Thank you for uploading this content, and the one previously before this. I'm wanting to do the same thing for our boy Broly. So far I've only found 3 people including you that have posted video's about doing it. I hope your both doing well.
Where is the ventilation with an enclosure like this? I too am considering a reptile PVC enclosure but working with the builder to incorporate ventilation all around the top sides and back, and then the CHE is actually going to be screwed straight into an outlet in the enclosure. And there’s gonna be 2 enclosures stacked one on top of another. Each 18” in height. And the top 5” is going to be like actual “small animal cage” bars along the sides and then in the back, to keep more with the vivarium theme, some small mesh ventilation holes discreetly placed along the back. It’s really important that your hedgehog has enough ventilation, and with this cage I’m not seeing any, heat rises… so with the CHE ontop of his cage, you’re essentially creating a sauna for your hedgehog with nowhere for extra heat to escape. Just thought you might want to consider cutting some holes for ventilation or looking online at DIY hedgehog viv examples. They give ideas of how to properly ventilate. Lastly, I know you’re going for a naturalistic, bioactive look, however, the fake plants and all the sharp edges I see on the decor is kinda concerning as hedgehogs are almost blind, especially during the day when they require 12-14hrs of light to simulate their version of the moon, and this is an absolute must do - mine are on a strict schedule of 9am lights on to 9pm lights off… and then at night, they need complete darkness, and they do see slightly better in the dark, however… still really blind with horrible depth perception. So getting back to the decor, your hedgehog could either attempt to eat a fake plant and get an obstruction or walk right into it and poke it’s eyeball. I’ve heard some sad stories of eyeballs being poked by a plant and hedgehogs loosing an eye. So if any of your hides have sharp edges, file them down inside and out, and I’d be very bf cautious with the plants. Perhaps use the online guide for fully bioactive hedgie enclosures which can be found online and it lists live plants suitable for the hedgehog. There’s a few videos of people doing full hedgehog bioactive here on RUclips. A good source for hedgehog info is the forum hedgehogcentral and of course other RUclipsrs. But my main concerns about your enclosures are no ventilation that I can see, cause the top mesh doesn’t count as ventilation if it’s covered by a spacer, and the CHE is pushing heat downwards, and then the heat is just flowing back up to the top - there’s no way for the heat to escape the cage, nor is there any space where you could put a fan cause there’s not vents. And then the sharp edges and plastic plants being a chewing as well as poking hazard. Also don’t forget wood attracts mites. So be careful when it comes to the hides you select and what wood they could be made of.
Beautiful work! I just advise you to be careful because it could get hurt (especially the legs) easily with all those branches, I tell you this from personal experience! Also try to get used to and get used to contact without gloves, taking it from the belly and not from the back! Kisses to you and the hedgehog of Italy!
Thank you for uploading this content, and the one previously before this. I'm wanting to do the same thing for our boy Broly. So far I've only found 3 people including you that have posted video's about doing it. I hope your both doing well.
Where is the ventilation with an enclosure like this? I too am considering a reptile PVC enclosure but working with the builder to incorporate ventilation all around the top sides and back, and then the CHE is actually going to be screwed straight into an outlet in the enclosure. And there’s gonna be 2 enclosures stacked one on top of another. Each 18” in height. And the top 5” is going to be like actual “small animal cage” bars along the sides and then in the back, to keep more with the vivarium theme, some small mesh ventilation holes discreetly placed along the back.
It’s really important that your hedgehog has enough ventilation, and with this cage I’m not seeing any, heat rises… so with the CHE ontop of his cage, you’re essentially creating a sauna for your hedgehog with nowhere for extra heat to escape.
Just thought you might want to consider cutting some holes for ventilation or looking online at DIY hedgehog viv examples. They give ideas of how to properly ventilate.
Lastly, I know you’re going for a naturalistic, bioactive look, however, the fake plants and all the sharp edges I see on the decor is kinda concerning as hedgehogs are almost blind, especially during the day when they require 12-14hrs of light to simulate their version of the moon, and this is an absolute must do - mine are on a strict schedule of 9am lights on to 9pm lights off… and then at night, they need complete darkness, and they do see slightly better in the dark, however… still really blind with horrible depth perception. So getting back to the decor, your hedgehog could either attempt to eat a fake plant and get an obstruction or walk right into it and poke it’s eyeball. I’ve heard some sad stories of eyeballs being poked by a plant and hedgehogs loosing an eye. So if any of your hides have sharp edges, file them down inside and out, and I’d be very bf cautious with the plants. Perhaps use the online guide for fully bioactive hedgie enclosures which can be found online and it lists live plants suitable for the hedgehog. There’s a few videos of people doing full hedgehog bioactive here on RUclips.
A good source for hedgehog info is the forum hedgehogcentral and of course other RUclipsrs.
But my main concerns about your enclosures are no ventilation that I can see, cause the top mesh doesn’t count as ventilation if it’s covered by a spacer, and the CHE is pushing heat downwards, and then the heat is just flowing back up to the top - there’s no way for the heat to escape the cage, nor is there any space where you could put a fan cause there’s not vents.
And then the sharp edges and plastic plants being a chewing as well as poking hazard. Also don’t forget wood attracts mites. So be careful when it comes to the hides you select and what wood they could be made of.
Beautiful work! I just advise you to be careful because it could get hurt (especially the legs) easily with all those branches, I tell you this from personal experience! Also try to get used to and get used to contact without gloves, taking it from the belly and not from the back! Kisses to you and the hedgehog of Italy!
Thank you for the advice! I do frequent health checks just in case too! And also super fair I should get better grabbing him without gloves.
I have 2 . Groot and Delia. Love them
They’re such unique creatures! Great names for yours!!