Below are some personal recommendations for supplies while you prepare to bring a hedgehog into your family. Some are available from us and some are external links. We appreciate your business if you'd like to support us and buy supplies from Telos / Hedgehog Precision!
Cage
4 square feet of floorspace at an absolute minimum, 6 sq ft or more is preferred.
We occasionally have used cages available for sale. Please inquire if you're interested in what we have.
Here is an example of a sturdy cage with sufficient floorspace, and easy access doors.
AmazonBasics Pet Habitat - Jumbo, 47.2 by 23.6 by 20.5 inches (LxWxH)
Large plastic bins are affordable, easy to clean, and retain heat well. Aim for a tub with at least 110 quart capacity. Here's an example at Target:
Sterilite® ClearView Latch Storage Bin 27.5 gal
Wheel
13" Basin Wheel from Hedgehog Precision - available to ship or pick up from us. These wheels are our top recommendation due to the large diameter. We don't approve wheels under 12" diameter. Other options would include Comfort wheels or Silent Spinner wheels, though they can be a pain to clean! If you can find a used cake top wheel (no longer made) somewhere, those are great too! We don't recommend flying saucer wheels (poorly made and don't hold up well) or bucket wheels (10.5" is too small for most hedgehogs to use comfortably).
Liners/Bedding
We recommend fabric liners as the primary bedding in a cage, plus a strategically placed litter box! Not all hedgies will use one, but it's worth a shot. We use pelleted pine or hemp bedding in our litter boxes. Aspen or kiln dried pine shavings work as well. Paper pellets are an option, but not very absorbent.
Heat Setup
If you are purchasing items on your own, please keep in mind that you need a thermostat (temperature controller) in addition to your lamp and bulb. This is critical to keeping your hedgehog's cage a consistent temperature!
10.5" ceramic socket lamp, 100w ceramic heat emitter bulb, thermostat to control temperature, and thermometer.
Dishes
Any small dishes that don't tip easily and are easy to clean will work great.
These are typically easy for people to source on their own, but we also have many available if you'd like to pick up a glass or ceramic dish here.
Sleeping Place
Hedgehogs just want to feel safe and secure while they're sleeping, and that typically means burying themselves in something. It doesn't matter if it's a free cardboard box or a $40 custom made bed off Etsy. Just make sure they're comfortable.
Hedgie Bags - we typically have a few handmade bags available. See our web store listing for what's currently in stock!
Food
Hedgehog Precision Formulas - This is what all our babies are started on, and what we recommend using. All of our adults are on HP foods as well.
Treats
Bug Blocks, Dried BSFL, and Dried Mealworms from Hedgehog Precision - Bug Blocks and Dried BSFL are particularly popular! Hedgehogs can be picky. You can check with me to see what your hedgehog has been willing to eat while here with us. :)