[hedgiesrule]

Hi, I was looking at a site and it said under tank heaters (uth) are good heaters for hedgehogs. Is this true? I thought heat lamps were better. I'd think that a uth would burn the hedgie if he got on it but what if you made a fleece sack and slid in on the uth? Would that help? An then stitching up the sides or something?
Thanks,
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[LyzziFall]

Heat lamps ARE better. Period. The issue with heat pads and UTH's is that they do NOT heat the air. Also the temperature shock of a hedgie coming out of it's hideout where the UTH/Heating pad might be and into a colder part of the cage can cause them to attempt to hibernate.

 

[hedgiesrule]

Okay thanks I thought I heard that heat lamps were best but I wasn't sure since it said that they were good on that site... that's just confusing.
Thanks!!
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[LyzziFall]

UTHs and heating pads are alright to use as heat SUPPLEMENTS when one already has a better source like a CHE or a space heater in place. The thing to remember with heating pads and UTHs, as you already picked up on, is that they MUST be regulated by a thermostat so that your hedgie does not get fried.

 

[Nancy]

It is a heat emitter you use, not a heat lamp. Emitters produce heat with no light. Light of any type including red light will bother some hedgehogs. An emitter also MUST be used with a thermostat to control the heat output. Otherwise it can be too hot. There are many threads on here about heat emitter setups. IMO, they are one of the best heating systems for someone with one hedgehog but are not suitable for all types of caging. What is your cage like?

 

[hedgiesrule]

I don't own a hedgehog, therefore I don't own a cage. I'm just asking these questions so I'll be prepared...
I like to thoroughly research animals before I get one.
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