Hedgehogs REQUIRE a heat source that keeps them at 76-80F. This species of hedgehog is originally from Africa near the equator. Our hedgehog room is kept around 80F to prevent hibernation attempts and illness. Our pet hedgehogs are not capable of successful hibernation, their hibernation attempts lead to death. Even at the low end of the safe range hedgehogs can become less active, less social, and stressed. Over time their immune system will be weaker. This is especially detrimental to young hoglets who might not eat enough to grow properly.
​It is your responsibility to select a safe heat source and to test it before your hedgehog comes home. It should be able to easily hold the temperature at 80F.
Your house is not warm enough.
A space heater is not efficient or cost effective since it heats the entire room. You will get hot before your hedgehog does.
A blanket will not prevent hibernation since it requires the hedgehog to generate its own heat.
Reptile basking lamps are meant to offer concentrated heat for cold-blooded animals that actively regulate their body temperature. They are not meant to heat an entire enclosure. A hedgehog will not seek out a basking lamp when it gets cold.
Human heating pads are too hot and too small. Many automatically turn off a couple hours.
Reptile heating pads are also too hot and can cause burns.
I'm currently testing animal heating pads. So far they don't seem hot enough and don't raise the ambient temperature enough. They're plenty warm when an animal is laying directly on them but if the animal moves away it will be cold.
One method for heating a hedgehog is with an 8.5" or 10" ceramic dome lamp fitted with a 150 watt ceramic heat emitter (CHE) and controlled by a thermostat. A thermostat is a device that turns your heat lamp on and off to maintain a specific temperature range that you set it to.
A thermostat is NOT the same as a thermometer. A thermometer is also needed as extra insurance to be sure the thermostat is working correctly.
I recommend using a quality thermostat such as the ones pictured below. There are cheaper thermostats available, but they tend to be inaccurate and stop working or short out so use at your own risk. The same can be said about CHEs, the cheaper ones do not last as long as the better brands and can be defective.
This is typically the best option for wire cages but it can also be used for storage bin enclosures. In larger wire cages you will likely need two lamps to keep the temperature within an ideal range. They do run extremely hot and can cause burns or be a fire hazard so caution should be used.
Do not use bulbs that emit light, including red bulbs. The constant light is too stressful for nocturnal hedgehogs and may cause them to be less active.
CHEs do eventually burn out so it is a good idea to check them often and keep an extra on hand.
This is a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) with a thermometer.
Hedgehogs do not need a special type of lighting but they do benefit from being on a 12-hour light cycle, especially in the winter when the days get shorter. A household light plugged into a timer can help achieve this. It is thought that this lighting schedule helps prevent hibernation attempts. This lighting is separate from the heating system.
These are great for providing temporary heat while traveling or in an emergency such as a power outage. Be sure to cover them completely so that your hedgehog can not chew them. Provide the hedgehog with a place to get away from the warmer in case it gets too hot.