lighting/heating questions and concerns

[hihihishiite]

I am getting a hedgehog soon and I'm trying to decide what heating/lighting to get.

Night: 250W ceramic heat emitter
Day: 250W ceramic heat emitter + low watt light
or
Night: 250W ceramic heat emitter
Day: 150W heat light

My concerns are wattage and fire hazards.


My questions about lighting are:

Would an extremely low wattage incandescent bulb be enough light? Maybe around 5W as you would find in night light (They are pretty bright w/o the light deflector).

I've heard some people use UVA/UVB lights but I'm weary of UV because too much is harmful. I'm especially concerned because hedgehogs don't generally hang out in direct sunlight in the wild. I also wouldn't want to stare or be near it either.

I've also heard some people use fluorescent lights. I have sugar gliders and fluorescent is bad for their nocturnal eyes. Hedgehogs are sorta nocturnal so I would think they aren't good for them either?

Are there any good heat lights out there that don't have UV?

Thanks

 

[smhufflepuff]

I'd keep the CHE constant with CHE "bulb", lamp, and thermostat control and then add a light during the day rather than trading off between CHE & heat lamp depending on day or night.

I've had a few different wattages, 150 and 115 worked the best for me; the 215 was too much, it would heat up nice and quickly, but then needed to cycle on and off really frequently. I think 250 might be overkill.

UVA/UVB, full spectrum incandescent or compact florescent should be fine. I'd anticipate your hedgie will hide under the liner or in a snugglesack during the day, so it would not be constant exposure.