Reddit reviews Fluker's Ceramic Heat Emitter for Reptiles

Another male? Aspen is ok though carefresh or better yet (and certainly cheaper in the long run) fleece. You can just go to a Joann's or walmart or any hobby/sewing store and buy some fleece. Toss it in the wash as needed with an extra set in reserve. Cat food is what you should transition him to, high quality. I do blue buffalo cat food personally. It will last you a VERY long time. Hedgehog food is never as good for them as it should be. I will provide some amazon links for things you should probably get, the main one that you should but not quite have to if you have a room in the proper temp range is 72-80 degrees. Please come over to Hedgehogs Anonymous on Facebook request to join, then once you are in simply go to the files and take a look at them. I am a college student myself so I do my best to keep costs low though obviously start up costs will be high but after that its really quite cheap mostly (aside from possible vet visits).

Modular shelving can be the cage and gives him plenty of open room to roam and play around. This is the shelving I personally use and can vouch for. I have a 3x3 grid so 9 sq ft. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LGZOR6A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here is the food I get for my Sophie. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KU55KD2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Heating set up, again this is only if you need it and can keep the temp in the right range naturally. I dont know where you live so I do not know what your winters are like but if you get temps in the 50s or lower I do recommend it. Another preventative measure is to put the cage a foot or so off the ground, will actually keep your temps a few degrees higher than on the ground.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHO6S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Ceramic Heat Emitter - Use this and NOT a heat light or something for reptiles, they need to have a period of darkness to be naturally awake 12/12 light on/off schedule All that the CHE does is emit heat, no light.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CZ0J3E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Thermostat with a temp probe. Plug the CHE lamp into this and it automatically turns the CHE on and off to keep the temp in the right range.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003H200QC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The lamp part to plug the CHE bulb into.

Hide - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068K132/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mint Stick (it seems all hedgies love these things lol)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8Q5JTO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

food dishes
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040B9NOY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are all the bare essentials aside from a wheel. I and most other people will recommend the Volcano View Hedgehogs bucket wheel or Carolina Storm bucket wheel.

I was just trying to be a thorough as possible without really leaving out anything. Again please join us over at Hedgehogs Anonymous on facebook. Everyone in the group absolutely loves helping everyone with a hedge. Any question that you may have can and will be answered fairly quickly. Most if not all members would recommend getting from a USDA certified breeder just so you know the full medical history of your baby and his parents. Its also generally cheaper as the cost from a breeder is generally around $200 though that depends on the coloring. I am by no means saying do not get him from your pet store you played with him at. I dont like pet stores having hedgehogs just because they are a more sensitive exotic animal that doesnt do well in a retail setting when you have to take care of hundreds of animals at once with high overhead. But if he is behaves well with you now then absolutely get him from there. He looks on the smaller side so hes pretty young.

Again please join us over at Hedgehogs Anonymous. Cant wait to see you and your baby on there. You could potentially take him home today with a cheap bin, simple fleece bolts and food and water dishs from what you have in your house and thatll last until the rest of your supplies are acquired.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/382631271838164/

I have ball pythons not sand boas, but what I use for ambient heat is a CHE (ceramic heat emitter). You would need a dome with a ceramic base because they can get very hot. I use this one , and the CHE can also be found on Amazon like this one . I also have mine on a dimming thermostat, since on/off thermostats can wear out the bulbs, but those can be pricey. I know some people will just use the dimmer knob for the dome, but you will need an infrared heat gun to check surface temps and adjust to make sure it’s not too hot, and check it regularly as it won’t adjust itself if your ambient temperature in your room fluctuates.

It's okay! Take a deep breath. :) The plastic concern is about the socket that the bulb screws into, inside of the dome. If the socket is plastic, you'd need a different dome fixture, not a different tank.

I suggested a chick brooding fixture because I figured you probably have access or Tractor Supply or a feed store, but if not that's no problem. They sell them at hardware stores too. Here is an example from Home Depot. It doesn't specifically have to be this.

Here's an example of a ceramic bulb

If the tank lid / screen is plastic, I do not know if you can put the dome directly on the lid, sorry. I would clip or hang the fixture so it isn't sitting directly on the tank if you can. This will also make it easier to open the lid.

Oooh, so something like this guy?

We have her lights automated, wouldn't be too hard to automate one of these on when the light goes off!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DHO6S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002DHO6S&linkCode=as2&tag=bdlife-20

CHEs are good heat sources and dont emit any light, and realistically aren't very expensive. I have a few of these and they work very well. I have them on dimmable flukers lamp domes.

The drawback to CHE's is that they definitely dry out the air fairly quickly.

What do you have set up for heat right now?

http://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Ceramic-Heat-Emitter-Reptiles/dp/B0002DHO6S/ref=pd_sim_199_6?ie=UTF8&dpID=41%2B2atqosfL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR145%2C160_&refRID=1N2AFZKQN9DVQG6VNBC9

I have it screwed in to a simple light socket with clamps attached to it to hold it in place.

It is hooked up to my STC-1000 in a side-by-side frankenfridge.

I like the Fluker's ceramic IR bulbs. I've got one that's probably 7 or 8 years old and no signs of crapping out. (I'm pretty sure that's the brand I have, anyway. The packaging looks right.)

Fluker's Ceramic Heat Emitter 100 Watt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHO6S/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_AVjbvb0AP9PCN

Zeus and hades each have one of these
They work very well. :)

Ceramic heat bulbs (no visible light, IR however is the main output) for decoys, in front of a fan that has a net attached to the back. just empty the net every now and then.

https://www.amazon.com/Flukers-Ceramic-Heat-Emitter-Reptiles/dp/B0002DHO6S

A 'thermostat' is not the same thing as a 'thermometer'. A thermostat is a machine that controls the power of a heating element based on the temperature read by an attached sensor. If the temperature sensor detects above a certain 'target' temperature, it lowers the power to the heating element. If the temperature sensor detects below that temperature, it increases power to the heating element. The Herpstat thermostats I linked also include a clock that can keep track of time and change the 'target' temperature at certain times.

If your 'infrared bulb' emits light of any color, it's not good for night-time use. Even red light is visible to reptiles. Use a ceramic heat emitter / ceramic heating element instead, like this one.

They make ceramic heat emitters that cost ~$6 and are rated to last at least 10-15x longer than an incandescent bulb so cheaper per hour. They're compatible with existing sockets, they don't disrupt sleep cycles, and they're commonly waterproof and shatter resistant. Infrared is also more effective at warming animals as it penetrates the skin more rather than just warming the air.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DHO6S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CpBCDb00BYAY5

I would use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) or a DHP (deep heat projector.) these both go into tile/slate and keep it warm very well.