Best African Pygmy Hedgehog Starter Kit Setups

African Pygmy hedgehog starter kits offer the essential items needed to house and look after a hedgehog with minimum ease. I’ve created a minimum list of things required to get going.

There are two types of starter kits to choose from:

  • Plastic Cage Starter Kit; and
  • Vivarium Starter Kit.

Both starter kits are good options with the only difference apart from one being plastic cage based and the other a vivarium is the heating options. The plastic cage can’t use the heat lamp (ceramic heat emitter) option as this could become a fire risk, so a heat mat is recommended instead.

Hedgehog Cage starter kit setup

Deciding to go for the plastic cage option, you’ll need the following:

  • Plastic Cage;
  • Heat Mat;
  • Thermostat;
  • Thermometer;
  • House to hide;
  • Exercise Wheel;
  • Feeding/Drinking bowl;
  • Fleece-lined bedding;
  • Exercise Ball

These are the Top 2 pygmy hedgehog cage starter kits for 2020:

Cage Starter Kit items for US:

Cage Starter Kit items for UK & Europe:

Why I picked the ZooZone Habitat Large starter kit?

When I sat down and compared the different starter kit and setup options, I found the ZooZone Habitat Large starter kit ticked a lot of the boxes, as it:

  • is great value for money, compared to the other options which I found very expensive;
  • provides enough space to house our African Pygmy Hedgehog as it’s 3 feet long (101 cm) and nearly 2 feet wide (51 cm);
  • has space for our hedgehog’s running wheel, igloo house, toys, and feeding bowls; and
  • is light enough to carry as we tend to move our ZooZone Habitat cage around the house when we have visitors.
  • the Petnap Flexiguard 33 Metal Heat Pad Mat has full armored cable protection to provide protection for the main cable that connects the heat mat to the power supply;
  • the Petnap Flexiguard 33 Metal Heat Pad Mat is designed to be left on all the time, coping easily being on for days at a time;
  • the Petnap Flexiguard 33 Metal Heat Pad Mat has low running costs with approximately 25 watts an hour in electricity costs, resulting in pennies to run;
  • the Petnap Flexiguard 33 Metal Heat Pad Mat has a compatible heat mat cover available that is easy to remove for cleaning, is sturdy for the pygmy hedgehog to use and provides a layer of protection from the heat mat itself;
  • the Petnap Flexiguard 33 Metal Heat Pad Mat includes a thermostat to control temperature and a thermometer to measure the temperature inside the cage.

Features to look at in a quality starter kit setups

These are the features to look at in a quality plastic cage starter kit:

  • Cages are big enough for an African Pygmy Hedgehog to live in comfortable, the ZooZone Habitat cage is just over 3 feet long (101 cm) and nearly 2 feet wide (51 cm);
  • Cages are easy to clean, the ZooZone Habitat cage has clips to separate the different parts of the cage, making it easier to clean;
  • Cages have easy access so it’s easy to take the African Pygmy Hedgehog out as well as making it easier to remove or add items. The ZooZone Habitat cage has a grill on top, which we open to get to our hedgehog;
  • Cages have good ventilation for when it’s warmer, the ZooZone Habitat cage’s grill on the top, keeps the cage cool;
  • Cages need to have a SAFE heating source, for our ZooZone Habitat cage, a heating mat can be safely used to keep the Pygmy Hedgehog warm.

Hedgehog Vivarium starter kit setup

  • Vivarium;
  • Heat Lamp;
  • Heat Lamp Holder;
  • Heat Lamp Guard;
  • Thermostat;
  • Thermometer;
  • Exercise Wheel;
  • Feeding/Drinking Bowl;
  • Exercise Ball.

These are the Top 3 pygmy hedgehog Vivarium starter kits for 2020:

Vivarium Starter Kit items for the US:

Vivarium Starter Kit items for the UK:

Why I would pick the Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large starter kit?

Looking at getting a vivarium meant an opportunity to get a matching cabinet as part of a combo, this makes a lot of sense because:

  • Vivariums are big enough for an African Pygmy Hedgehog to live in comfortable, the Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large Beech is just over 3 feet long (101 cm) and nearly 2 feet wide (51 cm);
  • Vivariums are easy to clean, the Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large Beech has clips to separate the different parts of the Vivarium, making it easier to clean;
  • The Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large Beech saves space, allowing us to put all the pygmy hedgehog related items like the cleaning, spare running wheels, bedding to food in the cabinet;
  • The Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large Beech is incredibly stylish and just look like part of the furniture;
  • The Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium & Cabinet – Maxi Large Beech is very sturdy, providing an excellent base for the Vivexotic Repti-Home Vivarium, which is heavy;
  • the Vansuky 100W Heat Lamp is a 100 watts in power but check to make sure temperature in the area is not more than 82F (28C);
  • the Vansuky 100W Heat Lamp only emits heat, providing a warm environment for a pygmy hedgehog;
  • the Vansuky 100W Heat Lamp is compatible with a number of Heat Lamp holders like the Komodo Ceramic ES Lamp Fixture & Mounting Bracket, allowing for simple mounting in the vivarium;
  • the Vansuky 100W Heat Lamp is compatible with a number of Heat Lamp guards like the Petblis Prorep Heater Guard, providing protection against burns for a pygmy hedgehog;

Features to look at in a quality Vivarium Cabinet combo starter kit

These are the features to look at in a quality Vivarium Cabinet combo:

  • Make sure the cabinet if bought separately is the same length and width (depth) as the vivarium otherwise, the vivarium on top won’t fit in snuggly and safely;
  • Make sure the cabinet matches the same style as the vivarium, so getting a beech style vivarium would require a beech style cabinet;
  • Make sure the wood used in the cabinet like the vivarium isn’t toxic to hedgehogs;
  • Make sure the Vivarium Cabinet is strong and sturdy enough to take the weight of the Vivarium;