poop when they first get up. I try to wake mine up a couple minutes before I want to take them out. Let them go the bathroom in their cage and then take them out. It tends to cut down a bit on the pooping all over the play pen area. I hope that helps :)

[keeja820]

Lily still pops and makes those noises sometimes, but usually calms down after awhile!

[HedgeMom]

It's a hiss, not a sneeze. She's a baby, she'll poop a lot until she gets some bladder/bowel control as she grows up.

Leave her alone for a few days as to not stress her. Then start working on your relationship.

[razzle]

I just got My hedgehog but when I try to touch him he sneezes and jumps into the air... whats he doing? Hes also pooing a lot. :dunno:

He'll get used to you and hopefully will hiss and jump less with time. My boy still will hiss and jump on occassion (when there is a loud noise or if he is disturbed while sleeping!).

Congrats on your new baby!! Do you have a name for him yet ??

[jeffbot]

My Olive does that, especailly when i actually get her into my hands, ilke right when i'm about to pick her up. It seems she times it for maximum discomfort to me, its sort of a fun game for her. hehe.

[HamorHollow]

Leave her alone for a few days as to not stress her. Then start working on your relationship.

I disagree. My take on the matter is that you should act as normal as possible with your hedgehog from the start. No sense in them having to adjust to the surroundings and then again to you.

Besides, you wouldn't adopt a child and then lock it in its room for a few days so it can get used to its surroundings. That being said, don't over do it either. You hedgehog wants some private time too.

And poop happens. now they are little and more frequent. Later they will be bigger and less frequent. Just remember that when they wake up and get their system moving, their bowels start moving too. If this bothers you, let your hedgehog run in an empty bath tub for about 15 mins or so. It's not a guarantee that they will be empty.

[HedgeMom]

Besides, you wouldn't adopt a child and then lock it in its room for a few days so it can get used to its surroundings.

Are you sure? :rofl:

[HamorHollow]

Are you sure? :rofl:

LOL! Ok, I guess that depends on the child and the level of terror it is capable of! :high5: