Hedgehogs should be bathed in warm water for their comfort. The water should be warm to the touch without being scalding. Strive for a temperature that would be comfortable for a human baby.
Hedgehogs need environmental temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. Keep your hedgehog's cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, or cold areas. You may want to provide your hedgehog with a small warm spot in his cage where he can go to get warm but would also be able to get away from if he feels too warm.
Many hedgehogs love to play in warm water and will enjoy themselves during bath time. We prefer to give hedgehogs a bath in a sink or a bathtub. Hedgehogs are prone to relieve themselves in the warm water so we prefer to use our laundry sink.
Hedgehogs are most comfortable between 74° and 76°F, which is 23° to 24°C. If the temperature gets too low, your hedgehog may ball up and try and go into hibernation, which could be fatal.
Don't let your hedgie get cold!
Hibernation is actually dangerous for African Pygmy hedgehogs. It slows their metabolism down, leaving them susceptible to infections, dehydration and starvation. It's important to keep your hedgehog in an environment between 72 and 80 degrees.
Keeping the Temperature Constant with a hedgehog heat pad
Hedgehogs should be kept in an environment that is between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below this, the hedgehog may start to hibernate.
Use a hot water bottle to heat your hedgehog.
Hot water bottles work well to provide heat for many hours. Just make sure that it isn't too hot for you to hold. If it's too hot for you to hold, it's too hot for your hedgehog. If your hot water bottle doesn't already come in a cover, always wrap something around it.
Hedgehogs should be bathed in warm water for their comfort. The water should be warm to the touch without being scalding. Strive for a temperature that would be comfortable for a human baby.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means they shouldn't really be seen out in daylight hours. Some of the exceptions to this are pregnant females gathering nesting materials just before she gives birth, or a new 'Mum' taking a break from the nest to get food and water while her young sleep.
Many people get confused about how often they should bathe their hedgehogs. Your vet should be the ultimate authority here. That said, in general, about once a month is good. Don't bathe your pet too often: this could dry out his skin!
Wet items will just make your pet cold and uncomfortable. Please only bathe one hedgehog at a time. If you have multiple hedgehogs together in the bath, they could hurt each other by climbing, biting or 'holding on' to one another with their mouths.
Hedgehogs naturally like to burrow, providing additional bedding gives them a more natural ability to make a bed inside their shelter. Many hedgehogs will sleep under their shelter as opposed to inside it. Providing 12x12 squares of fleece also make good sleeping material.
Hedgehogs require an escape-proof cage. The cage should be as large as possible, such as a wire enclosure meant for guinea pigs, but the cage floor should be solid, rather than wire, so that the hedgehog's feet don't get caught. Lined the cage either with newspaper or other paper-based bedding.
There are reports coming in from all around the country of mummy and baby hedgehogs suffering from severe dehydration. Please leave several shallow bowls of water around the garden and make sure they are topped up every day. If you don't have a garden, you can still leave bowls of water out on the pavement edge.
In terms of water, hedgehogs ingest water from their prey and natural sources like dew and puddles. Ponds also provide a water source so it's important to ensure garden ponds have sloping sides or an exit ramp so 'hogs don't fall in and get stuck.
Plain fresh water is all that is required for them. Sadly, this mixture can be lethal for birds if they bathe in it as the sugar will cause problems with their feathers. Please do offer plain water in shallow bowls in the garden for thirsty hedgehogs but do not add anything else to it.
Some hedgehogs will bond to their owners for life (HHC). Bonding does require effort, persistence, and an understanding of hedgehogs. Many hedgehogs don't like to be petted by just anyone until they are completely comfortable with their environment. This is especially important when a hedgehog goes to a new home.
Like many pocket pets, hedgehogs love to explore mazes and tunnels. This will keep Hedgie active, and offer him mental stimulation. You can buy labyrinths, or make your own out of shoeboxes or PVC pipe. To make your pet's explorations even more fun for him, hide a snack at the end of the tunnel.
A hedgehog's go-to vocal is huffing and puffing, but he's not trying to blow the house down. This sniffing is a normal vocalization he makes while going about his business of exploring. An unhappy hedgehog, on the other hand, will show his disdain with a hiss or a clicking sound.
How to Create a Hedgehog Heating Setup. A Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) is by far the cheapest and safest way to heat your cage setup. Keeping your home's main thermostat at 72+ degrees would be very expensive, as would be heating a room 24/7 with a space heater.
Beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, millipedes, snails and slugs are all favourites, but hedgehogs are fairly flexible when it comes to their diet. As well as chicks, bird eggs and even frogs, they will sometimes eat berries and other fruits if they come across them.