What you'll need for your African white bellied hedgehog.
Here you can find everything you need for your hedgehog,
with an explanation, pictures and links next to it.

The cage

There are 2 options in wich you can let your hedgehog live they must be at least 24” x 24” or four square feet. The first option (first picture) is an open set up and can be designed by yourself just the way you like it.
The second option is a cage wich is the one I am using for my hedgehog. You have to make sure that the opening between the bars are not to big, if it is to big your hedgehog can get stuck with his head. I do not recommend a wooden cage because this absorbs the pee.
You can not use a closed terrarium because a hedgehog needs a lot of ventilation in his cage.

Cage Liners

If you choose to use a cage with liners instead of the nasty wood snippers make sure that it is 100% fleece, in other materials the hedgehog can get stuck with his spines and nails. If you get a fleece blanket make sure there are no loops in it.
If you're going to buy a hedgehog make sure you have at least 2 liners because you'll need to wash them often. The only downside for this option is that it does not absorbs the pee so you need to use some kind of absorption pads except if your hedgehog pees in a rodent toilet (you can see pictures at the bottem of this website.)

Other beddings​

If you don't use cage liners you can use other beddings such as aspen shavings and a paper bedding. Just keep in mind that you'll have to clean this more often.

You can use newspapers but you have to make sure the ink in your region is non toxic. 

Beddings you can't use!
-Cedar shavings
​-pine shavings

The wheel

You'll need a big wheel for your hedgehog.
A bucket wheel is the most commen wheel used for a hedgehog. I recommend the wheel of the second picture because they poo and they pee when they run. So you have to clean this a lot. 
To help a little bit with the poo you can put a little tray underneath the wheel.

His feet will be very dirty because of all the poo so you have to give him a footbath to clean his feet and nails. I will make a video and share it on my youtube page so make sure you check that if you don't know how to do that.

Hideout spot

Your hedgehog needs a place to hide. This is very important. There are many things he can hide in as you can see in the pictures. You need something that's made from fleece or a soft material that has no loops in it, otherwise your hedgehog can get stuck with his spines and nails. You also have to make sure that your soaing inside any hideout you choose has no loose threads. Most hedgehogs prefer a dark space.

​You can find many hideout things like a tent or a snuggle sack on Etsy.
​

The heating

This is one of the most important things your hedgehog needs! You always want to keep your hedgehog warm otherwise he can go into hibernation. (You can find more info about this underneath info)

The things you need:
1. A lighting dome that is at least 8,5 inch (21 cm) but I prefer 10 inch (25cm).

2. A suremic heating light, this is a lamp that only admits heat so it does not admit any light your hedgehog doesn't want any light in his cage he loves to be in the dark

3. You need a thermostat, the way this works: it keeps the cage at a good temperature at all time.  (you can set the temperature at your hedgehog preferation but it has to be between 74 – 78 °F. (22 - 25 °C)

4. You need a Thermometer that always displays the current temperature, make sure you check it very often and put it at a place that's not close to your light.

Food supplies
For information about the food you can check our info page.
Your hedgehog needs fresh water every day.
There are 2 options to give him water;
a drinking bottle: I would not recommend a drinking bottle because a hedgehog has to learn how to drink from the spout wich isn't easy for him. If you use a drinking bottle you need to keep an eye on him to see if he drinks if he doesn't he will dry out. something very IMPORTANT do not buy a drinking bottle with a little ball, most rodent bottles have a little ball inside the spout your! A hedgehog is not able to drink out one of those.
option 2 : is what I recommend a tray. Make sure the edges are not to big so the hedgehog can reach the water. 

Bath supplies

You need to give your hedgehog a (foot)bath very often. If you want to know why you can look at the 'info' section. 
You can wash him in the bath tub or the sink. What works best for me is to wash him in the sink but that is personal. You can make out what works best for you. You need a shampoo that is safe for animals so I use baby shampoo for my hedgehog. To wash his spines you can use an old tooth brush. Make sure you don't brush to hard espescially on spots he got new spines they are really sensitives.
​If you want to dry your hedgehog make sure you got a very soft towel, where he can't get his spines or nails stuck.

If you want to see more about how to give him a (foot)bath you can check my videos on our youtube page.

Other things

There are also some other things you need for your hedgehog.

It's very important you cut the nails of your hedgehog you have a special nail clipper to do that (if you want to know how to cut the nails of your hedgehog make sure you check our youtube page) 

A hedgehog chooses a place to poo and always poops at that spot (exept for the running wheel) so you can use a rodent toilet just place some of the poo in the toilet so the hedgehog poops inside the toilet.

Something I recommend when you have a cage liner is to use absorption pads to absorb the pee of your hedgehog, it also helps with the smell.

    Could we take some of your time?