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Topic Review (Newest First)
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| 04-05-2020 04:13 PM | ||
| Emc |
As already mentioned; live is necessary as they are more nutritional (can be - and need to be - gutloaded) and can be fed in the large quantities that hedgehogs require. There have been issues reported amongst hedgehogs fed a diet of dried insects that have issues with constipation; they are not designed to eat a diet so drying - live insects are also a great source of moisture for them too. Make sure your parents are on board with the electricity bill that may hit you come the colder months, when the heater will need to work harder to maintain appropriate temps. Even with a wooden viv style enclosure, a room heater is still going to be needed - and they can get costly. Also keep in mind that 4ft x 2ft would be considered bare minimum (and in the eyes of many, not big enough). Go as big as you can; the enclosure cannot be too big. |
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| 04-05-2020 02:21 PM | ||
| Ria |
In you seal the wood where it joins on the base with aquarium sealant, line the floor and walls with fablon (its like sticky back plastic - b&q sell it as does homebase you can also do a google search and find it online - you can get clear coloured, patterned ones!) It makes the wood protected, and easy to clean as you can just wipe it down. If you have a food in the mix that contains yucca the poo shouldn't smell terrible! If you clean the wheel daily and have a litter tray with cat litter or you can use kaytee clean and cosy bedding, and litter pick daily changing completely weekly the smell is never really bad. With vivarium people find that loose bedding is better so like finacard is most used comes in huge bales and will last a few months! You can clean it weekly or every 2 weeks depending how messy your hog is and you can use something like white wine vinegar mixed with water in a 50/50 mix. Some use vivaraium cleaners. |
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| 04-05-2020 01:12 PM | ||
| Alderheart |
Quote:
Thank you for all your help, I really am grateful! 
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| 04-05-2020 09:46 AM | ||
| Ria |
What about a 4ft reptile vivarium? It blends into the living style more than a cage, and even if you still cant have that inside the house it holds the heat better so would be better for a colder area like your planning to - use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) with a thermostat to control. For the heating of the enclosure I know some who dont keep their hogs in cages but just use something that closes them off to a set space but they are still sorta free. Its not a cage. Live insects have more nutrition, dried, freeze dried and canned have lost a lot of nutrition making then fine for occasional treats but not suitable as the main source of insects. Dried insects also cause blockages if given too many. |
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| 04-05-2020 07:51 AM | ||
| Alderheart |
Quote:
I understand I have to feed live insects and that is something I am prepared to do, but I'm curious as to why. What's the difference? Thank you for your help! |
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| 04-05-2020 12:15 AM | ||
| Emc |
If it's not connected to the heating it may be difficult to keep warm enough with even a room heater - especially in winter; i'd recommend testing it before you actually get the hedgehog, just to certain, especially if your parents don't want the hedgehog indoors. Additionally, hedgehogs are nocturnal; you must be willing to go out to the office when the hog is awake, to let them out for some exercise outside of their enclosure - this is one of the main reasons I prefer having mine in my bedroom, but to each their own. If your mother is anti-having the hog in the house, make sure that she is absolutely fine with you buying & keeping insects to feed the hedgehog. They *need* live insects (not dried, or canned!) and they need a variety of them at that; typically it is recommended that you have at least 5 different types. |
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| 04-04-2020 02:14 PM | ||
| Alderheart |
Is this a suitable place to keep a hedgehog cage?? I'm considering a hedgehog, but my parents said I'm not allowed to keep it in my room (my mum is a clean freak). My dad has an office attached to our garage, would that be a suitable place to keep the cage? Unlike the actual garage, the office has windows and is very clean (I wouldn't say our garage is dirty, but not so much as the office) however, like the garage, it does not have built in heating. There are multiple power outlets for heaters, but is that adequate? (Just to be clear, if this is OK and I were to get a hedgehog, I'd check on it multiple times a day, probably when I wake up, just before I leave for school, when I get home, a few times through the evening and then before I go to bed. I could even get a baby monitor to check on things while I'm at school, and if it got particularly cold then I'm sure I'd be allowed to bring them inside for a few days.) |
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