Turn Up The Heat

Hedgehogs come from a desert climate. They require a minimium temperature no lower than 70 degrees. Some hedgies are extremely cold sensitive and need a warmer environment.

The best way to keep your pet warm is to house him in a room kept at the necessary temperature. However, a ceramic heat element or "human" heating pad can be useful in assuring the necessary warmth. Keep in mind, though, these devices raise the cage temperature only a few degrees. As such, they're helpful only as a suppplemental heat source.

Don't use a lamp as a heat source, since the light will disrupt your pet's natural sleep cycle. We also recommend against the use of reptile heat sources such as rocks, caves, or under-tank heaters. These are often of poor quality, so unreliable. Also, many hedgehogs will lay as close as possible to these heat sources for long periods of time, potentially leading to serious burns.

Hibernation & Torpor

It is commonly stated that pet hedgehogs will begin to hibernate if temperatures get too cold. However, this isn't completely accurate. Only a few animals truly hibernate. One of those animals is the European hedgehog, but no African species hibernates. A species found in southern Africa, where it can get rather cold, does go into torpor.

Torpor is similar to hibernation, but not as extreme. When in true hibernation, the metabolic rate is reduced to a minimum and the animal enters into a deep sleep. During this time, the animal survives on food reserves. Generally, an animal in torpor wakes up every few days to eat, drink and eliminate. This is unnecessary for an animal in a true hibernation.

Torpor isn't a normal event for pet hedgehogs. It is an extreme response to an extreme environmental condition. It can cause a great deal of shock to the system, and could lead to the death of your pet. This is especially true if the animal stays in torpor for an extended period. For this reason, it is important to assure your pet is kept at least 70 degrees Farenheit.

Occasionally, we speak with pet owners who report their hedgehog entering torpor when the temperature seems adequate. There are three likely reasons:

Although the temperature is adequate, the light isn't. Like most animals, hedgehogs are more sensitive to light changes than to temperature. As such, inadequate amounts of light could lead to torpor. If a hedgehog seems especially sluggish, provide supplemental light. A full spectrum bulb would be the best choice. Even though they'll sleep through it, leave it on 12-14 hours per day. A timer is recommended.
For a few hedgies, 70 degrees Fahrenheit just doesn't seem to be warm enough. If you've had repeat attempts at torpor, you should probably turn the heat up a bit more or provide a supplemental heat source.
The animal may be in poor general condition and entering a hibernation-like condition to conserve resources. In this case, an immediate trip to the vet is warranted.

What You Can Do

To prevent torpor, be sure to keep your pet in an appropriately warm environment. Also, during cooler weather, remain observant of your pet's behavior. If he acts sluggish or unusually lazy, take action immediately. Finally, keep hand warmers around for power outages or other emergencies.

If, despite your best efforts, the temperature drops below 70 degrees, act immediately by slowly warming the animal. If the temperature didn't drop much below 70 degrees, your body temperature may be adequate. Hold your pet cupped in both hands and up against you.

If this doesn't have an almost immediate result, if the temperature dropped below 65 degrees, or if your hedgie had been exposed to cold temperatures for more than an hour, wrap your pet in a heating pad set at a low temperature. Monitor him closely and seek medical assistance immediately.

Estivation

Estivation is the opposite of torpor. It happens when the temperature gets too hot. Although this could occur with a pet hedgehog, it is unlikely. Remember, pet hedgehogs are from the savannahs and deserts of Africa. Your home would have to get extremely hot to duplicate the temperatures there. However, for the safety and comfort of your pet, keep his environment no hotter than 85 degrees.