Post by Lilith on Nov 24, 2016 19:13:13 GMT
Heat & Lighting
Hedgehogs are exotic animals. Being from African territory means they need to be kept fairly warm. I try to keep lilith between 75°-80° F (23-28° C, roughly) using a CHE (Ceramic heat emitter). I have the CHE mounted to the roof of her enclosure using a handheld lamp attachment and a mounting kit. If you go about it this way, YOU WILL NEED A THERMOSTAT that will regulate the temperature in their cage. You can't just leave it on and hope for the best. The important thing to remember here is that your heat source should be separate from your light source, which is why you shouldn't use a reptile bulb. Although your hedgehog does indeed need a light source as well ( more on that in a little bit) you will need to be able to control both things separately. Not providing some form of a heat source for your hedgehog is unacceptable. If you can't arrange a che setup there are alternatives that work great too. Whether you use a space heater, a CHE, radiant heat panels, or just keep your homes thermostat up, you need to keep your little guy warm. Failure to do so can lead to a hibernation attempt (See hibernation and estivation). I have included the proper CHE setup with links for purchase through Amazon below. Keep in mind that bared cages and larger enclosures may need a more powerful CHE, or in some cases a second set of heating supplies. I use the 100 watt, but many other owners have gone up to the 150 watt bulb.
UNITED STATES
Zilla thermostat, 500 watts
Zilla 8.5 inch ceramic dome
100 Watt ceramic heat emitter
CANADA
Zilla thermostat, 500 watts
Zilla 8.5 inch ceramic dome
100 Watt ceramic heat emitter
While on the topic of hibernation we come to the next point: lighting. A consistent light schedule is a must for your hedgehog. I keep Lilith's light on for thirteen hours a day. Her light flips on at 6:00AM and shuts off again at 7:00PM. I keep hers on a timer so that I can't possibly forget to flip them off and on. Lighting will help keep your hedgehogs internal clock stay set to the right hours and prevent a possible hibernation attempt. If their light schedule is inconsistent or non existent, you may find your hog attempting to shut down. Short days are a sign of winter approaching in the wild and can trigger this particular response. I have rigged a light system for Lilith's vivarium, but many other owners will just leave the light in the room their pet is staying in throughout the day. In my case I installed under cabinet led strip lighting within Lilith's vivarium. This has worked fabulously for my setup, however many owners will use anything from Christmas lights to screw in lighting. If you are forgetful like myself, I definitely recommend setting up a lamp or light source near their enclosure and plugging it into a timer.
UNITED STATES
Zilla thermostat, 500 watts
Zilla 8.5 inch ceramic dome
100 Watt ceramic heat emitter
CANADA
Zilla thermostat, 500 watts
Zilla 8.5 inch ceramic dome
100 Watt ceramic heat emitter
While on the topic of hibernation we come to the next point: lighting. A consistent light schedule is a must for your hedgehog. I keep Lilith's light on for thirteen hours a day. Her light flips on at 6:00AM and shuts off again at 7:00PM. I keep hers on a timer so that I can't possibly forget to flip them off and on. Lighting will help keep your hedgehogs internal clock stay set to the right hours and prevent a possible hibernation attempt. If their light schedule is inconsistent or non existent, you may find your hog attempting to shut down. Short days are a sign of winter approaching in the wild and can trigger this particular response. I have rigged a light system for Lilith's vivarium, but many other owners will just leave the light in the room their pet is staying in throughout the day. In my case I installed under cabinet led strip lighting within Lilith's vivarium. This has worked fabulously for my setup, however many owners will use anything from Christmas lights to screw in lighting. If you are forgetful like myself, I definitely recommend setting up a lamp or light source near their enclosure and plugging it into a timer.
Last edit: 12/28/16
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