Cage Possibilites
There are a few different kinds of cage possibilities. Before
you decide which cage to get, however, you should look at the pros and cons of
each type. No matter what kind of cage is purchased, certain conditions must be
met.
1. There must be at least two feet of floor space.
2. There must be adequate ventilation.
3. The floor must be solid.
4. Wire on the side of a cage must be spaced so that a
hedgehog couldn't get stuck.
5. The cage must be protected from other pets.
6. The cage must be escape proof.
7. The cage must be easy to clean.
8. The cage must only have one floor.
9. The cage should have a large opening, making it easy to
take the hedgehog out.
These are the most common types of cages. There are others,
but these are the ones that are usually considered when buying a hedgehog.
Large Clear Plastic Storage Bins:
Pros: These cages are readily available.
These cages
are inexpensive.
These cages
are lightweight and are easy to clean.
Cons: These cages are only safe from pets when they have a
lid.
With a
lid on, these cages need holes drilled in them to allow for proper ventilation.
These cages do not look as "professional" as other kinds of cages.
Click here to see an example of this cage type
Rabbit/Guinea Pig Cages:
Pros: These cages are readily available online and at pet
stores.
They look
good in any environment.
They are easy
to clean.
They have
good ventilation.
Cons: These cages are harder to heat that other types.
They
can be expensive.
They
sometimes have wire floors.
Click here to see an example of this cage type
C&C (Cube and Chloroplast) Cages:
Pros: These cages are usually inexpensive.
These cages
are well ventilated.
These cages
are easy to make bigger.
These cages
offer very easy access.
Cons: These cages are very hard to heat.
These
cages are easy for hedgehogs to escape from.
These
cages are hard to move.
These
cages aren't well protected from other pets.
Click here to see an example of this cage type
Aquariums (30 Gallon+):
Pros: These cages are readily available.
Cons: These cages have low ventilation.
These
cages can be expensive.
These
cages can easily be escaped from without a lid.
These
cages are heavy and hard to clean.
Click here to see an example of this cage type
Build You Own Cage:
Pros: You can be creative.
This kind of cage can be inexpensive.
You can make it fit the space you have available.
Your cage will be unique.
Cons: This kind of cage can be expensive.
It can be difficult to build your own cage.
It may take a while to build your own cage.
You must make sure your cage meets all the necessary requirements.
Click here to see pictures of cages that people have built for their hedgehogs
Adding a Ramp:
If you build your own cage, or just want to be creative with the one you have, you can add a ramp. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as putting a board in and thinking your hedgehog will walk up it. In order to make sure it is safe for your hedgehog, there are certain things your ramp must have.
1. The ramp needs to be at a low angle. Hedgehogs aren't known as good climbers. If you want your hedgehog to safely use the ramp it needs to be at a very low angle.
2. The ramp needs stairs. Most ramps, such as one you would find in a Super Pet cage are made for animals that can easily walk up them. As I said before, hedgehogs don't have good climbing ability. If you want them to use the ramp, it may be a good idea to do something like add a bird ladder to the ramp so that your hedgehog can easily climb up the rungs.
3. The ramp needs sides. Hedgehogs are notorious for falling off ramps. If your want your hedgehog to be safe, you need to add sides (make sure they are tall enough so that your hog can't climb over them) You can even make the ramp into a tunnel so that there is no worry about your hedgehog falling. Just make sure that the tunnel is wide enough for your hog to easily crawl through.
Click here to see an example of an acceptable ramp
