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Suitable Housing for Your Hedgehog
Hopefully, before you bring your new hedgehog home, you will have adequate housing for him. Housing for hedgehogs doesn’t necessarily have to take up a great deal of space. It does, however, need to be good enough to contain him. Most hedgehogs are known as escape artists.
Plastic or glass containers should be your first choices. Wire cages are seldom suitable for hedgehogs, even if they have solid floors. Small hedgehogs are known for getting their heads caught between the bars. If you are using plastic or glass enclosures make sure that you keep them out of the sun as they can get too hot and injure or kill your hedgehog. Large aquariums with mesh tops are ideal for hedgehogs.
Of course, housing your hedgehog entails more than a suitable enclosure. You must also consider what is required inside of the enclosure. One of the first things you will need is a source of heat, unless you keep the room where your hedgehog is housed between 75 and 85 degrees. You can provide your hedgehog with a heating pad, placed under his bedding.
The bottom of the enclosure should be covered with bedding materials. Avoid using cedar wood chips, as these chips cause respiratory problems. Suitable materials include aspen shavings, newspaper, and pelleted paper. All types of bedding can be purchased from your local pet store, or from online sources. Price will be a concern, because bedding has to be replaced often.
If your hedgehog is litter trained, or being litter trained, he will require a litter box, which should have appropriate litter material for hedgehogs, such as non-clumping cat litter, wood shavings, or shredded newspaper.
Your hedgehog will need at least one place inside his cage that is designated for sleeping. It should be soft, and it should allow him to hide while sleeping. Many hedgehog owners like to use Hedgie Bags, which can be purchased in pet stores, or online. You can also provide your hedgehog with igloos, which are essentially small, plastic bowls turned upside down, with a doorway cut out.
Of course, he needs toys and his exercise wheel, but he also needs plenty of room to move around. He will enjoy pushing and pulling his toys, and he will also enjoy a bit of climbing. Just make sure that he cannot get out of his cage through the top, but don’t close it off in a way that cuts down his ventilation.
Finally, your hedgehog will need food and water dishes. Instead of a water dish, however, you may opt for a water bottle, if your hedgehog will use a water bottle. Crock bowls are ideal for food and water, and they should be cleaned and refilled daily.
The hedgehogs cage should be cleaned out at least once a week, although you will have fewer problems with odor if you make it a point to clean out the hedgehogs housing twice a week, and if you scoop the litter box, or remove feces and wet paper daily.
Hedgehogs, Hedgehogs information, Hedgehog tips, Hedgehog pets, Hedgehog advice
Next Article: First Aid for Hedgehogs
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