Sleeping Hedgehog : How Do Hedgehogs Sleep? (7 Clear Facts)

Letting a hedgehog is a very unique experience and not many animal lovers dare to accept this challenge. However, those who do often find themselves in a situation where they don’t get enough information about their pet because not every other person would dare to pet an animal that sleeps all day.

Is a sleeping hedgehog normal? A hedgehog would sleep all day and roam and explore during the night. This is their instinct for hedgehogs, even the ones in captivity. Hedgehogs often sleep curled up to protect themselves from cold and predators in the wild. So, if the owner is thinking of adopting a hedgehog, they should be ready for the hedgehog to sleep all day.

Because there is a lack of information, owners often ask various sorts of questions in regards to hedgehogs. Some of the questions are related to sleeping hedgehogs. Let’s get answer to all those questions in detail.

Do Hedgehogs Curl Up When They Sleep?

Yes, most of the time, hedgehogs are seen rolling up when they sleep. This is a natural state of sleep that helps them to stay protected from predators when they are sleeping because their quills abstain predators from touching hedgehogs.

However, a hedgehog doesn’t need to only sleep rolled up, they can change their positions during sleep from being curled up to being stretched out.

A hedgehog is not only seen to sleep rolled up just to stay safe from predators but they are also observed to sleep curled up to preserve their body heat in the cold. This way they keep their body warm in the cold.

How Do Hedgehogs Sleep?

A hedgehog would sleep in different positions, sometimes curled up and sometimes stretched out. A hedgehog will sleep by making a nest.

Hedgehogs are very consistent with their sleeping pattern, so if the owner observes that their hedgehog is sleeping somewhere else, it can be possible that they are not well or need some assistance.

Some owners who provide a bed, make their pet sleep on a hedgehog sleeping bag. If the owner provides various sleeping hedgehog ornament, like bedding, natural elements, it will help in better sleep in hedgehogs.

Can You Wake A Sleeping Hedgehog?

If possible, it is best to not bother a sleeping hedgehog. However, if the hedgehog has been asleep for 12 plus hours, the owner can wake their pet up by gently nudging them.

However, owners should note that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals. If the owner wants to wake their pet in the morning, it would only cause them stress. On average, a hedgehog is awake from 7-8 pm until sunrise.

The owner should try to wake the hedgehog naturally, sometimes the sleeping hedgehog smells food and wakes up, for example.

How Many Hours Should A Hedgehog Sleep?

The sleeping hours of a hedgehog is too long. Being solitary animals, they can sleep for as long as 18 hours a day and that too, they won’t sleep at night because they are nocturnal.

So, owners should be ready for a pet that wakes at night and sleeps during the day. Many owners ask will my hedgehog get wobbly hedgehog syndrome due to poor sleep? No, wobbly hedgehog syndrome is a genetic disorder.

Do Hedgehogs Sleep At Night?

No, hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, they would not sleep at night. A hedgehog would wake up at around 7-8 pm and go to sleep around 4-5 am. They are known to sleep all day.

If the owner is expecting to play with their pet in the daytime, they shouldn’t consider adopting a hedgehog because hedgehogs have a serious day-night routine, which, if disrupted, can cause hedgehog stress symptoms and health issues including, lethargy and stress.

Do Hedgehogs Sleep In A Ball?

Yes, most of the time, owners can see their hedgehog sleeping in a ball. It is a natural way for them to stay protected and stay warmer because their outer body is very strong, it helps them to stay protected from environmental vulnerabilities around them.

What To Do If You Find A Sleeping Hedgehog?

If you find a sleeping hedgehog, it is best to not disturb it. Most probably it would be sleeping during the day and waking up a hedgehog during the day can disrupt their sleep which can cause stress among them. 

To understand what a sleeping hedgehog looks like, the owner can see sleeping hedgehog video online and assess when to not disturb the hedgehog. If you can, you can put aside a sleeping bag for hedgehog, so when they wake up, they can go back to sleep more comfortably.

How To Wake Up A Sleeping Hedgehog?

The owner should not wake their hedgehog during the daytime. This will be bad for the hedgehog. However, if the hedgehog has overslept, the owner can awaken them by gently nudging them. Hedgehogs are light sleepers and will wake up instantly.

Can You Move A Sleeping Hedgehog?

Many owners say that they found a sleeping hedgehog and ask if they can move it? No, it is best to never move a sleeping hedgehog as it can disturb their sleep and stress them out. When an owner wants to move their hedgehog, they should wait for them to wake up.

If you found a hibernating hedgehog, it is highly recommended to never disturbed a sleeping hedgehog. Moving a hibernating hedgehog can be a risk to wake them up and waste the fat that they accumulated for winters. So it is best to let them stay where they are hibernating.

What Does A Sleeping Hedgehog Look Like?

Often trending with a sleeping hedgehog gif, a hedgehog most often sleeps in a curled up position. However, a hedgehog can sleep stretched out or in some other different positions.

However, sleeping curled up is the most common one which is very comfortable for them and it protects them from predators and keeps them warm in winters.

How To Move A Sleeping Hedgehog?

It is recommended to never move a sleeping sack hedgehog. It can disturb their sleep and cause stress among them.

If the owner is asking to move a hibernating hedgehog, it is also not recommended as it consists of the risk of waking them, waking a hibernating hedgehog can cause them to lose their accumulated fat for hibernating in winters, which will be very bad for them.

What Are Sleeping Hours Hedgehog? 

A sleeping cycle of hedgehog can be up to 12-18 hours. A hedgehog sleeps a lot. So owners shouldn’t expect that their cute sleeping hedgehog will be available to play with them all the time as any dog or cat would.

Furthermore, a hedgehog is a nocturnal animal, meaning that it will sleep in the day and roam at night. So owners should expect their hedgehog to sleep from 3-5 am to 6-8 pm.

Owners of pet hedgehogs often ask if they can sleep with their hedgehog? Sleeping with your hedgehog isn’t recommended because they are too small and owners may hurt them while asleep.

How To Draw A Sleeping Hedgehog?

To make a sleeping hedgehog drawing you can take a reference from a sleeping hedgehog gif, which will be easy to make if you are good at drawing. If you are a beginner then sleeping hedgehog pokemon can be used as a reference.

There are many internet references like sleeping hedgehog cartoon or sleeping hedgehog clipart to choose from. Sleeping hedgehog clipart will be easier to make.

Sleeping hedgehogs are considered very cute and often vivid arts sleeping hedgehog are seen together with sleeping hedgehog garden ornament in markets, which are bought by many.

Final Verdict – Sleeping Hedgehog

A hedgehog sleeps around 12-18 hours in the daytime because they are nocturnal animals. Most of the time hedgehogs are seen sleeping curled up.

Many people often find wild hedgehogs sleeping in their garden or somewhere near close, it is highly recommended to never disturb those hedgehogs, as disturbing sleeping hedgehogs can cause serious damage to them together with adding stress to their life, which is an act of cruelty.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet hedgehog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️