Is a heating pad an acceptable device for heating my hedgehogs cage?

Question

I have a basic heating pad under the end of my hedgehog's cage that has the shelter she will sleep in. But I'm slightly worried so I was wondering a few questions and if you could help me out with any of these that would be great.

1. Is using this heating pad safe?

2. How else could I keep her cage between 72-09 degrees always? (Sometimes my room temp may go below 72, so I need to know her cage will stay 72 or above so she will not start to hibernate which will be very dangerous for her to do.)

3. Her cage has a plastic bottom and wire top and I don't understand how tell what the temperature of her cage is if the heating source is under the plastic bottom. Surely the temp she will be feeling touching the bedding, which is touching the plastic bottom, which is sitting on the heating pad, will be warmer than the temp a thermometer will be reading above the bedding.

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

no        you can get a heating element like a heat pad at the pet store that is safe sticks to the bottom heats up to proper temp

Answer 2

As long as the heating pad is not under the cage it is ok. Temporarily. Getting a heat lamp is the best thing to do.