HOUSING
I recommend a 105-110qt plastic tote. I get the 105 qt from Wal-Mart. Plastic totes may not be the most appealing cage to look at but they are inexpensive, have a solid bottom, are easy to clean and sanitize, and the safest cage option.
If you are going to use the lid on the plastic tote, you will need to alter the lid to provide proper ventilation. Cutting out the middle section of the lid and zip-tying a piece of hardware cloth works perfectly.
Hedgehogs need well ventilated cages. Aquariums/tanks DO NOT make good cages for hedgehogs. Aquariums were designed to hold water and/or humidity which can lead to respiratory illness.
I also don't recommend cages with bars. Hedgehogs can be climbers and broken legs from bars are not uncommon.
Cages with bars such as the mid west cage and C&C cages can be altered with coroplast so that your hedgie can't climb and injure itself.
Cages with levels aren't recommended. Hedgehogs aren't equipped to climb up ramps. Their eyesight is very poor and they could fall and injure themselves.
BEDDING
- Kiln dried pine pellets (Litter box or on half the cage only, it's not pleasant to walk on)
- Pine shavings
- Aspen
- Fleece
- Carefresh/Paper bedding
Cedar shavings are TOXIC! DO NOT USE CEDAR.
HEATING
Hedgehogs MUST have a constant heat source. Without a heat source hedgehogs will attempt to hibernate, which can be fatal if left untreated.
They must be kept at an ambient temperature of 75-80 degrees.
Heat pads ARE NOT SAFE! Heat pads will not raise the ambient temperature enough and could cause severe burns to your hedgie.
There are only two safe ways to heat a hedgehog.
1.) Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)
A CHE is a bulb that screws into a dome lamp. It does not produce light. Regular heat bulbs produce light and will disrupt the hedgehogs natural sleep cycle.
When using A CHE, you will also need a ceramic dome (plastic dome lamps are not rated for a CHE), probe thermometer and a thermostat to control the temperature.
Links below:
Ceramic Heat Emitter
Ceramic Dome Link
Thermostat Link
Digital Thermometer Link
Hedgehogs MUST have a constant heat source. Without a heat source hedgehogs will attempt to hibernate, which can be fatal if left untreated.
They must be kept at an ambient temperature of 75-80 degrees.
Heat pads ARE NOT SAFE! Heat pads will not raise the ambient temperature enough and could cause severe burns to your hedgie.
There are only two safe ways to heat a hedgehog.
1.) Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE)
A CHE is a bulb that screws into a dome lamp. It does not produce light. Regular heat bulbs produce light and will disrupt the hedgehogs natural sleep cycle.
When using A CHE, you will also need a ceramic dome (plastic dome lamps are not rated for a CHE), probe thermometer and a thermostat to control the temperature.
Links below:
Ceramic Heat Emitter
Ceramic Dome Link
Thermostat Link
Digital Thermometer Link
2.) The other heating option is to heat an entire small room to the appropriate temperature using an electric heater.
When using an electric heater, you will need digital thermometers to make sure that both the room and cage are staying at the correct temperature.
Links below:
Indoor Digital Thermometer
Digital Probe Thermometer
Quartz Heater
2.) The other heating option is to heat an entire small room to the appropriate temperature using an electric heater.
When using an electric heater, you will need digital thermometers to make sure that both the room and cage are staying at the correct temperature.
Links below:
Indoor Digital Thermometer
Digital Probe Thermometer
Quartz Heater
WHEELS
You will need a wheel! Hedgehogs run ALL night! Without a wheel they will get very bored, destructive and overweight.
Silent Spinners are NOT acceptable. They are known to cause injuries! The Silent Spinner has a crack down the middle of the wheel and has been known to pinch off toes. Wire mesh and Bared wheels should also be avoided. The wheel should be appropriate sized and have a solid running space.
Saucer Wheels are made for smaller animals, and often break.
Popular wheel choices can be purchased at:
Carolina Bucket Wheel Link
Kaytee Comfort Wheel Link (Must be the Giant 12" size)
Silent Spinners are NOT acceptable. They are known to cause injuries! The Silent Spinner has a crack down the middle of the wheel and has been known to pinch off toes. Wire mesh and Bared wheels should also be avoided. The wheel should be appropriate sized and have a solid running space.
Saucer Wheels are made for smaller animals, and often break.
Popular wheel choices can be purchased at:
Carolina Bucket Wheel Link
Kaytee Comfort Wheel Link (Must be the Giant 12" size)
INSIDE THE CAGE
You'll need dishes for food and water. I use living world dishes for both food and water.
Dishes Link
Hedgehogs love to tip over their water dish! Water bottles are also acceptable. I've just started making my own bottles, visit the Hedgie Boutique for more info.
You'll need dishes for food and water. I use living world dishes for both food and water.
Dishes Link
Hedgehogs love to tip over their water dish! Water bottles are also acceptable. I've just started making my own bottles, visit the Hedgie Boutique for more info.
TOYS! TOYS! TOYS! Hedgehogs love toys and clutter! PVC Tunnels, fleece forests, foraging mats, stuffed cat toys (catnip is fine), crinkle balls, crinkle disks, rubber duckies, pom poms, Petstages mint sticks, solid plastic balls, etc.
AVOID plastic cat toys with holes and slits, hedgehogs can get their jaw stuck in between the slits.
TOYS! TOYS! TOYS! Hedgehogs love toys and clutter! PVC Tunnels, fleece forests, foraging mats, stuffed cat toys (catnip is fine), crinkle balls, crinkle disks, rubber duckies, pom poms, Petstages mint sticks, solid plastic balls, etc.
AVOID plastic cat toys with holes and slits, hedgehogs can get their jaw stuck in between the slits.
DIET
What you decide to feed to your hedgehog is very important. Choosing the correct diet will help your hedgehog live a long healthy life. A hedgehogs main diet should be a high quality cat food. Commercial diets made for hedgehogs are almost always corn based, poor quality junk food. I don't recommend feeding a commercial hedgehog diet.
There are a few guide lines to follow when finding the perfect mix of food for your hedgehog. The protein must be 35% or lower (Higher protein has been found to cause damage to the liver and kidneys) and fat should be 15% or lower. Active hedgehogs sometimes need a slightly higher fat content, and less active hedgehogs will need a slightly lower fat content to avoid obesity.
Its not a must, but we try not to feed a lot of foods with peas, pea protein, pea fiber, chickpeas, corn, corn meal, soy, lentils and/or wheat in the first FIVE ingredients. These ingredients are found in many foods and are often used as fillers. There is some evidence that too many fillers can cause weakened bones and kidney damage.
Choose your foods wisely. I recommend feeding a mix of at least two quality cat foods. Be sure to read the ingredients to create a mix with the correct percentages of protein and fat. If you need help, please let me know! I’m always happy to help.
Below are some quality foods, some are quite pricey and some are more affordable. Just remember that your hedgehog will only eat 1-2 TBS per day, so it will last much longer than feeding a cat or dog.
Foods without the above fillers in the first 5 ingredients:
American Journey, turkey and chicken recipe, grain free 40% protein, 15% fat
American Journey, chicken recipe, grain free 40% protein, 15% fat
Blue buffalo, indoor health chicken and brown rice 32% protein, 15% fat
Blue indoor, hairball control chicken and brown rice 32% protein 15% fat
Chicken soup for the soul, adult 34% protein 20% fat
Chicken soup for the soul, indoor with hairball care 32% protein 13% fat
Dr. Tim’s, chase all life stages 37% protein 22% fat
Farmina, natural & delicious chicken, grain free 44% protein 20% fat
Farmina, natural & delicious chicken, low grain 36% protein 20% fat
Firstmate, chicken meal with blueberries 36% protein 16% fat
Fromm gold, puppy 27% protein 18% fat
Fromm gold, adult cat 32% protein 18% fat
Go!, fit & free grain free, chicken, turkey & duck 48% protein 18% fat
Merrick, before grain chicken formula, grain free 36% protein 18% fat
Merrick, before grain salmon formula, grain free 36% protein 18% fat
Natural balance, original ultra chicken & salmon 34% protein 17% fat
Natural balance, indoor ultra chicken & salmon 34% protein 14% fat
Orijen, cat & kitten, grain free 40% protein 20% fat
Simply nourish, adult cat chicken and rice recipe 36% protein 16% fat
Victor, mers classic feline multi-pro 32% protein 16% fat
Sportsmix, wholesomes chicken meal and rice 32% protein 14% fat
Examples of other acceptable foods:
Nutro, Max cat, Indoor adult 30% protein 15% fat (great for picky eaters!)
Solid Gold, Katz n Flocken, Lamb and rice 34% protein 12% fat
Solid Gold, Winged Tiger, 30% protein 13% fat
4Health, grain free indoor 32% protein 13% fat
Blue Buffalo, Grain free indoor health 32% protein 13% fat
Diamond Naturals, Indoor 32% protein 14% fat
Natural Balance, Original Ultra, Venison Turkey Lamb 34% protein 14% fat
Rachel Ray, Nutrish, Zero grain Chicken and potato 34% protein 14% fat
My hedgehogs are currently eating a mix of Firstmate, chicken meal with blueberries (which is 36% protein and 16% fat), sportsmix, wholesomes chicken meal and rice (which is 32% protein and 14% fat), Nutro Indoor (Which is 30% protein and 15% fat), and Nutro Adult (which is 32% protein and 17% fat) which makes the overall protein percentage in the mix I feed to be 32.5% and the overall fat percentage to be 15.5%.
To calculate the percentages in a mix of food of equal parts, add the percentages and divide by the number of foods in your mix.
*Our mix frequently changes and may not be up to date*
Hedgehogs are insectivores/opportunistic omnivores, they love bugs and should have a variety of bugs fed atleast once a week. Check the snack list for a list of bugs! *Never feed wild caught bugs.
BATHING
Bathing your hedgehog should only be done when needed. Too many baths can lead to dry skin.
Bathe in a shallow bath of warm water with an unscented, gentle, baby soap. A good one is Aveeno Oatmeal baby soap.
You can use a small toothbrush to lightly brush the quills and nails.
Foot baths can be done in between full baths. Fill the bath with enough water to just cover the feet and lightly brush their feet with a toothbrush.
Nails will need to be clipped! I use small cat clippers from the dollar store or Cuticle clippers. To cut the nails, place your hedgehog on a table or counter and pull out the legs from underneath and trim the nails.
Some hedgehogs refuse to cooperate. For the uncooperative hedgies, you can trim their nails while they are in the bath. They can't ball up in the bath, so it will be easier to trim the nails.
Cat Clippers Link
Cuticle Clippers Link
There have been multiple cases of fungal infections from coconut oil applied topically.
For dry skin, I recommend adding a little flax seed oil to their food rather than putting coconut oil on your hedgehog. A small amount of bag balm applied to the ears can help with dryness and tatters, but I have found that the flaxseed oil works wonderfully.
BONDING
Huffing puffing and popping when you bring your hedgehog home is completely normal. You may even hear some grunts and clicks! The hedgehogs natural defense is to intimidate predators with their popping and grunting and rolling into a ball. It's what hedgehogs do!
Don't be intimidated by your hedgehog. Be confident when handling your new hedgehog. If the huffs and puffs are causing you to not handle your hedgehog, the hedgehog will continue to act this way.
Handle your hedgehog often. Move him or her from hand to hand to get it used to being handled. Hold them face down in your hands. Handling them on their back will likely slow the bonding process because they feel most vulnerable on their backs.
Put your hedgehog in a bonding pouch and place it on your lap when you watch TV, its a great way for your hedgehog to get used to your smells and voice.
Huffing puffing and popping when you bring your hedgehog home is completely normal. You may even hear some grunts and clicks! The hedgehogs natural defense is to intimidate predators with their popping and grunting and rolling into a ball. It's what hedgehogs do!
Don't be intimidated by your hedgehog. Be confident when handling your new hedgehog. If the huffs and puffs are causing you to not handle your hedgehog, the hedgehog will continue to act this way.
Handle your hedgehog often. Move him or her from hand to hand to get it used to being handled. Hold them face down in your hands. Handling them on their back will likely slow the bonding process because they feel most vulnerable on their backs.
Put your hedgehog in a bonding pouch and place it on your lap when you watch TV, its a great way for your hedgehog to get used to your smells and voice.
I offer LIFETIME breeder support. I'm always here to answer any questions you may have. If you ever decide that you can no longer care for your hedgehog, I will ALWAYS take them back! Check the policies! :)
