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Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? (And Can They See in the Dark?)

Are Hedgehogs Nocturnal? (And Can They See in the Dark?)

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The purpose of this blog is to share general information and is written to the author's best knowledge. It is not intended to be used in place of veterinary advice. For health concerns, please seek proper veterinary care. In addition, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hedgehogs are such cute little pets. So many people have fallen in love with their pet hedgehogs due to how adorable they are.

You might simply be considering buying one right now. It’s wise to take a step back and learn about potential new pets to ensure that they will be a good fit for your home.

Are you wondering whether hedgehogs are nocturnal? Do these pets mostly sleep during the day?

Is it practical to own one if you’re going to sleep all night? Read on to learn more about hedgehogs and what their sleeping schedules are like.

Hedgehogs Are Nocturnal

Hedgehogs are nocturnal pets that will sleep during the day and be more active at night. They’ll be sleeping all day, and they can sleep for quite a long time.

Some hedgehogs are known to sleep for up to eighteen hours per day. Most hedgehogs will only sleep between twelve and fourteen hours a day, though.

When a hedgehog first enters a home, it’ll likely sleep and hide more often. As it gets accustomed to its new environment, it’ll come out more and stay awake for a bit longer.

Some people find hedgehogs to be less than ideal pets due to their sleeping schedules. If you go to bed at a decent time and wake up in the morning to go to work, you might not interact with the hedgehog much at all.

Why Are They Nocturnal?

Why is it that hedgehogs are nocturnal? Is there a big reason why these animals need to operate during the night?

Simply put, hedgehogs have adapted to be more active at night. Their senses are attuned to the night.

They’re so good at operating during the night that it’s more practical for them to do so. Hedgehogs can have an easier time looking for food and getting around at night.

Their senses, such as sight, smell, and hearing, seem to work better at night. Also, there’s less animal activity at night, so it makes it easier for these little animals to do what they need to do.

A hedgehog can more easily travel at night when looking for food. This allows them to cover longer distances before stopping and sleeping during the day.

Can Hedgehogs See in the Dark?

Hedgehogs seem to see better at night than they do during the day. However, saying that they can see in the dark is a bit of a stretch.

It appears that these animals have slightly better vision at night than they do during the day. They still don’t have great eyesight, though.

Hedgehogs mostly rely on their hearing and sense of smell to get where they need to go. Sight is important, but these animals don’t have fantastic eyesight.

Even so, it’s interesting to note that hedgehogs are better at getting around at night. Part of it is due to it being safer for them to move around at night, but their senses do work best at night as well.

Spend Time with Pet Hedgehogs During the Evening

The best way to spend time with your pet hedgehog is to do so during the evening. These pets will usually wake up and come out sometime after the sun has set.

So you can spend a bit of time playing with your pet hedgehog during the evening hours. This is convenient for people who work standard nine-to-five schedules.

You can get home from work and spend a little time with your pet hedgehog after dinner. The sun should set a bit after you finish dinner if you keep a normal schedule.

For some, it won’t be as practical to have pet hedgehogs. For example, if you work the third shift, you might never see your little pet.

When Should You Feed Pet Hedgehogs?

Feeding pet hedgehogs during the evening hours is the best. Wait until the sun goes down and your pet has stopped sleeping.

You can then interact with the pet a bit and give it food. Never try to wake the hedgehog up during the day to feed it.

Hedgehogs have natural sleep schedules, and you should allow them to keep them. There’s no reason to go against the grain and try to get your hedgehog to eat while the sun is up.

You’ll get used to feeding your pet hedgehog during the evening after some time has passed. Your pet will likely be eating just a bit after you eat your dinner.

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