Temperature question

[shirleytx]

I am in the thinking and planning stage of possibly getting a hedgehog. I am wondering how I am going to maintain a suitable temperature for my hedgie without melting my husband. My husband doesn't like to have the house above 70/72, (he's warm blooded) what methods have people found that have worked to heat just the hedge hog's environment without overheating the house? I have read so much variation in the ideal environment temperature ranging from 65-80 degrees. After reading here I am guessing it needs to be at the higher end of that. So if I had a thermometer next to a hedgehog’s cage what should I be aiming at?

[horse_chic89]

you could purchase a heating pad, that will help alot!! it really should be 75+

[PeaceB2U]

I keep the room closed off so that it will keep in the heat and I use a small electric heater as needed. I always maintain a temperature between 75-80 degrees.

[Kerrie]

The heating pad will keep mostly the bottom of his cage warm. The room that you are housing your hedgie should be kept warm and free of drafts. The room my hedgies are in is kept between 75 and 80 degrees. I have never used a cage heating device. I have a small electric heater that needs to be kept on pretty much all day and night to maintain the temperture. You also should have a light on in their room for about 12 hours a day and off the other 12 hours to prevent any hibenation attempts.
Edit: Sorry Peace...we overlapped.:laugh:

[Kalandra]

I do about the same as Kerrie is. I'm using an electric oil-filled radiator style heater in a closed room to keep the heat about 74 degrees. I've never used a heating pad or any other device in the cage unless I have a sick hedgehog. And I use full spectrum lighting for 12 hrs a day.

[shirleytx]

A closed off room is difficult as my house is very open plan. I do have bedrooms that have doors obviously but I didn't think it would be good to keep him/her isolated from the family. UMMM .

[Kerrie]

Actually most hedgies like quiet areas, and they will be sleeping most of the day away anyway. At night when they wake up, you can always take them out of the room and you and your family can spend some quality time with them in another part of your home. Just set up a little play area. You can use a small animal playpen, or a large plastic kiddie pool.(that's what we use) or just hedgie proof some area and let them free roam.
Hope that helps! :)

[teela1342]

Spot heating (like a heating pad) is okay, but only if the hedgie stays in one place. He needs to be warm while he is up and active too. 65 degrees is too low. I keep Jake at 75. Really the temp shouldn't go below 70. You risk the hedgehog attempting hibernation, which weakens their immune system and even kills them.

Don't worry about the hedgehog feeling secluded from the family. They are solitary animals anyway. Your hedgie would much more appreciate a calm, quiet, warm place to sleep the day away. A smaller room would also be easier to heat and less prone to drafts.

I have a cheap electric heater in my bedroom for Jake. It has a basic thermostat so I don't have to constantly monitor the temp.

[Hedge_girl]

The most common temp I've heard recommended is 75 degF. My husband has the same problem yours does. I use a ceramic heat lamp (150W Zoo Meds ceramic heat emitter) over Alina's cage and supply a Snuggle Safe disk for spot heat near her bedding area (it's like a heating pad but can hold heat for much longer.) If there is not a draft in the room where you will keep your hedgie, a strong heat lamp (like the one I mentioned) can cause a temperature increase of a few degrees.
However you go, you will want to get a thermometer for the cage area to make sure you are maintaining a safe temperature.

[Eowyn]

How well do those ceramic heat lamps works? I'm getting a hedgie soon and need to figure out how to keep the room warm enough. Do regular heat lamps work, or am I better off spending more money to get a ceramic one? Or is there another option?
Thanks!