Aquariums - 2007/06/13 07:47A lot of people want to use aquariums as enclosures for hedgehogs-I know a lot of pet stores keep them in aquariums because they have old leaky ones hanging around.
Pros and cons of using aquariums?
Pro-
If you have one around cause all your fish died, it won't cost anything In the winter it may keep the heat in somewhat better than a cage
Con-
In the summer it may keep heat in too Poor ventilation-smell buildup from urine & feces Heavy to move so it may not get cleaned as often as something lighter Breakable-if you do move it and drop it, you may have a big mess They can climb out via igloo or water bottle holder
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aislinsadia
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Posts: 509
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/13 08:34Con- in the winter it could actually make your hedgie colder. I live in Michigan, so I know cold . I used to house my hamster in a glass aquarium, and often times I made sure to provide her with extra bedding and put blankets over her cage because I swear the glass sucked up all the cold in the room and held it.*~*Steph*~* Cotton, Noodles & Cocoa (hedgehogs), Kuruku & Kimiko (kittehs), Sushi & Lily (Ryukin Goldfish), Rosy & Ruby (beagle sisters), and Archie & Rocky (African Dwarf Frogs).
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I have a very cool and drafty house and a pet cage during the winter is just not practical. I purchased two lizard heater pads, affixed one to each end of the underside of the lizard aquarium and put them in a dual-thermostat plug. I had two thermometer strips at each end of the tank, and kept Pippi warm and regulated all winter.
I've been told that aquariums keep moisture and odor in - never had a problem because I keep my tanks EXTRA CLEAN. I line it with fleece not fill, and the fleece is easy to change once or twice a day and do a load of laundry once a week. It is so much easier than sifting carefresh or shavings.
It is important that the wheel come out each morning and be washed down before putting it back in - tanks do have limited ventilation and I prefer not to have that smell in there all day while they sleep.
and speaking of ventilation, the lizard tank I specially purchased has a full screen lid that slides in (no escaping) - I do agree with not using a recycled fish tank because it's cheap and available - throw away the plastic lid with a slit that is atop fish aquariums.
I understand about keeping heat in during the summer, I have recently purchased a cage and we are trying that for the summer and will switch back to tank come the fall when it cools down. I personally do not like putting an electric heating pad under plastic, whether it be sterilite or plastic tray of a cage. I live in upstate NY and this winter got very cold and the tank worked very well for us.
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*That 10G that you have (because you neglected your fish and they all went belly up), is way too small.
*That 20G that you have (because you neglected your fish and they all went belly up), is still on the small side.
*That 50G hand me down tank you found needs to either sit directly on the cold floor (and you are going to smother your heating pad and cause a fire) or you need to put it on a stand or table (and get a chair so you can stand on it to reach down and get your hedgehog out of the tank).
*If you or your cat/ dog bump the tank and it falls off the table, it is probably going to shatter. Quills don't protect against glass shards.
*If you accidently drop your tank while attempting to wash it out in the tub, your porcelain tub may chip and be a rather costly fix.
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Sorry, I'm feeling a little punchy because of an email I just got from someone looking to purchase a hedgehog. Do people Not remember how to read? Seriously, the info is on MY FRONT PAGE! I don't know how much clearer or obvious I can get. *sigh*
-K
Post edited by: HamorHollow, at: 2007/06/13 23:13Kelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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clutterbuster
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Posts: 513
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/14 03:32Kelly, I do agree that 20 gallons is still a little small, I could never fit a decent size wheel in there and be able to slide the screen lid on.
It's like goldilocks and the three bears - too small, too big but the 30-35 gallon one I have is just right (and they are really hard to find).
And I have it on a bookcase that is about the same height as my couch.
And we don't have any other pets, just a small child that visits once or twice month. My niece can get into the cage (idea that just came to me - luggage padlock for the side door for when she is here). She can not reach up and down into the tank and that is a good thing.
and if you affix the feet to the bottom of the tank or put wooden strips at the end to elevate it slightly, the adhesive heat pads it won't be resting directly on the bookcase.
this is what works for my household, but my situation is unique for we are not busy people and have the time to change the fleece every day or more often during the summer.
It's cool tonight, supposed to go down to 54 and I've had to dig out the snuggle safe and microwave it twice to compensate for any coolness in the cage she is in for the summer. Where I don't mind fussing with frequent fleece changes and wiping down and rinsing the tank during the day... getting up in the middle of the night to reheat it a disc- now that is a drag.
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CThogs
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Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/14 05:25I do agree with not using a recycled fish tank because it's cheap and available
I am most interested in hearing about fish tanks because that's what people ask me about the most. People typically want to use 20 gallon aquariums and I feel that they will be unhappy with that choice. So it sounds like we are all in agreement on that. Sorry if I did not make that clear.
*If you or your cat/ dog bump the tank and it falls off the table, it is probably going to shatter. Quills don't protect against glass shards.
*If you accidently drop your tank while attempting to wash it out in the tub, your porcelain tub may chip and be a rather costly fix True stories? Sounds painful to both hedgehog and wallet
Sorry, I'm feeling a little punchy because of an email I just got from someone looking to purchase a hedgehog. Do people Not remember how to read? Seriously, the info is on MY FRONT PAGE! I don't know how much clearer or obvious I can get. *sigh* Read before you click people-Make Kelly happyAnn Connecticut Hedgehogs
*If you or your cat/ dog bump the tank and it falls off the table, it is probably going to shatter. Quills don't protect against glass shards.
*If you accidently drop your tank while attempting to wash it out in the tub, your porcelain tub may chip and be a rather costly fix True stories? Sounds painful to both hedgehog and wallet
I don't know of anyone who has smashed a tank with the hedgie in it, but I have accidently smashed empty tanks before.
The tub thing happened to Stasi.
Read before you click people-Make Kelly happy
Go see what I did to my front page. Keep in mind that it's revision #3. #1, in particular, was less than polite.
Joy, A tank may work for you because you pay more attention to your hedgehogs and clean them more often then most, so you are an exception to the rule. But for most, it is a really bad choice, and amonia levels build up rather high.
-K
Kelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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clutterbuster
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Posts: 513
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/14 10:22that's why I say it works in my household because my situation is UNIQUE and hedgehogs are an ideal pet for someone who does not have a lot of commotion. Frequent changes of fleece and wipe downs makes having a hedgehog in a tank an ideal pet for someone with severe respiratory problems and is homebound. Soaking and cleaning the wheel daily is the most time consuming and I find this is ESSENTIAL to reduce the ammonia build up and I have to do this regardless of what kind of housing.
for me one hedgie is easy, two with one in quarantine was a real hassle but after that was over it just took a little longer. It did occur to me 'what do people with lots of hedgies do? you must spend all day cleaning wheels and sifting through fill for poop'. that's mind boggling to me.
Sometimes I think newbies regard hedgies like some kind of cat... give them a bed, change their litter box as necessary, put out food and water once a day. This is not a kitty, and they do not get heartier and less demanding as they get older.... adequate care is a daily responsibility... exceptional care is twice daily. Cages and sterilite are standard for those with normal busy lives, tanks without a doubt require more attention.
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HamorHollow
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Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/14 23:29clutterbuster wrote: for me one hedgie is easy, two with one in quarantine was a real hassle but after that was over it just took a little longer. It did occur to me 'what do people with lots of hedgies do? you must spend all day cleaning wheels and sifting through fill for poop'. that's mind boggling to me.
You have no idea...*sigh* The humid weeks are the worst!
-KKelly Sosik-Hamor Hamor Hollow Hedgehogs - a New Hampshire breeder, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and any where else hedgehogs are legal. | Do you want to buy a baby Hedgehog? Please fill out out questionnaire. | Hedgehog World - A Community for African Pygmy Hedgehog Owners and Breeders
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clutterbuster
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Posts: 513
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/16 09:43giving us hedgie mommies the title of 'chief cook, poop-scooper and wheel wiper'
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PermenentMarker
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Posts: 23
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/25 13:19my first home was a 20 gal...
Now he has a big plastic bin, with a good big quality weel
What I did like of the 20 gal was that I had a Heating pas thingy under the glass under his little house...
I have no heating setup for the plastic bin... but I am moving out next week... so next winter will not be a problem... (My parents house is always between 19 and 21 degrees)
I love heat, so I will blast it all the time in my appartment
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HarleyHog
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Posts: 273
Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/25 22:33I leave the aquariums to fish or reptiles. Thats just my personal preference. I have a 35 gal aquarium for our ball python and its a pain to clean since its heavy.
Bless those sterilite bins though! Self proclaimed Hedgehog Addict My hedgehogs: Harley, Eggnog, Splenda, Freddie, Asti, Illusion, Milkshake, Oreo, Kodak, Scrambled, Eggstatic, Perplexed, Ecstasi, Ichabod & Sir Dublin Mudslide. *RIP* Skidplate 02/26/07
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clutterbuster
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Re:Aquariums - 2007/06/27 18:10I have P-k in a cage for the summer, and will put her in a 35 gallon tank for the winter because it is easier to regulate the lizard heater pads.
I am one of the few people who uses tanks because I have the time to change the fleece once or twice a day (I'm changing fleece twice a day with the cage during the summer anyways), and wipe out the tank/cage daily.
Our routine: early AM the hedgie gets put in the tub with just enough water to soak the poopy nails... I leave her to prance around in the water getting those nails oh so clean that Madge would be proud and I'm off to change the fleece in her tank (which smells from the nights activities). Wipe out her tank or cage. Her wheel gets pulled out at this time to be cleaned later that day of feces and urine).
With the fresh fleece comes a handful of carefresh in the corner (not that she ever poops there, but this hedgie just loves strewing it around), fresh food and water for the day, igloo or cozy for her to spend the next 12 hours sleeping in.
Twelve hours later in the evening we get her up for treats and play. She gets fresh food and water again. Her fleece may or may not get changed a second time that day... depends on how it smells (she doesn't always pee during the day) or how hot the day has been. Wheel goes back in for the night with a cozy to snuggle into.
TANKS REQUIRE TWICE AS MUCH CLEANING AND ATTENTION. I work at home and do not have any children or other pets to take care of so this hedgie has my full attention. If you are looking for something easy you're better going with Sterilite or a plastic bottom cage.
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Beautifulytoxic
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Posts: 16
Re:Aquariums - 2008/04/18 08:54i have poe in a 20gallon tank, and so far ive had no problems with smell or any thing else im also a stay at home mom and ive had him now 7 days and ive cleaned the tank twice.
i also have the 11" wheel in there and havent had any problems with him trying to climb out
poor poe is scared of heights.
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Hedgehogmadhatter
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Posts: 519
Re:Aquariums - 2008/04/18 09:43For the most part the tanks tend to be on the small side and I've NEVER known a hedgehog who couldn't climb up a water bottle. I agree they are very easy to drop and break.
I picked up a ten gallon tank a few years back, new from Petsmart. I have a ventilated lid and I use it for two things. I sometimes use it for hedgehog travel because I love how I can put it in my front seat and secure it with the seatbelt. I fill it with loads of carfresh and off we go.
But it's main purpose is the CRICKET CHAMBER. I can drop a few live crickets in and the lid keeps them from escaping and the hedgehog can chase them till his heart's content.
But as a permanent home, hedgehogs like their privacy and all that glass can be pain to clean.
~Sara“The fox has many tricks, and the hedgehog only one, but that is the best of all”
Archilochus (Greek lyric poet and soldier, 675-635bc)
There's no love like HEDGEHOG love!
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Kane123
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Re:Aquariums - 2008/04/18 10:37For me, I can see every move of my hedgehog, but since it made from glasses - it easily to break. imagine that you put a hedge's wood-house into it but it was accidentally drop, what's going to happen?
In warm conditions like my country, some said it's really good for hedgehog because it will not so hot as you think. But personally I disagree because I used to live in a lab like a big aquarium before so I knew that it's really damn hot in it.
So, now my friend use plastic something that really strong instead of glasses (85-90% clear) ,and put it in his room which temperature controlled. then I found out that it's really good than the glasses aquarium and a lot cheaper material. Moreover, my friend can see his hog in every move too. (don't forget to put a house in it)
The old aquarium might have a lot of pros but every pros are with cons. in the other hand, there're lot of cons but all cons are with some pros. Thus I think you just take care for the ground temperature and the air temperature. enough water, enough food and love. That's all.
PS. I can't clean it really. it so heavy to clean it by myself (T-T) 60 inches aquarium, oh god - how can I clean it. the weight is over 20 Kg. (><
Then I use plastic box - easy to clean and to care.
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You have no idea...*sigh* The humid weeks are the worst! 
