Hedgie Care Guide

Hegie Shack uses clear storage bins for all of my hedgies, they are the perfect size, maintain heat and are easy to clean! Bigger cages are not always better, hedgies like to have clutter, they feel safer in smaller cluttered areas. Also the bigger the cage the harder it is to heat, you will likely have to provide 2 heat sources to maintain 24-27 degrees. Cages must have a solid plastic bottom, not wire or bare wood. Good choices are large clear plastic storage totes (105 qt minimum). If using storage totes you can connect 2 or more totes together using PVC pipe from the hardware store, get creative and make all sorts of fun designs! Cages should not have ramps or shelves, hedgehogs are clumsy and could fall off! Wire Cages are NOT recommended, they are a strangulation hazard. Hedgies also like to climb, then they fall off, possibly breaking or dislocating limbs. They also do not retain heat very well, are heavy and hard to clean. Aquariums are also not recommended as they lack proper ventilation, build up dangerous ammonia levels and can create hot spots.

Hedgehogs are from warm African climates, the need to be kept at 24-27 C or 76-80 F. Ceramic heat emitting bulbs (aka CHE) are the best options. When using a CHE it is advisable to hook it up to a thermostat so that it doesn't over heat your cage. Your CHE set up should be an 8.5" dome lamp and 100w-150w bulb. Heat lights or heat pads should not be used as the pose risk of over heating and disrupting your hedgehogs light/dark sleep cycle. Temperatures lower than 22 C are considered "cold" for hedgehogs and can result in hibernation, which can be FATAL. The cage should be kept out of drafts for the same reason. Use a digital thermometer to read the temperature inside the cage to make sure it is not too hot or too cold! "Hot Hands" hand warmers are really handy if the power goes out, or if you need to travel with your hedgehog.

 A tear free, baby wash with oatmeal is recommended. If you notice your hedge has dry skin a couple drops of olive or flax seed oil weekly will help! Place the drops on their back and it will disperse. Nail clippers are another must have for hedgehogs as they cannot wear their nails down naturally on their own. A tooth brush works really well for scrubbing annointed on quills and "poop boots"! Hand warmers, used for humans are a great addition to your emergency kit, they will help to keep your hedgehog warm in the event that the power goes out for a long period of time.

You will need to move your hedgehog at some point in their lives, wether you are going to vet check ups or have an emergency situation that they need to be moved.

 I uses about paper bedding in the bottom of the storage tote. Carefresh, Kaytee and other paper based bedding is also a great option, they come in all sorts of fun colours. Stay away from the scented ones. 

DO NOT USE ANYTHING WITH CEDAR WOOD SHAVINGS,

these products will give your hedgie skin and respiratory problems!Store bedding in the freezer for 1-2 days prior to using as some bedding can come with mites! We recommend paper or pine bedding as your baby really will love burrowing in the bedding. Fleece and pee pads do not nurture this instinct. Sprinkle and bury treats in the bedding each week and watch your hedgie forage/dig for it!

Hedgie Shack does NOT recommend putting a wheel in until your baby is around 4 months old, especially if you are trying to litter train your hog. Your new baby is growing and forming habits at this stage so learning where to go potty is important! If your hedgie has a wheel early in life he/she will learn to potty on the run and your wheel will end up needing a cleaning every day! Some hogs cannot help but "go" as they run on their wheels regardless if they are potty trained or not, you will just have to give "foot baths" more often (see bathing sec ion below) to get rid of the "poop boots"! Wheels must be 12" or bigger, they must have a solid plastic running surface. Wire or wheels with holes in the surface are a hazard as their little feet get stuck in the holes! Small wheels can also create back problems for your hedgie!

*If using a ‘Silent Spinnner’ wheel made by Kaytee, we suggest placing tape strips across the seam of the wheel to secure it. They notoriously crack apart and can cut feet or break the tabs that hold it together!*

You can use any sort of low sided dish for food or water. Ceramic, porcelain and glass are your best options, as plastic will sometimes absorb stains and odours. Small animal water bottles can also be used, just make sure they flow a good amount of water. Your hedgehog will be used to using a bottle, but instinctually they will know how to drink water from a dish as well.

Nutrition is very important to your hedgehogs health and longevity! Hedgie Shack believes in feeding appropriate foods and treats! Here we feed our adults a very varied diet of bugs, meat and quality cat kibble. Overall percentages should be around 30% Protein and 15% Fat. we mix multiple types of cat kibble together to create a balanced diet. My hogs also get a tablespoon of different "proteins" like mealworms, mealworm beetles, crickets, wax worms, butter worms, earthworms, quail meat/organs, pinkie mice/rats, chicken, duck... Hedgehogs should have access to their quality cat kibble 24/7 and then eat the bugs/meat as a supplement or treat. **Commercial hedgehog foods, foods that say "Hedgehog Diet" should be avoided, even though they say they are good, they are not!! Most of them are made primarily of "filler" ingredients, and some even include ingredients that are dangerous or toxic to hedgehogs (i.e. nuts/seeds, wood pulp, raisins).**Adult Hedgehogs will eat 1-2 tablespoons of kibble per night, we suggest taking out a couple of cups at a time and storing the rest in the freezer to prevent spoiling. Do not feed wild insects or vegetation to your hog, they could have pesticides or fertilizer residue on them and could poison your hedgie! Yikes!!!