Hedgehogs need to have cage temperatures that stay around 75-80 F. We recommend a 100 or 150 watt ceramic heat emitter bulb with a dome clamp lamp. It can't be a basking bulb as those can actually get too hot. The red or blue bulbs are also not recommended because the light can disrupt their day/night cycle. Heat mats are another popular choice, we do not recommend them as we've had issues with them over heating or not heating bigger cages to the proper temperatures. Ambient temperature in the cage is better than having only one spot that is at the correct temps. Thermostats are fantastic to help with this as well, they will monitor the temperatures in the cage and shut off if it gets to warm as well as showing you what the temperature is currently. If hedgehogs get too cold, they may attempt to hibernate which can lead to death in as little as a few hours. If your hedgehog looks wobbly or disoriented it can be a sign of hibernation, warming them up with skin to skin contact until Hot Hands or a replacement heater can make all the difference.
There are many choices for suitable cages and even more that are marketed or listed as hedgehog cages that are awful. It really boils down to making sure you are happy with the way the cage looks, the hedgehog is safe, and there's enough room to have all the cool stuff your prickle butt loves. Guinea pig sized cages are popular, the Midwest and C&C being the most common. Multi-tiered cages can be dangerous, however, when altered to have ledges or sides that would prevent them from falling one extra tier, they can be acceptable habitat. Budget-friendly setups can be as simple as a clear plastic tote, which are great for holding in heat as well as being super easy to clean. We use 113qt hefty plastic totes for our hedgehogs.
Suitable Cages:
There are multiple choices to line the bottom of your hedgehogs enclosure. We recommend fleece and use it for our herd. Fleece is reusable, affordable and helps keep their skin healthy. Litter pans can be placed in corners or under their wheel to help keep the cage clean, while they usually are not 100% potty trained, a litter tray can help keep the bathroom area focused in a smaller spot. Paper bedding is another popular choice and works well for odor absorption.
Cedar and Clay cat litter are not acceptable and can cause your hedgehog to get an upper respiratory infection as well as be fatal.
Hedgehogs love to run! Wheels help keep them entertained and healthy. They need the large size with a solid bottom to prevent any injuries to their backs or feet. Carolina Storm wheels are the most popular for their durability and they are super quiet.
Heavy ceramic dishes are great for holding food and water. Sipper bottles are a good choice but can cause issues with smaller babies and cause dehydration if they can't work the ball at the end of the nozzle well enough.
We recommend offering a full bowl once a day for smaller hedgehogs or adults that aren't overweight. If they start to get chunky and need to cut back 2 tbsp a night of the dried food is more than enough. Our food is a mix of Spikes Ultra Plus Hedgehog Food from Pet Pro Products and Purina One Tender Selects Chicken cat food. If you'd like to feed a different diet, please research your anticipated diat as the foods that are available for hedgehogs in pet stores can be pretty awful. We recommend using a high protein cat food if you're in need of an alternative.
Mealworms are a great treat but shouldn't be fed in excess. They are high in phosphorous and can cause issues with metabolic bone disease long term.
Our hedgehogs get a full bath once a month, and we do toe nail trims at the same time. Put luke-warm water in a container or sink high enough for the hedgehog to still be able to touch the bottom. Soap can be used but is not necessary; Aveeno baby oatmeal wash is great to help with dry skin. Use a toothbrush to get any dirt or poop out of their quills or feet. We like to use infant clippers to trim the nails but cat nail clippers also work well.
If you are local, we do offer fee trims until you feel comfortable doing it on your own.
Please be patient when you get your new pet home. The first few days can be very scary with all the new smells and sounds. It's still very important to get your hedgehog out for at least 30 min a day. Even if they are huffing at you in a ball, they are still getting used to your smell, their environment and that when you get them out they are safe. They have terrible eyesight and use their noses and scent for most things.
We will go over specific handling techniques at pickup, if you are concerned with handling them when they are grumpy.
Copyright © 2024 Quirky Quills Hedgehogs - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.