Getting the right hedgehog supplies is something that many people overlook when shopping for a hedgie. They get all caught up with the process of talking to breeders and meeting these adorable little critters for the first time.

And we don’t blame them one bit!

But this often leads to a scramble to figure out what exactly they need for their new pet. Which supplies are essential and which aren’t?

That’s why we’ve put together this full list of all the hedgehog supplies you’ll need on day 1 of ownership. As long as you get all the items on this list, you’ll be ready to go!

1. A Cage

Out of everything on our list of hedgehog supplies, this is the most important. A solid cage will serve as the primary home for your hedgehog, so it’s important that you pick a good one.

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Living World Deluxe Habitat

  • Habitat that provides everything you need for safely housing a small animal.
  • Includes a balcony with an access ramp and a tip proof food dish
  • Hybrid cage consists of an upper wire frame and a plastic bottom base
  • Safe design that will never pinch or cut

The first thing you want to look at is safety. There are plenty of cages that are made by shoddy manufacturing companies and could collapse at any moment. This obviously isn’t something you want. You also want to make sure there aren’t any sharp or protruding places where your hedgehog could get cut.

The other factor to consider is the size. The general rule of thumb is to go as big as possible. This will give your hedgehog plenty of room to play and stretch their legs.

All of the best breeders and experienced owners we know NEVER compromise on the quality of their cages. We think that’s a good mindset to have! 

2. Safe Bedding

This is another extremely important item that your hedgehog will need. Safe and comfortable bedding is something that will dramatically impact their quality of life.

Kaytee Soft Granule Blend Bedding for Pet Cages

  • Highly absorbent
  • Holds 3x its weight in liquid
  • Colorfast and Naturally Scented
  • Comfortable and safe

It’s essentially the floor of their home. If it’s not comfortable they can irritation on their feet and bellies. Not fun!

Remember to stay away from cedar when looking for the best bedding. This can cause serious issues with the respiratory system of your hedgie.

Liners or safe blends are both strong options here. They will make your life a whole lot easier and your hedgie will appreciate it!

3. A Reliable Wheel

Our list of hedgehog supplies obviously has to include a wheel. This is absolutely essential to the enrichment and happiness of your hedgehog.

Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner Exercise Wheel

  • The axle-free design eliminates a dangerous center bar
  • Innovative dual ball-bearings create a whisper-silent spin
  • Wheel completely disassembles for deep cleaning
  • Comes with cage attachment so you can mount it wherever you want

It will help them exercise and have something productive to do at night while you’re sleeping. These little guys can run a TON, so you don’t ever want them to feel cooped up.

There are a ton of options out there (use this guide to pick one), but the primary concerns should be safety and noise. Safety is obviously important for your hedgie, and the noise will be important for you.

Since these critters will get a lot of use out of these, you don’t want to get something low-quality. There are plenty of great products that still fit into anyone’s budget!

4. Some Toys!

Some of the most important hedgehog supplies you can get are fun, soft toys! Enrichment for animals that spend a lot of their lives in cages is extremely important.

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As long as you get some toys that are safe and easy for them to play with, you’re fine. There’s not much to overthink here!

Sometimes you’ll find that your hedgehog is super interested in one for a while before losing interest altogether. This depends on the temperament and personality of your hedgie of course, but it happens!

That’s why we recommend accumulating a few that you can rotate in and out to keep things fresh and fun.

5. A Good Heating Pad

When it comes to safety, this could be one of the most important items on our list of hedgehog supplies.

K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Pad

  • Use indoors or outdoors
  • Low power consumption, 25 watts
  • Resists chewing
  • One year limited warranty

Maintaining the appropriate temperature for your hedgie is absolutely vital if you want to ensure that they stay healthy. Hibernation is something to fear if you’re a hedgehog owner, and this item will help keep things safe.

We’ve linked to our favorite pad above but feel free to do your own research as well (we will be putting together our own buyer guide for this shortly too).

Safety is the number one concern when it comes to finding the right one. You don’t want any issues with overheating because that can lead to a series of health issues too!

6. Thermometer

This fits in quite nicely with the previous item on our list. Since heat and temperature are so vital for your pet hedgehog, you need to have a reliable and accurate way to monitor how warm it is in their habitat!

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Fortunately, you can get a very high-quality thermometer for very little money. This will make your life a lot easier when it comes to keeping an eye on the temperature, and also give you peace of mind.

The most important thing to look out for is accuracy. If you’re getting inaccurate readings it could lead you to unknowingly making adjustments that could impact the health of your hedgehog.

7. Fun Hiding Places

This is another great item to get that has a number of benefits. While a lot of first-time owners think that it’s just something cute for their hedgehog to play in, there’s actually more to it than that.

MYIDEA Tunnel Playing Toys For Hedgehogs And Small Animals

  • Interactive and fun pet hideaway tunnel
  • Premium and durable material
  • Easy to wash (hand or machine)

Places to hide like tunnels and tubes are a great source of enrichment because they can mimic some of the engrained behavior that your African Pygmy Hedgehog has in their brain. It makes them feel wild!

The other big reason for this is that it can significantly reduce the amount of stress your hedgehog goes through on a daily basis. Just like people, hedgehogs sometimes want time to themselves. Having a place like this where they feel safe can go a long way. 

We know the impact that stress can have on the lifespan of hedgehogs (and all animals for that matter). Giving them a little tunnel is actually a healthy thing to do!

8. Large Playpen

It’s important for your hedgehog to have a place to go that’s outside of the cage where they spend most of their time. In this case, a playpen is perfect!

Amakunft Small Animal Playpen

  • Transparent and breathable
  • Durable polyester fabric that’s easy to clean
  • Easy to store and carry
  • Can be used inside and outside

We like going with something collapsable and large enough to fit a bunch of toys or other supplies in there. It’s also nice because it will allow you to introduce different hedgehogs to each other and even get in there to play with them yourself!

Honestly, there isn’t a whole lot to consider when it comes to these. Just something that looks nice, well-made, and easy to use is fine. Some sites will recommend one over the other, but we haven’t been able to find much of a difference between any of them when it comes to function.

9. Food

High-quality food is obviously one of the most important hedgehog supplies you can stock up on. Making the right decision with the food you provide them with is going to play a major part in their long term health.

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Most breeders and experienced owners like to buy this in bulk to save money over time. These savings can also allow you to get more expensive options that might be a little bit healthier without breaking the budget.

It’s also smart to pay attention to the latest health trends when it comes to your pets and ask more experienced owners if there’s anything new that they’re trying out. This is a responsibility that we think all owners need to have when it comes to their hedgehogs.

10. Treats

Treats are some other hedgehog supplies that you’ll want to keep plenty of. These can be used for the sake of providing extra enrichment and fun for your pet, and also varying their nutritional intake.

It can be a lot of fun for you as well! Getting more one on one time with your hedgie is a great way to bond and build a closer relationship. Feeding your hedgie up close also gives you a super cute view of their little chomps!

There are a number of different treats and things that you can give your hedgehog. Fortunately, we’ve already put together a great guide that fully explains what hedgehogs eat and different treats they like.

11. Food & Water Bowls

This is another essential item on the list that you can’t get by without. Your hedgehog needs a place for them to conveniently eat and drink, and not all products are created equal.

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Some people run out and get the first bowls they can find or us something from their cupboard. While this can work sometimes, it’s not optimal.

Getting high-quality bowls that are easy for your hedgie to access can make a big difference in their quality of life. You’ll also want to make sure that anything they’re eating from isn’t made with chemicals or materials that are toxic to them.

12. Wipes For Cleaning

One of the most important items on our list of hedgehog supplies is wipes. It’s also something that many new owners don’t think about!

Nature's Miracle Small Animal Cage Scrubbing Wipes

  • Extra thick scrubbing dot wipes remove stubborn caked on cage debris
  • Plant derived enzymatic odor control eliminates tough cage odors
  • Convenience of a wipe with a best selling formula
  • Made in USA

Making sure your hedgehog is living in a clean and healthy space is one of the most important responsibilities an owner has. In order to ensure this, you’ll be spending time cleaning various parts of their habitat throughout the week.

This could be their wheel, cage, toys, you name it! With the amount of cleaning you’ll be doing, having some trusty wipes make a world of difference.

Quick Note: Make sure you don’t stock up on anything with Lysol for your hedgehog. Lysol products can leave behind a toxic residue that can cause health problems for your pet.

13. A Litter Box

Investing in a good litter box will not only make your life easier, but it will make your hedgehog happy as well. This is one of the most underrated items on our list in our opinion!

Ware Manufacturing Critter Litter Small Pet Training Kit with Handy Guide

  • Includes: litter pan, litter scoop, and training guide
  • Locks to cage to eliminate overturned pans and scattered litter
  • Made of durable stain and odor-resistant plastic

You want something that’s easy to clean and access. Also, a box that’s made of any suspect materials shouldn’t be considered.

Make sure to keep an eye out on how much space your hedgie has in their home when you look for a litter box. You don’t want it to take up a huge chunk of their space and get in their way when they’re trying to play and exercise.

14. Nail clippers

Hedgehogs have nails that grow fairly quick. The main thing that impacts this is the fact that most pet hedgies aren’t in a lot of situations where they can naturally file them down a bit via activity.

This means it’s on you to make sure their nails are kept in check. Since hedgehogs are still a bit of an uncommon pet, you won’t really find any clippers that are specifically made for them.

Luckily it doesn’t really matter. Any small standard clipper will do the trick as long as you’re careful. It’s a good idea to get your hedgehog comfortable with handling before you do this for the first time.

15. Bath Wash

Bath wash is another item on our hedgehog supplies list that a lot of people forget about. They know it’s on them to give their hedgehogs a bath and keep them clean, but they forget about the details!

A good washing solution that’s safe and devoid of any harmful materials is an absolute must. Don’t get a standard shampoo since they’re made with chemicals that can hurt your hedgie. Anything with tea tree oil should be avoided as well.

Going with something natural that’s designed to be gentle on the skin. This will ensure that your bath time doesn’t make your hedgehog uncomfortable.

Acquire The Other Items Over Time

Our list of hedgehog supplies does not include every little piece of equipment you’ll need. This is by design.

There are so many little items that you’ll naturally accumulate over time that aren’t essential for the first day of ownership. For this reason, we wanted to spend our time focusing on the core supplies you need.

As you learn more about your hedgehog and become a more experienced owner you’ll experiment with different things. Toys, bash wash, bowls, you name it!

Being an engaged owner is part of the fun, and we highly encourage you to keep trying and testing new things. Since hedgehog ownership is still a little bit uncommon it’s up to our little community to keep improving the quality of care we provide! 

Conclusion

You now know the most important hedgehog supplies you’ll need for taking good care of your hedgehog. There are many other items you can run out and buy if you want, but these are the essentials.

If you have any suggestions on ways we can improve this list we’d love to hear from you. It’s our goal to make sure we update and improve these resources over time, so if you have any ideas we’re all ears!

Featured image photo credit 1

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