Hedgehog Cage Checklist  The essentialsYour long-awaited hedgehog is finally ready for his new home. It's always so exciting to bring home a new hedgehog, but do you have everything you need? We've included our checklist, as well as where to purchase, to ensure you have the proper hedgehog set-up. While there are alternative cage, bedding, and hide-away options, we included the options that we've found are the most comfortable and easiest to clean for your new companions. The Cage Recommendation: Sterilite Clear Storage Bin (min. 100 qt) Available at: Target, Walmart, Amazon The ideal hedgehog cage is large enough for how active hedgehogs are. They can run miles on their wheel each night! We prefer the Sterilite bins because they are very easy to clean. Not pictured, but we recommend a well ventilated lid for your cage. You can drill holes in the Sterilite lid to ensure proper airflow. Hedgehogs are capable of climbing and some like to get adventurous if given the chance. The Wheel Recommendation: Kaytee Large Comfort Wheel Available at: Walmart, Amazon, Local Pet Stores Hedgehogs run multiple miles at night. Hedgehogs can also be prone to obesity, so it is essential that they have a proper wheel to exercise on. Be sure to get a large wheel with a solid floor. Wire wheels are not safe for hedgehogs as they can get their small feet and toes stuck in between the wires and holes. The Bedding Recommendation: Yesterday's News Unscented Cat Litter and Fibercore Eco-Bedding Yesterday's News available at: Walmart, Amazon, Chewy, Local Pet Stores Eco-Bedding available at: Walmart, Amazon, Tractor Supply Co. You want a safe and comfortable bedding for your hedgehog. We prefer the Yesterday's News non-clumping unscented cat litter (do not substitute normal cat litter), since it seems to be much more absorbent and odor resistant than when we used shavings. They also enjoy the Eco-Bedding to move around and build nests out of. (Note: if you purchase Eco-Bedding in a 10lb box, it is A LOT of bedding and will last you a very long time for just one hedgehog.) You can also use pine shavings, but do not use cedar shavings or anything with cedar in it as it is toxic to hedgehogs. The Hideout Recommendation: Kaytee Small Animal Igloo - Large Available at: Walmart, Amazon, Petsmart, Local Pet Stores Hedgehogs love to be able to burrow, and feel safe during the day. The hideout is an essential part of their habitat. We prefer the plastic igloos since they are durable, easy to clean, and allow for the hedgehog to bring in and remove bedding. Sometimes fabric hideouts can get dirty and fibers may wrap around the hedgehogs legs if they get worn down. Food & Water Available at: Walmart, Amazon, Pet Stores For water, we recommend water bottles and our hoglets will be used to drinking out of a bottle by the time they arrive home. While bowls are fine, hedgehogs love to burrow and often times this leads to dumping out the water and soiling their bedding. Any basic small animal food bowl will do. What to avoidJust as important as the essential items, there are items that seem like a good idea, but need to be avoided for the safety of your hedgehog. These items include, but are not limited to:
4 Comments
Heather L Ellis
5/24/2022 10:41:33 am
I am working to ensure we have any modification to our existing habitat in place for a baby and notice that there is no reference to heat source in your guidance. Our prior hedgie came with an elaborate thermostat/heat emitting lamp set up and a heating pad under the bed portion of the set up (his was 2 sterilite containers hooked together by a tunnel.) We rarely found it necessary to have the thermostat engaged and the lamp was a nightmare to keep in order. But the heating pad was always in place, both his main and his "working with mom" set up. I would love to hear your feedback on temperature control. tidbit - we don't keep our home chilly, except at night, but modified our typical pattern of heat and air to keep the air temp at a happy hedgie level. Thanks!
Heather L Ellis
5/24/2022 10:49:56 am
I just found your space heater recommendation under the care guidance. Sorry I hadn't gotten that far, since we have had one I was less curious about the basics. more curious about keeping the environment similar for transition when it is our turn. 5/24/2022 01:37:26 pm
Heather, this is a great question. I would say it depends on how the room in your home that you keep the hedgehog heats/cools. For us, our hedgehogs are in a separate, smaller room, on a floor of our house that is already at least at 72 degrees. From there, I have a small space heater that heats the room up to 80 degrees. (I recommend plugging the space heater into something like this https://www.amazon.com/Century-Thermostat-Controller-Germination-40-108%C3%82%C2%B0F/dp/B01I15S6OM/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=bn+link+digital+heat+mat+thermostat+controller&qid=1653413405&sprefix=bn+link+digi%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-5, which will not let the space heater run above whatever temperature you set). Too much heat will kill much faster than too cold - so be vigilant to make sure that any heat source is not getting and staying too hot. You can even get bluetooth thermostats that will notify you if the temperature range gets above/below the bounds you have set. I realize not everyone can negotiate a whole room to the hedgehogs or the base temperature being in the upper 70s. If that is the case, you can do a heat lamp, similar to reptiles. I recommend plugging into the thermostat controller mentioned above to prevent over heating. You can also use a heating blanket under the cage. It is very important that the heating blanket is not the entire bottom of the cage in case it gets too hot, the hedgehog needs to be able to go somewhere else. I hope this helps! 11/15/2022 03:20:56 am
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AuthorRachel, the owner of Penny's Prickly Pigs has been breeding hedgehogs since 2008, and owned hedgehogs off and on for 23+ years. We maintain a small herd to focus on quality and personality. We track pedigrees on all of our hedgehogs. You Might likeHedgehog Care: Everything you need to know
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