Hedgehogs curl into spiky balls when they’re nervous or scared as a defense mechanism against prevailing predators in their environment. While predators are rare in domesticated settings, this behavior still occurs when they feel threatened, and even nervous handling by humans can trigger that.

This article focuses on how to get hedgehogs to uncurl by revealing the tried and tested techniques to induce relaxation. We discuss how to hold hedgehogs confidently to minimize the risks of curling up into a ball in your presence as well as the best ways of bonding with them to guarantee they feel less threatened.

How to Get Hedgehogs to Uncurl

Allowing water to trickle down the hedgehog’s back, lowering it into a shallow bathtub of water, or simply putting it in a pan of warm water are effective ways to get hedgehogs to uncurl. Rubbing your hedgehog’s quills gently or with the eraser end of a pencil in a circular motion is another effective technique for getting them to come out.

Witnessing your hedgehogs curling up may be a beautiful sight that provides some reassurance that their body is functioning properly. But they cannot remain curled up forever because eating, sleeping, and other vital activities cannot be neglected permanently.

Hedgehogs may also curl up during a trip to the vet’s and this can interfere with the ability to conduct various tests and procedures. The vet may use any of the techniques below to get them to uncurl for effective diagnoses and treatments.

10 Top Methods To Get Your Hedgehogs To Uncurl

The key to getting hedgehogs to uncurl is to stimulate relaxation and as long as your efforts are successful, it is only a matter of time before the goal is achieved.

1. Dipping Them in Shallow Bathtub Water Can Encourage Uncurling

If your hedgehog has curled up into a ball in your presence, it is vital to dip them into a shallow bathtub of warm water. The feeling of the warm water can calm down their nerves instantly resulting in uncurling without any additional effort on your part.

Some hedgehogs may be stubborn and try to delay coming out as much as possible but just stay patient and watch the situation unfold. Avoid touching or trying to force them to come out as that could result in severe quill poking accidents.

2. Letting Water Trickle Down Their Backs Gets Hedgehogs To Come Out

Hedgehogs feel relaxed during physical contact with water and getting them to uncurl can be as simple as letting water trickle down their backs. The water quantity does not have to be excessive but it should be enough for them to feel the physical contact.

Also, the water can be warm or even at room temperature. Coldwater is not recommended because it could trigger colds or even hypothermia.

3. Gentle Bounces Uncurls Balled Up Hedgehogs

Making gentle bounces while holding your hedgehog is another smart method for getting them uncurled. It simply requires bouncing your hands up and down by an inch repeatedly.

Eventually, the hedgehog caves into coming out of its ball to investigate the underlying reason behind the consistent up and down bounces.

4. Shallow Pan of Warm Water Induces Hedgehog Uncurling

Dipping a curled-up hedgehog in a shallow pan of warm water provides amazing results when you want them uncurled. The feeling of warm water has a relaxation effect that eases their fears and reduces nervousness.

Uncurling occurs naturally after a few seconds in the water without you having to do anything else.

5. Slight Downward Angle Handling

Hedgehogs are slick little animals and sometimes you have to trick them into believing the worst is about to happen to stimulate uncurling. One of the best methods is to hold them at a slightly downward angle that appears as if they’re about to fall.

This can trigger curiosity as they stick their heads out to find out if they’re indeed about to fall resulting in unintentional uncurling in the process.

6. Blowing Air In Their Faces

Hedgehogs are extremely curious animals especially after curling up into spiky balls. Blowing air in their faces is an effective method that can get them to stick out their heads to figure out what is going on. Their eyesight is poor so recognizing you is out of the question.

Blowing air in their faces could also have a relaxing effect which may force them to uncurl. This is especially more effective in an environment devoid of additional stress triggers like loud noises.

7. Hand Rubbing The Quills

One of the best ways to get hedgehogs to uncurl is to hold them on your lap with one hand and use the other to gently rub the quills. This can stimulate agitated hedgehogs to enjoy a sudden calming experience resulting in uncurling.

Be careful with this method because the quills stand upright when uncurled increasing the risk of poking accidents that could cause pain. If you’re unsure of how to hold them well to minimize the risk of pokes, you may have to focus on other less risky methods.

8. Speak to Your Hedgehog Gently To Uncurl

Talking to your hedgehog softly while he’s lying down in your palms can result in a successful uncurling. This tactic is more effective in stress-free environments without noise or other disturbances. Hedgehogs often learn their owner’s voices so hearing that in a soft tone may calm them enough to uncurl.

9. Nose to Nose Contact

Many hedgehog owners report nose-to-nose contact as one of the quickest ways to stimulate uncurling. It involves bringing your nose close to where their nose would be and once they smell you, they quickly come out of their balls.

10. Tempting Hedgehogs With Mealies Can Get Them Uncurled

Holding out a mealie close enough to their mouths such that they can smell them without physical contact could get hedgehogs to come out of their balls pretty quickly. Tempting them with mealies works well since they love eating them and they’re often in a hurry to enjoy the treat.

How To Prevent Hedgehogs From Curling Up

Curling up is a defensive technique that helps hedgehogs stay alive in the wild due to the regular predatory attacks from larger animals. Here are a few methods to prevent or at least minimize the frequency of curling in domesticated hedgehogs.

Confident Handling Minimizes Curling Up

You cannot be a proper hedgehog parent without learning how to handle them confidently. Hedgehogs can sense when their handler is nervous which causes them to also feel nervous resulting in a reflex curling up.

It can take some effort but learning how to handle hedgehogs confidently could be beneficial for both parties and minimize the risk of defensive curl-ups.

Familiarity with Your Scent Could Reduce Hedgehog Curl Ups

Hedgehogs may only see the outline of your body but cannot recognize you by face. They rely on your scents to differentiate you from others and this explains why allowing them to get familiar with your smell is so important.

We recommend holding them without hand gloves which allows uninhibited smelling of your hands so they can recognize your scents quickly. Also, avoid changing hand creams, body lotions, and perfumes regularly to avoid throwing them off your scent and mistaking you for a potential intruder.

Do Hedgehogs Curl Up When Hibernating?

Hedgehogs curl up in a ball when hibernating and this is often characterized by a lack of movement. Most curled-up hedgehogs uncurl themselves when they’re sure of no imminent danger in their environments or after engaging them in any of the nerve-calming techniques outlined above.

Hibernating is uncommon in pet hedgehogs unlike those in the wild that may be forced to move their bodies into a state of torpor to preserve energy and other resources during periods of extreme cold. However, caged hedgehogs sometimes hibernate and you should always be alarmed if your hedgehog is taking too long to uncurl.

Attempts at hibernating in pet hedgehogs should be thwarted by providing immediate body heat since the results can be fatal. Unlike wild hedgehogs, domesticated breeds lack the required diets to survive hibernation and could end up dead. (Source)

How Long Do Hedgehogs Take to Uncurl?

Uncurling in hedgehogs is a quick process that takes 10 seconds or less unless they get suddenly alarmed or shocked during the process. If your hedgehog takes too long to uncurl, that could be a sign of trouble.

How Do Hedgehogs Curl Into a Ball?

Hedgehogs curl into a ball when they feel threatened or nervous and this typically occurs in new environments where they may be exposed to unfamiliar scents. They have strong back muscles that promote curling up by enabling them to spread their quills.

The quill spreading process activates a new lease of energy making their backs stronger until they curl up into a strong spiky ball that is almost impossible to open up to protect their soft underbellies which are typically targeted by predators.

Attempts at physical contact ensure poking of the spikes into the predator’s body to fend it off. New hedgehogs curl up quite often after arrival because of uncertainties over what lies ahead for them. But they tone down on the frequency as they get more familiar with your scent and come to appreciate that you mean no harm.

How Do You Pick Up A Scared Hedgehog?

Always pick up scared hedgehogs confidently to minimize the risk of spooking them further. They can tell when you’re nervous which makes them more nervous and increases their need to curl up into balls.

Why is My Hedgehog Curled Up and Not Moving?

A hedgehog curled up and not moving could be stressed or scared due to a perception of imminent environmental threats. They often uncurl once the threats are no longer valid in their opinion.

Conclusion

Hedgehogs can be uncurled by engaging in activities that calm their nerves, including blowing air in their faces, dipping them in water, or gently rubbing their quills with your hands. Speaking softly to them, rubbing their spikes in a circular motion with the eraser end of a pencil, or bouncing them up and down in your hands are alternative methods.

Hedgehogs will have no problem coming out of their balls once they’re sure of safety in their environment. Just find a way to calm them down and they’ll respond positively.