Prospective Hedgie Owner

[Sylverwynde]

Hello Everyone!

If everything goes as planned, I should be getting my first Hedgie from Bob early next month. I know there are lists and lists suggesting things to buy, but I wanted to ask you for your opinions.

For example, the hedgie I get will be living in the solarium (the only room in the apartment that has an independent temperature - the rest of the place has radiators, this is a newer addition so it has an electric heater). Since the best place for the cage is on a trunk near the patio door, I need a cage that is safe from drafts (one of my roomates smokes, so he goes outside in all weathers to indulge his habit). I saw one in a pet store near me (Safari in Place Versailles in Montreal) that had an opaque plastic bottom and a clear plastic top with large air holes on the roof - does this sound like a good buy, or should I go for the more expensive aquarium?

See? I need lots of help! Any you can give would be appreciated.

Gotta get back to work - lunch is over! :winkgrin:

[paris26]

The cage type is totally up to you, the more ventilation the better so I never recommend tanks.
I would also reconsider placement of the cage. Drafts+hedgehogs= sick animal or hibernation attempts.
Is it possible to put the cage in your room?

[Nancy]

Just make sure that whatever cage you decide on is high enough for a wheel. Some of those cages like you describe with the clear plastic sides and ventilated top are too low for a suitably sized wheel. :)

[Love4Hedgies]

You can use things like heating pads, small electric heaters, heating disks, etc to add extra warmth to your hedgie's home. I would not recommend keeping him/her in a drafty location for reasons mentioned above. Let us know if you have anymore questions about food, toys, bedding, etc... :)

[Sylverwynde]

The cage type is totally up to you, the more ventilation the better so I never recommend tanks.
I would also reconsider placement of the cage. Drafts+hedgehogs= sick animal or hibernation attempts.
Is it possible to put the cage in your room?

I could always exchange the location of the TV and the chest, that would get the hedgie out of possible drafts. Make it harder to see the TV, though, but who cares.

There is absolutely no way I could put it in my room - there's no room. I suppose it could live in the office, but there's MUCH less light there and no way to keep the room warmer should there be a need.

[Sylverwynde]

You can use things like heating pads, small electric heaters, heating disks, etc to add extra warmth to your hedgie's home. I would not recommend keeping him/her in a drafty location for reasons mentioned above. Let us know if you have anymore questions about food, toys, bedding, etc... :)

Heating pads won't cause a problem? I mean, putting the cage on a heating pad (which I believe I read about somewhere) won't cause the pad to overheat?

Maybe I'm just paranoid............. :)

[Love4Hedgies]

I personally have not had any problems with heating pads and I have been using them for over 2 years now. I keep them on low and place them between a towel and slip them under the cage and they work wonderfully. :)

[Sarbear]

Should heating pads be used all year long or just in Fall, Winter and early Spring?