[-TF-]

I've been hearing space heaters go well with storage bins to heat up hedgies but I'm not very found of them, the room where my hedgehog will be living in is usually 60-80F so its not extreme, I just wanted to know which would be better a heat mat or a heat lamp.if i was to put a heat mat underneath a plastic storage bin would it burn or anything?

sorry for the noobish question, never owned a pet that was sensitive to temp

thanks in advance

 

[Callie255]

I was advised to get a ceramic heat emitter. Although I do not keep my guy in a storage bin, it may be a good option instead of a space heater. I found mine at Petsmart in the reptile area. It is a big light bulb that produces heat not light. The bulb and the clamp to put it in cost me about $60 but is supposed to last 5 years.

Browsing through the forums I saw a reply to someone asking about a heat mat and was told that it would only heat the bottom and not keep the air warm enough. I'm not sure if it could burn since I don't know just how hot those things get.

I am a new hedgehog parent myself and am still learning. I don't think any question on how to properly care for these guys is noobish. No matter how much research you do, there are still questions that arise. The best source is people who actually own hedgehogs and have learned the best way to care for them. These forums are full of useful information and I am so glad I found them!

 

[-TF-]

i guess a heat lamp would be better, thanks

but i think instead of a storage bin a setup like scotts here would be better [attachment=0:3p7p6csh]CIMG1535.jpg[/attachment:3p7p6csh]

would buying something like http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... gMethod=rr be all i need to achieve it?

 

[Callie255]

I'm not sure about what to get to make a cage like that. It definately looks like it took creativity and would be a nice cage. Just make sure that the bottom is a solid surface and nothing hedgie feet can get caught in. I know alot of people use plastic storage bins for cages and they seem to work well. If you got a ceramic heat emitter you could probably just clamp it to the side of the bin. Mine has a pressure clamp and I just slipped it into the bars on the top of the cage and angled it down.

 

[-TF-]

well i dont wanna get that type of cage cause of heating, just seems like more space for my hedgie to run around

 

[JessAOII]

I bought a stand up ceramic heater at Home Depot for like $40. We set it on my son's bookshelf so that it heats the entire room without cooking Chicobo. It seems to work really well.

 

[FL_Hedgie]

I also use a storage bin for my little guy. I bought the clamp light at home depot for way less then at the petstores, and thats with a manager's discount and I use a 100w bulb and have the light clamped from a music stand next to the cage. I was leary of the ceramic heat emitter with the plastic. The bulb is red and doesn't disturb the nocturnal cycle and was 9.99 compared to 34-36.99. The important part of the heating though is thermostat that will turn the heating element off/on at a certain temperature. I got the zilla brand from petco for 49.99 and it seems to work well. It doesn't come with any kind of thermometer that you can see what temp it is though, so get a seperate digital thermometer and I keep mine right next to the probe from the thermostat. Keep in mind I live in central Florida and may be able to get away with the bulb as opposed to the heat emitter, half the time I'm worried about the AC running in his room and keeping him warm because of that, and I've only had him 2 weeks

 

[Nancy]

Personally I don't recommend using any fixture other than one that is sold specifically for heat emitters. The sockets are designed to withstand the high temperature of the emitter. Spending an extra $10 between a hardware store fixture and the proper one is simply not worth the risk of a fire. IMO

Red light does bother some hedgehogs. They either won't come out at all, or limit their activities under red.