Forever HedgeHugs
​
Tallahassee Florida Hedgehog Breeder
CAGE SET UP
​
Give your hedgehog plenty of room!
The bigger the cage the better it is for your hedgeh@g! :)
​
Be Ready to spend at least $150 on your hedgehog's cage and supplies and add to this high quality diet ($40)
1. Purchase a cage
This should be at least 36" by 18". Do not use Rubbermaid containers or multi leveled cages for your hedgehog. Also wire cages are not recommended because some hedgehogs are escape artists can climb up the wires and get out, also when there is wire on the bottom hedgehogs can break their limbs on it.
​
The bigger the cage/box the better it is for your animal.
​
There are no commercially made homes especially designed for hedgehogs at this time, because they are such a relatively new pet, but GUINEA PIG/ RABBIT CAGES WITH PLASTIC BOTTOM can be suitable for your hedgehog!
​
​
180 (110) quart plastic bins are spacious, easy to clean and offer good security for your hedgehog!
HOUSING ENCLOSURE. If you are handy and have the time and and inclination, you can construct a housing enclosure. tHIS ENCLOSURE SHOULD BE A MINIMUM OF 122x91CM ( 4x3 Ft) with a minimum height of 46cm (18").
​
Neat Cubes (available at places like Target). The Neat Cubes let you build a play area that’s long and rectangular, L-shaped, U-shaped, or a just a really large square. Just fasten the cube squares together (with the round connectors) as you would for storage cubes or for C&C cages. Make sure you to set coroplast not only on the bottom but about 7 inches up the sides, so that your hedgehog could not escape! :)
2
Put your empty cage somewhere warm where there's no drafts and away from large pets.
Be prepared to provide extra heating by placing a space heater or heating lamp by the cage.
Hedgehogs like quiet, noises and smells of other animals stress them out.
3
​
Get bedding.
Aspen or paper bedding like Carefresh are safe. Cedar has been linked to tumors and respiratory problems in hedgehogs and pine causes skin irritations. Some owners like to put fleece blanket on the bottom. We dont recommend to use material, its not as absorbent as aspen shavings and smells. Aspen shavings give hedgehogs opportunity to burrow and hide.
​
​
4
Hiding spots are a must for a hedgehog.
Make it simple. Even a small tube of PVC pipe works like a charm. Hedgehog madly love snuggle sacks, they keep hedgehogs warm. Even a piece of fleece work great.
​
​
5
​
Exercise is also very important!
Wheels are very important for a healthy hedgie life. Make sure to buy a wheel with a solid surface for the hedgehog to run on, and be about 11"(27.9cm) in circumference. Carolina Storm makes good hedgehog-specific wheels, but off-brand wheels work just as well. Go for the non-noise ones because hedgehogs are nocturnal and are very likely to use the wheel at night. Another means of exercise is the balls for other pocket pets. These are great if you are not willing to let you're hedgehog out to roam about your house. The ball should be of a size of a basketball.
​
​
​
​
6.
Obtain a water and food bowl.
Make sure it is heavy enough that your hedghog cannot flip it over. Ceramic is ideal. We do not recommend to use a water bottle. There are stories about hedgehogs amputating their long tongues or breaking their teeth on them, there are also storys of hedgehogs ramming into them and hurting their eye. It feels more natural for a hedgehog to drink out of the dish, rather than from the bottle, plus hedgehog can drink much more water out of a dish than from a bottle. Use a bottle if your hedgehog is super messy and gets dish dirty every night with aspen shavings. :) If you decide to purchase a water bottle, get one of the size sold for rabbits. However, until you are sure that your pet knows how to drink from the bottle, be sure to inculde a regular open water vessel. Invest in a quality bottle because the cheaper models tend to drip and soak the floor substrate near them.
​
​
7.
You can buy a litter box!
they will most likely use it. Make sure to set it up under the silent wheel.
​
​
8.
Purchase Digital Scale!
You will need to weigh your hedgehog friquently to make sure it maintains a healthy weight. Weight is #1 indicator of that your hedgehog might be ill.
​
It's a natural survival instinct for wild animals to be stoic and hide their pains and illnesses as well as possible, so they do not appear weak or vulnerable to predators. That is why it is often difficult to know when your hedgehogs is sick until the ilness has progressed to the point that your pet can no longer hide it.
Here is a suggested scale brand:
EatSmart Precision Pro - Multifunction Digital Kitchen Scale w/ Extra Large LCD , 11 Lb
​
​
Important!
​
Please Keep Your Hedgehog Warm!
78-80 degrees!
​
​
​
9.
Purchase heating Element!
​
The cage should be fitted with a lamp suspended over, or in front of a cage. Place the lamp at one end of the cage so that if your pet gets too hot, it can move to a more comfortable heat level. The cage should be itted with a thermometer, and it is preferable that the lamp is wired through a thermostat so the temperature can be maintained at a constant level. In emergency , you can use a regular light bulb as a heat source. Make sure your hedgehog has a nestbox so that it can retreat from the glare of such a lamp.
​
Heating Element consists of 4 components:
1.Fluckers Clamp Lamp with switch 180Watt ( 8.5" in diameter) (~$15 online)
2.Ceremic Heat Emitter Bulb 100Watt (this bulb will only project heat and No light!) ~$8.00 online
3.Zilla Terrarium Heat and Habitat Lighting Controller for Reptiles (it's not available in stores, you can only purchase it online on sites like Amazon/Ebay) ~$20.00
4. Digital Thermometer with wire lead for cage temperature (available in any pet stores and online) ~$10.00
​
​
​
Cages you shouldn't buy for your hedgehog!
​
​
​
​
​
NO RABBIT WIRE CAGES!
Hedgehogs are NOT rodents and can't live on wire bottom cages. It can cause serious injuries to their feet and toes.
​
​
NO FERRET OR CHINCHILLA
MULTI LEVEL CAGES!
Ramps and cages with different levels are not good for hedgehogs. They require more floor space than height. Also, they have poor eye sight and can walk right off the edges, risking serious injuries and possibly death.
​
​
NO HAMSTER SMALL CAGES
Hamsters cages are NOT the adequate size not habitat for a hedgehog. TOO SMALL! :(
​
​
NO GLASS AQUARIUMS!
Glass aquariums supply poor ventilation, hold humidity (which can lead to URI's) and don't retain heat as well as plastic tub. They are also extremely heavy and hard to clean. Because of the ammonia build up. it's also hard to disinfect and clean tanks appropriately.
​
​
Good Luck!
Now you are finally ready for your prickly friend! ;)
​
​