heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/29 20:05so i know this topic has been mentioned/discusses a lot, but i was wondering what sorts of heating pads pl use for their hedgies, either converted human heating pads, or whatever. I need to order one soon, but i want to make sure the pad i get is sturdy enough and wouldnt melt the plastic of my marchioro cage. even if you just list the brand or some basic info, that would help.
thanks!
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zorra578
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/29 20:14I wouldn't use that one. From my experience, reptile heating pads get hotter the higher volume tank they accommodate. Since you aren't sposed to put them under the reptile tank, but on the side, the temperature doesn't matter to the animal and is only higher to accommodate the larger volume it needs to heat. Usually they don't have a temp control, just the ability to buy different sizes for different tanks. I use the smallest ZooMed reptile heater they make and even then it seems to make the plastic a little 'too' hot under his igloo so I have to put extra shavings inside the igloo so Quent doesn't get hot feet.Jessica Des Plaines, IL
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HamorHollow
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/29 21:05I've used the small reptile heating pads for 14 years now and I've never had an issue. They warm the area over and slightly to the sides of them, and you want a small one (about the size of a hand) so that the hedgehog can get away from it if they want to.
As long as you read the directions and use it properly, you won't have any problems. The over heating comes in when people put the cage directly on a solid surface without using the little feat for the pad, or they put the cage on carpeting and don't allow air flow between the pad and whatever the cage is sitting on.
-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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CThogs
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 06:01I did have a problem with one of mine even though I had air flow underneath, etc. I may have gotten a defective one They were on clearance shortly afterward.
If you get a reptile type heater,
Make sure it says it can be used with plastic
Get the smallest size-the one you have linked is 30-40 gallon which is too big. If you can't find a smaller size, look for a hermit crab heater.
Read and follow all the directions. I usually give mine a trial run sometime when I know I will be around to check it every few hours because of my one bad experience.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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zorra578
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 06:11Yeah, my cage has feet and I keep it on a level uncarpeted surface. Quent just has the tendency to scoot all the shavings away and since the pad is adhered to the underside of his cage it tends to get pretty toasty under his igloo where the bare plastic is.Jessica Des Plaines, IL
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clutterbuster
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 07:40I recently picked up a huge marble tabletop to put atop the bookcase that holds Max's sterilite bin. I thought the marble would be better then having the heating pad directly against the painted wood bookcase. I'm looking for people's thoughts on this.
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Stasi
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 09:58I still swear by human heating pads on low under a cage. It doesn't get very hot, but reasonably warm enough for the hedgies. They're safe, and can be used with any type of cage.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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aislinsadia
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 13:32Stasi, what kind of human heating pad do you use? Can they be placed in the actual cage itself? There's a problem- I have C&C cages, and Noodles' cage is built on top of Cotton's.*~*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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Stasi
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 14:41I use ones that are moist/dry safe. I do use them under the cage, perhaps you could use one under the coroplast liner? I would **imagine** that they would be safe to use in the cage - assuming your hedgehog didn't decide to seriously chew it.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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clutterbuster
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/30 16:33When I was ordering supplies last week I came across pet heating pads that had a rubber tube over the cord to deter chewing. When I spoke with the customer service rep they said they really didn't guarantee they could not be chewed through (I assume that rats and ferrets are much more avid chewers than hedgehogs). I don't remember if these pads were at Exotic nutrtition or Dr. Foster and Smith, but I think it was probably the latter. Just thought I'd mention there are pads that someone might want to check out.
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aislinsadia
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 08:27Do you remember what they were called?*~*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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clutterbuster
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 10:08hopefully this link will take you right to their pet heated bed pads:
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clutterbuster
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 12:58oh, it doesn't come with the cord protector? I never got that far before I decided not to order it. I guess customer service can tell you how to order that separately.
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HamorHollow
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 15:07you put the heating pad under the cage, not it in, and chewing isn't an issue.
Also keep in mind that you want a small heating pad or to only put a small part off the pad under the cage. Enough to warm the sleeping area but so the hedgie can move away if it is warm.
-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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hokubahedgie
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 18:00i read on hedgehog central that thats a bad idea, because it means the hedgie is moving from warm to cold a lot, like if they want to run on the wheel or do soemthign OTHER than sleep. is this really true? does that mean a space heater or heat emitter is maybe the better option? esp. since heat pads do get rather hot
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HamorHollow
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/08/31 23:08hokubahedgie wrote: i read on hedgehog central that thats a bad idea, because it means the hedgie is moving from warm to cold a lot, like if they want to run on the wheel or do soemthign OTHER than sleep. is this really true? does that mean a space heater or heat emitter is maybe the better option? esp. since heat pads do get rather hot
I disagree.
It's a bad thing, if say, you keep your house at -12 degrees F. Then 1/2 of the cage is at -12F and the other half is at 85F.
If you keep your house at 68-70F (as most of us do), then it's really just a minor difference (kind of like walking inside when it's chilly outside and cuddling up with a blanket). Hedgehogs are extremely adaptable and not nearly as sensitive as some people make them out to be.
Heat pads can get hot, but if you allow air circulation (use the little feet) under the cage, that they really don't get all that hot. I have some hedgehogs that like to sleep at the perimeter of the pad, while others prefer to sleep smack dab on it. And hedgehogs can handle heat, they are an African species after all.
I like to leave the pad off the side with the wheel. Think about it, would you want your tread mill in a heated room? I didn't think so.
Just *MY* opinion.
-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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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/09/01 04:10I see the hedgie unit as having two parts - the wheel section and I don't put a heating pad directly under the wheel. There is a no-direct heat zone where the hedgies can go to the side or behind the wheel if they choose to do so. Last week Max abandoned his cozy and belly plopped down in this area during the heat spell (and the heat pads were unplugged). He sought out a 'cooler zone' away from the fleece igloo cozy that keeps him warm.
At the other end of the unit I do put a heat pad in the center. I have at least two thermometers adhered to the walls at opposite ends, one positioned lower than the other. I also have a small flashlight that I keep near their units so at night I can shine and read the thermometers and check the temp in the units. I will sometimes turn on the heat in the middle of the night if the temps are dropping and turn them back off in the morning.
Pippi was a fleece diver and so is P-k, they go right under the fleece and lay atop the surface directly over the heat source. I do recall finding Pippi once in the no-heat zone, she had pigged out on Ensure, was uncomfortable and wanted to be away from her usual heat spot.
Rambo did not like the heat source at all, I had him for six weeks last fall and when I would turn it on and he would go to the other end of the tank. But I didn't realize he was ill from liver disease, and that doesn't make sense to me for one would think that a sick hedgie would be easily chilled and want to be warmed. During this last couple of days I turned the heat on low and placed the poor limp guy in that area, trying to increase his body temp even thought I knew it wasn't going to make any difference. (here I go again, tearing up). Unless they are really sick and just don't have the strength to move, they will get up and go lay someplace else if they are getting too warm.
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and i have a marchioro cage. I was reading the instructions, and i noticed that they reccomend putting a carpet or some such substrate at the bottom of the terrarium (read: cage) so when the animal (read: magellan) burrows, he wont sit on top of the plastic above the heating pad and burn himself. My cage is super elevated, so i think the cage isnt in danger of over heating, but i was wondering if other ppl, especially kelly since i know she uses both marchioro cages and reptile heating pads, use some sort of additional material between the plastic and the bedding. I use super shavins, btw, so magellan could easily burrow down below. Luckily, its still relatively warm at night so i have some time to test out my options first =)
let me know what you all do please!
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voodewlady
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/09/30 03:47Does every hedgie need a heating pad in their cage? I live in Kansas. It gets cold here in the winter time, but I keep my house at 73 all year long and my hedgie cage is between 2 floor vents so that she stays both cool or warm depending on the seasons.~Erin~ ~Lives in the land of OZ~ Ms. Pickles the hedgehog Mischa the ferret Sydney the dapple dachshund
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CThogs
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/09/30 06:31Does every hedgie need a heating pad in their cage? I live in Kansas. It gets cold here in the winter time, but I keep my house at 73 all year long and my hedgie cage is between 2 floor vents so that she stays both cool or warm depending on the seasons.
It really depends on the hedgehog. Pay very close attention to her, particularly at this time of year when the temperature swings up and down a lot. If at any time her underside seems cool to the touch or she seems sluggish or wobbly, it means she is too cold and needs additional heat. You may want to put a thermometer by her cage to monitor the temperature.Ann Connecticut Hedgehogs
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hokubahedgie
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/10/04 10:51just a bump for this post, no one has answered my question yet...please any feedback? its still pretty warm out so i have some time, but i suspect the temperatures will plummet in a few weeks time...
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CThogs
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/10/04 11:44 i have a marchioro cage. I was reading the instructions, and i noticed that they reccomend putting a carpet or some such substrate at the bottom of the terrarium (read: cage) so when the animal (read: magellan) burrows, he wont sit on top of the plastic above the heating pad and burn himself. My cage is super elevated, so i think the cage isnt in danger of over heating, but i was wondering if other ppl, especially kelly since i know she uses both marchioro cages and reptile heating pads, use some sort of additional material between the plastic and the bedding. I use super shavins, btw, so magellan could easily burrow down below. Luckily, its still relatively warm at night so i have some time to test out my options first =)
let me know what you all do please!
Sorry-we must have missed your question
Two questions-
What is underneath the cage itself?
Does that brand come with the little spacer feet?
I never used that particular brand but in general those heaters will be ok if there is adequate air flow underneath by using the feet and making sure it is not too hot under the cage.
I usually just use the bedding-if the hedgehog gets too hot, he will move away unless you have a sick hedgehog which is a different situation.
What I always do with any new heater is pick a time when I will be around to check it every few hours to make sure everything is working ok even if I have followed their instructions-just not today cause it is 80 degrees here
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Skittles
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Re:heating pads...yes, again! - 2007/10/04 16:17I use a Snuggle Safe Disc. You can get it at Pet Smart. The problem with most heating pads and electrical types of heating is that they can short out and over heat. I like the Disc because it pretty much acts as a hot water bottle. You heat it up in the microwave for whatever time is right for your type of microwave and it stays warm for 12 hours. Of course you cover it with a cover or blanket so that your hedgie doesn't get burned by it, but even then it provides the heat needed.
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They were on clearance shortly afterward.
