Cage Recommendations
For your hedgehog cage there are several different options to choose from; clear totes, wire rabbit cages, homemade cages, Critter Nation Cages, aquariums, and C&C cages. Be mindful when choosing a cage for your hedgehog, it should be easy to clean and sanitize and it needs to be kept warm. I personally recommend wire rabbit cages (sold here) but clear plastic totes also work well, are cheap, and are easy to clean. I have also heard of people making cages out of wire storage units or building their own cage out of old furniture. If you do decide to make your own C&C (wire) cage I would strongly recommend putting a 6" tall barrier around the perimeter of the cage (that way they can't climb up or squeeze through the bars)!
When we first started raising hedgehogs we used wire rabbit cages. We only had 3 hedgehogs at the time so finding a place for 3 hedgehog cages was no problem. However when I decided that we were going to expand our herd, it was unrealistic to have wire cages as the only opened from the front and it would be challenging placing several long cages side by side. My son and I built beautiful wooden cages for them and sealed the wood with "Kennel Seal", an animal friendly wood sealant. However as time went by and after cleaning the cages over and over, I realized that it was risky using wooden cages. No matter what sealant or cleaning product you're using, it is nearly impossible to safely sanitize wood. Hedgehogs can carry salmonella, and I did not like thinking that their feces could potentially be absorbed into the wood and would be very hard to disinfect. We want the best possible option to keep our hedgehogs happy and healthy, so we now use 115quart storage totes. The reason we use totes are that they are easy to completely sanitize, can be placed on a wire storage rack side by side, and have adequate ventilation with the tops off.
We have also experimented with C&C cages, and for us it was not successful. We had quite a few hedgehogs that learned how to escape their cage, and it is NOT fun trying to find an escapee in the middle of the night!
What NOT to Use
When I was a little girl we had 3 dwarf hamsters with the most elaborate cage with tunnels and obstacles you could rearrange. They loved it and it was fun to watch them climb all over. However these cages are NOT suitable for hedgehogs. Not only would their chubby little bodies get stuck in the tubes, but they are NOT good climbers. Cages with ramps, levels, and ladders are NOT recommended. Hedgehogs have poor depth perception and may not have a problem going up, but it is very likely they could be injured trying to come down.
Ventilation
Whatever enclosure you choose, please remember that hedgehogs need a well ventilated cage. If you're using a tote or aquarium and need a top on it, please use a screen lid to keep the air circulating throughout their cage. Plastic totes with the top on and a few holes drilled in it will NOT provide enough airflow and will most likely isolate the stale air leading to an upper respiratory infection.
Cage Size
Your cage should have enough room for a wheel, litter box, and sleeping bag or nest box, and eating area. Hedgehogs enjoy various objects to hide in or burrow under, ours seem to enjoy shredded up toilet paper or fleece strips stuffed into oatmeal containers. Keep in mind that the larger the cage, the more challenging it will be to heat the entire area.
For your hedgehog cage there are several different options to choose from; clear totes, wire rabbit cages, homemade cages, Critter Nation Cages, aquariums, and C&C cages. Be mindful when choosing a cage for your hedgehog, it should be easy to clean and sanitize and it needs to be kept warm. I personally recommend wire rabbit cages (sold here) but clear plastic totes also work well, are cheap, and are easy to clean. I have also heard of people making cages out of wire storage units or building their own cage out of old furniture. If you do decide to make your own C&C (wire) cage I would strongly recommend putting a 6" tall barrier around the perimeter of the cage (that way they can't climb up or squeeze through the bars)!
When we first started raising hedgehogs we used wire rabbit cages. We only had 3 hedgehogs at the time so finding a place for 3 hedgehog cages was no problem. However when I decided that we were going to expand our herd, it was unrealistic to have wire cages as the only opened from the front and it would be challenging placing several long cages side by side. My son and I built beautiful wooden cages for them and sealed the wood with "Kennel Seal", an animal friendly wood sealant. However as time went by and after cleaning the cages over and over, I realized that it was risky using wooden cages. No matter what sealant or cleaning product you're using, it is nearly impossible to safely sanitize wood. Hedgehogs can carry salmonella, and I did not like thinking that their feces could potentially be absorbed into the wood and would be very hard to disinfect. We want the best possible option to keep our hedgehogs happy and healthy, so we now use 115quart storage totes. The reason we use totes are that they are easy to completely sanitize, can be placed on a wire storage rack side by side, and have adequate ventilation with the tops off.
We have also experimented with C&C cages, and for us it was not successful. We had quite a few hedgehogs that learned how to escape their cage, and it is NOT fun trying to find an escapee in the middle of the night!
What NOT to Use
When I was a little girl we had 3 dwarf hamsters with the most elaborate cage with tunnels and obstacles you could rearrange. They loved it and it was fun to watch them climb all over. However these cages are NOT suitable for hedgehogs. Not only would their chubby little bodies get stuck in the tubes, but they are NOT good climbers. Cages with ramps, levels, and ladders are NOT recommended. Hedgehogs have poor depth perception and may not have a problem going up, but it is very likely they could be injured trying to come down.
Ventilation
Whatever enclosure you choose, please remember that hedgehogs need a well ventilated cage. If you're using a tote or aquarium and need a top on it, please use a screen lid to keep the air circulating throughout their cage. Plastic totes with the top on and a few holes drilled in it will NOT provide enough airflow and will most likely isolate the stale air leading to an upper respiratory infection.
Cage Size
Your cage should have enough room for a wheel, litter box, and sleeping bag or nest box, and eating area. Hedgehogs enjoy various objects to hide in or burrow under, ours seem to enjoy shredded up toilet paper or fleece strips stuffed into oatmeal containers. Keep in mind that the larger the cage, the more challenging it will be to heat the entire area.
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