FAQ - Cages & Equipment

Chinchilla & Hedgehog Pet Forum

Help Support Chinchilla & Hedgehog Pet Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

alpayton

Always into something...
Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
814
Location
Bowling Green, KY
Written by jandshyne:

Cages and Equipment

Should you choose to use a cage it is important to always make sure they have ONLY solid bottoms. Wire or grid bottomed cages are NEVER ok to use with hedgehogs. Their legs are very tiny and very fragile and there is simply not a safe grid out there. There are a variety of cage choices out there for hedgehogs that are both safe and appropriate. A common question I am asked is if hedgehogs need levels and like to climb. Some hedgehogs much appreciate ramps and some do not. If you have a cage with a ramp that’s more than about 6 inches high or if your cage has multiple ramps you will need to build a guard on to the outer edges of the ramp (and the levels) and ensure your hedgehog can not fall off. A solid piece of plastic, plexi glass, etc… attached to the ramp sides and the edges of the levels reaching to the top of the next level or ramp is the best choice. A rail would not be a really good choice unless you can be absolutely certain your hedgehog can not slip through and fall out or climb over the top. Remember hedgehogs are VERY crafty and will try to find a way to get around any obstacle. Super Pet makes some very nice cages for rats and other smaller animals that are wonderful for hedgehogs, they have a ramp leading to one level. Some are even so large they have two ramps and two ledges for each end of the cage. If you choose these cages that’s absolutely fine but do keep in mind the levels need to be a safe distance off the cage floor, never place them higher than about half way up the side of the cage. The Super Pet cages made for Hedgehogs and Ferrets would not be appropriate unless the ramps and ledges were modified and you were absolutely certain your hedgehog could not fall off of them or worse climb over the divider you build and fall even further. Aside from making sure levels and ramps are safe you also need to consider the bar spacing. Hedgehogs are particularly crafty and hoglets can be quite small. Adult hedgehogs vary in size greatly so you will absolutely need to be certain the bar spacing is not so wide as to enable escape an inch between bars is about the right spacing. If your hedgehog can get so much as his head out he could easily get stuck and suffocate himself trying to get back in. If he did manage to get fully out of the cage and it was placed on a table or stand of some kind he could fall to the floor and cause injury so again that’s something to consider. If hedgehogs fall from any height they can suffer broken limbs and spinal trauma both of which can lead to a really long recovery, permanent handicaps, and sometimes even death. When choosing a cage you will also need to consider the flooring options. Aside from wire not being acceptable, some flooring options are better than others. A plastic pan bottom is the best choice, they’re light and easy to maneuver, and clean and they are easily disinfected. Wood is much more difficult (if not impossible) to disinfect so if you’re thinking of building your own cages and you use wood you will need to make certain it is covered or sealed with something that can be washed and disinfected like vinyl flooring (linoleum) or a sealant of some kind making it water proof and safe. Melamine is often a good choice for wood type flooring as it can be sprayed down and wiped clean and as long as the edges are not exposed it will hold up well. If you use a wooden floor of any kind with any wood exposed chances are good you will eventually have to either replace it completely or sand it down and start over at some point. Hedgehogs are not rodents and do not chew so you should not have to worry about the ingestion of the wood, BUT some woods and particle boards have a sweet scent and taste so you will have to watch closely and make certain your hedgehog is not eating the wood. Many manufactured woods such as particle board have toxic substances in them.



Should you choose to make a homemade cage that is perfectly fine providing you do not use a sharp wire like chicken wire. Keep in mind you will need to be able to clean it and often cages made of wood or wire are more difficult to clean.



Aquariums should they be used must be a minimum of 20 gallons. Again the downfall with them is they are difficult to move and clean. Aquariums are not the best choice out there because they lack the proper ventilation and space.



Rubbermaid or Sterilite Bins make wonderful hedgehog cages. You can use a drill or soldering iron to place ventilation holes throughout the cage and if your hedgehog is an escape artist you can drill holes (or solder) the lid to allow for even more ventilation. A 112 quart Sterilite is tall enough to prevent escapes but still big enough to fit a wheel, food, etc… To hang a water bottle you will need to either solder holes for the water bottle clips to go through or you will need to purchase one that hangs over the edge. We personally use Sterilites for our hedgehogs, they are light, easy to clean, cheap to replace, and provide the right amount of space. Should you not be able to find a 112 quart bin a 96 quart can be substituted providing your hedgehog gets enough out of cage time as a wheel won’t fit in them. You can even get creative and hook two bins together to make a “hedgie condo”.



For more cage ideas, to learn to make Sterilite condos, and for wheel instructions please see: Hedgies.Com

These are just the cages we have had experience with. I know there are several others people have used or do use, so please feel free to try others and let me know if you find one that works better than any of these!!



Food and water dishes, a sleeping box or bag, the proper bedding, toys, a wheel, and other accessories are also necessary for hedgehogs.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top