[K9_girl1994]

Hi, I am getting a hedgehog for christmas and have done tons of research. I just want to make sure I will have everything for him/her and make sure it is all safe. For food I heard SPIKES DELITE was the best. Also I would have meal worms, fruits, veggies, and some insects like crickets, and also of course a food bowl and a water bottle. For grooming I would get a tooth brush and some cat shampoo. For toys I was thinking of some of those cat rolling balls that they roll around, hedgehog wheel, little stuffed animal, and boxes/tunnels. For bedding I heard Aspen was the best. I was thinking for a bed I would get a smaller cat bed, and an igloo type thing. I would also have a heating pad. For litter I would just get non-dusting kitten litter and of course a litter pan. And for the cage I was wondering if a 20 gallon tank plus one of those toppers with different ramps on it would be big enough. Umm... also I was wondering if my sisters gerbils would be able to play with it. He/She would also have play time and cuddle time of course!!! Thanks!!!

 

[sebian]

Welcome, and congrats! We all love hedgie pictures, so make sure you post some when you get your little one!

And for the cage I was wondering if a 20 gallon tank plus one of those toppers with different ramps on it would be big enough

You have to be super careful with ramps/levels. It's really easy for hedgie's to fall and injure themselves. Check out this post for some good cage examples : http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=554&p=5040&hilit=cage+examples#p5040. You can also run a "cage" search on the forum and see what else you can find.

I heard SPIKES DELITE was the best

We use Spike's Delight and everyone seems to love it. That being said there's a consensus pretty much everywhere I read that there a better cat foods out there than any hedgie-specific foods. I'm pretty sure a few breeders on here have their own mixes they sell. I think that will be the route I go next time I need food. Again, if you run a search for "food" or browse around the diet/nutrition board, you'll find a lot of suggestions.

Umm... also I was wondering if my sisters gerbils would be able to play with it

I'm not sure. The only way to find out is to try it. Just make sure everyone is supervised at ALL TIMES .

and also of course a food bowl and a water bottle

I would also include a bowl for water in his/her cage too. Sometimes hedgies drink more from bowls. Then again, that's another debate going on in this forums. If you search around the Housing/Accessories board, you'll find a few discussions on bottles vs. bowls.

For bedding I heard Aspen was the best. I was thinking for a bed I would get a smaller cat bed, and an igloo type thing

Personally, I use fleece liners for the cage and all my guys seem to love them. They're eco-friendly and easy enough to clean. AGAIN, bedding is a huge debate on this forum too, so check out the threads about bedding in the Housing/Accessories board while you're there. As fas as the cat bed thing.. your hedgie might like it and they may not. They're huge fans of burrowing, so most of us (including myself) just give them a snuggle bag, snuggle tent, or even an old t-shirt to sleep under. The cat bed may just be slept under and not on. But try it, maybe he/she will enjoy it.

Sorry everything is out of order to your post (I answered them in the order my opinions came to me ). Hope this gives you some ideas! And I'm sure you'll get 2039580349580192384109 of more ideas/suggestions/opinions! Good Luck!!

 

[h_EDGE_hog]

Im glad to hear it!!!

Food: High quality cat foods are good. Spikes is good, too. I would also feed a few cat foods too. they need a variety.

Bedding- Aspen isnt really the best. Aspen can harbor mites, and shavings get stuck in their..... privates :roll: .... Liners are probably the best. Although aspen is okay.

Gerbils and Hedgehogs- I wouldnt do it. If you do decide to do it, dont leave them unsupervised. Be prepared to split them up.

Aqauriums- You have to keep them well ventalated. I dont know how someone would do that, looks like we got a search on our hands!

Toppers for Aquariums- Make sure you hedgie proof them, or else they could fall and hurt themselves.

Water bottle: There is an arguement going around about that. Some people think water bottles hurt their neck, have a bowl just incase



Good luck!

 

[K9_girl1994]

thanks a lot, that was a lot of helpful information! Now I dont have to waste a lot of money on Aspen bedding but can just use fleece liners! And now I dont have to get a cat bed, I can just get a snuggle bag, or one of my old t-shirts! And cat food is so much easier to get then the Spikes Delite. I'll make sure he/she gets a variety though. And I will make sure not to get ramps, because I couldn't risk him/her falling and getting hurt. I am soo happy! Hedgehogs are so simple and cute! I cant wait for Christmas!!! Thanks so much!

 

[sebian]

Haha anytime. I'm glad you're excited!

You have plenty of time between now and Christmas to read most of this forum. There's TONS of information (from fleece liners to surviving cancer) that will probably answer almost all of your questions before you get your little one.

But if you can't find something, feel free to ask. New stuff will come to mind, especially when you first get your little hedgie :shock: There's tons of people on here willing and ready to help you

 

[h_EDGE_hog]

Im glad your so excited about it!!!! That's great. Glad we could help you with the liners and cat food (be sure to look at Reaper's cat food list in Diet and Nutrition, to find what you can feed!)
Hope everything goes well, good luck!