Hedgehog housing
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), a copyrighted professional veterinary reference. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
*[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Wild hedgehogs are solitary; as pets they are usually housed in individual cages. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Large, plastic storage containers or single-level, plastic-bottomed wire cages are suitable, provided the wire is appropriately spaced. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Minimum floor dimensions of 2 x 3 feet (0.6 x 0.9 m) are recommended. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Hedgehogs can climb and escape through small holes, so the cage must be secure and preferably lidded. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Sufficient ventilation is important when selecting an enclosure. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Widely spaced wires can result in limb entrapment or death. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Glass aquariums are not recommended because of poor ventilation. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* The ideal diet for a hedgehog is a commercially prepared hedgehog or insectivore food. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Depending on the animal's weight and activity, 3-4 tsp (15-20 mL) of the main diet is typically fed daily.