• Your hedgehog requires a cage with a very minimum 2 square feet of floor space. A larger cage of 3, 4 or more square feet is best.
• Wire floored cages must not be used as hedgie legs can get caught and injured or broken.
• A wire cage must have wire spacing small enough that hedgie will not get his head stuck. Keep in mind that spacing suitable for an adult may not be safe for a baby.
• A wire cage with vertical bars is best as hedgies can climb the horizontal bars and fall.
• The cage must be well ventilated and must be escape proof. Some hedgies are good climbers and some will actually move things to the side of the cage to climb on to get out.
• The cage should be lightweight and made of a material that can easily be scrubbed clean when necessary.
• The cage should have large doors or better yet a top that lifts off or opens to allow easy access to clean, add large accessories such as a wheel, or to take hedgie out of the cage.
• Multi level cages are not recommended for a hedgehog as they will walk right off the edge of a level and there have been cases of hedgehogs receiving fatal injuries from falls in their cage. If you do choose a cage with a second level, some alterations MUST be made. The level must be low to the ground. It must be fully enclosed by a high, non-climbable barrier to prevent hedgie from falling off. The ramp must be at a shallow angle and have a non-slip platform. No rungs or openings. The ramp must also have sides or be enclosed to prevent hedgie from climbing or falling off the side.

If you have other pets the cage must be secure to prevent them from getting to the hedgehog.

Large Clear Plastic Bins * * * * *

Pros - Lightweight, easy to clean, allow easy access, portable, inexpensive, available everywhere. Safe

Cons- the lid must be kept off or it must be screened for ventilation. Easy and inexpensive to do. With lid on it is safe from most other pets.

Rabbit cages * * * *

Pro – light weight, well ventilated, easy to clean, some allow easy access, portable, reasonable in price, available at most pet stores. Safe from other pets.

Cons – Some hedgehogs will climb the bars which can result in falls and injury.  This can be prevented by weaving mylar in and out of the lower bars so the hedgehog cannot climb.

Wire cages offer no protection from drafts and are more difficult to maintain a warm temperature. 

Some rabbit cages have wire floors which must not be used.

Some rabbit cages wire spacing is too far apart for a hedgehog

Some have doors that are not large enough to put a suitable sized wheel through

Try to find one with vertical (up and down) bars to prevent climbing

C&C Cages (cube & Coroplast) * * * *

Pro – Inexpensive to make. Well ventilated. Can be made any size. Easy access.

Easy to clean.

Cons – Most hedgies climb the cube panels and escape so escape proofing is necessary.

Not draft free and harder to maintain a suitable temperature.

Other pets can easily get into the cage.

Not easily moved from room to room.

Ferret Cages * * *

Pro – lightweight, well ventilated, easy to clean, usually easy access, portable, can be reasonably priced, available at most pet stores. Safe from other pets.

Cons –

Ferret cages are usually multi level which are not safe for hedgehogs without great modification.

Some wire spacing is too far apart for hedgehogs.

Some doors are not large enough for putting a wheel through.

Usually they have horizontal bars (side to side) which are easy to climb and fall from.

Aquariums *

Pro – 30+ gallon size is a adequate size, cheap, available at every pet or department store.

Cons – poorly ventilated with no way to improve the ventilation

Heavy, difficult to move and clean, cannot be easily moved from room to room.

Breakable.

Needs a lid to be safe from other pets.