Avoid High-Phosphorous, Sweet, Sticky, Hard or Acidic Foods
| Foods to Avoid | Reason to avoid |
| Milk and dairy | Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Milk a ... |
| Bread and Potatoes | Hedgehogs struggle to digest starchy foo ... |
| Sunflower hearts and peas | The high phosphorus content can upset th ... |
| Dried fruits | These are high in sugar, leading to weig ... |
What is the best food for a hedgehog?
- Live crickets, mealworms, or silkworms
- Bits of plain, cooked meat with no seasonings or salt (no processed meats)
- Raw or cooked vegetables and fresh fruit (no citrus)
- Unsweetened “stage 1” pureed baby food (no grains)
- Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs (plain: no salt or butter)
What human food can you feed a hedgehog?
- Berries
- Apples with no skin or seeds
- Bananas
- Melons
- Pears
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Peas
- Hardboiled egg whites
- Cooked lean meats
What type of food do you feed a hedgehog?
Types Of Hedgehog Food:
- Cat/Dog Food: Believe it or not, cat food is often recommended for hedgehogs since it has high levels of protein. ...
- Soft hedgehog Food: Hedgehog food should include a variety of soft and hard foods. ...
- Insects: Although insects are an important aspect to incorporate into your hedgehog food, not all insects can be used.
What foods are safe for hedgehogs?
- Romaine lettuce
- Arugula
- Dandelion greens
- Collard greens
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Asparagus
- Radish, turnip
- Green pepper
What is the best thing to feed a hedgehog?
Apples, bananas, berries, and melons are popular choices among hedgehogs. Vegetables: Fresh tomatoes, fresh green beans, and cooked squash are some options that your hedgehog may enjoy. Starchy vegetables, such as corn, potatoes, and carrots should be avoided as well as dried vegetables.
What can I feed a wild hedgehog?
What can I feed hedgehogs? Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food, as these are high in the protein that they need. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary.
What should you not feed hedgehogs?
Feeding hedgehogsLeave out foods like tinned dog or cat food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. ... Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread - milk can cause diarrhoea and bread isn't very nutritious.Check the food and water bowls each day to top them up with fresh water and food, and remove any food that hasn't been eaten.More items...
What do hedgehogs normally eat?
To better explore why this is, let's look at their diet in the wild. Hedgehogs eat a wide variety of things, but the main course for them is insects. Sometimes they will snack on other small critters like slugs, frogs, fish, worms, and eggs.
What to do if you find a hedgehog in your garden?
Bring the hedgehog indoors, place it on a towel-wrapped hot water bottle in a cardboard box. When it is brighter, offer some dog food and water. If the hedgehog does not respond, then take it to your local wildlife rescue centre.
Can hedgehogs eat lettuce?
Dark, Green and Leafy Veterinarian-recommended hedgehog fruit and veggie mixes are based on nutritious greens. Kale, romaine or leaf lettuces and collard greens are all good choices.
Can I feed hedgehogs cat biscuits?
What food should I feed to wild hedgehogs? Good quality proprietary hedgehog biscuits, dog biscuits and cat biscuits are best in that order. Along with plenty of fresh drinking water offered in a shallow sided dish. Cooked meaty dog and cat food are also good alternatives.
Do hedgehogs eat bread?
What not to feed hedgehogs. The following foods should be avoided when feeding hedgehogs: Bread and milk: hogs are lactose intolerant so milk can make them ill and bread has little nutritional value.
What to do if you find a hedgehog in the day?
If they are out during the day there MAY be a problem. If it seems to have a purpose and is going somewhere, or has a mouthful of leaves, it is probably fine. Otherwise a hedgehog found out during daylight should be restrained in a box or cage, INDOORS, then call a rescue for advice.
Can a hedgehog eat a banana?
Since hedgehogs are well-known insect eaters, it can be surprising to learn that hedgehogs can thrive on fresh fruits and vegetables too. Bananas are especially tasty treats for your hedgehog because they contain fiber, folate, potassium, vitamin C and B6, and manganese.
What do hedgehogs drink?
In terms of water, hedgehogs ingest water from their prey and natural sources like dew and puddles. Ponds also provide a water source so it's important to ensure garden ponds have sloping sides or an exit ramp so 'hogs don't fall in and get stuck.
Is it lucky to have a hedgehog in your garden?
Few people know that hedgehogs are actually valuable pest controllers in gardens. They eat snails, slugs, and insects, protecting your lovely plants from disease and pest infections. It's official: hedgehogs are a gardener's best friend.
What do hedgehogs eat?
So, hedgehogs will devour almost whatever happens to cross their path if it looks or smells tasty. For example, they’ll eat insects, beetles, worms, slugs, millipedes, spiders, and ants.
Why do hedgehogs eat wet cat food?
They had a lot of experience with their native hedgehogs. They used wet and dry cat food because it was nutritious and widely available, and it worked well. It contained a good amount of protein and fat, similar to the hedgehog’s natural diet, and those organizations still recommend it.
Why do hedgehogs like crickets?
Crickets are a great choice if your hedgehog is prone to gain weight because they’re lower in fat than mealworms.
What happens if a hedgehog eats too much phosphorus?
If there’s too much phosphorus in your hedgehog’s diet, it could cause a calcium deficiency. This calcium deficiency, Metabolic Bone Disease, is a weakening of the bones. It’s not only painful but can also be fatal. So, it’s crucial to maintain a proper proportion of calcium and phosphorus in your hedgehog’s diet.
Why is fiber important for hedgehogs?
The thing is that fiber is an essential element of your hedgehog’s diet as it helps the digestion of protein and fat. In the wild, they get their fiber from insect exoskeletons, which contain chitin. Hedgehogs have a particular enzyme called chitinase, which enables them to use this chitin as their fiber intake.
Why do hedgehogs eat all night?
Because in the wild, hedgehogs forage all night searching for and consuming food. In captivity, they’re not burning energy in this way, but the high-fat content of insects, coupled with the hedgehog’s relative inactivity, means it’s prone to putting on weight. Also, in the wild, African Pygmy hedgehogs are aestivate.
What is the recommended protein level for a pig?
Suggested Nutritional Content. But, from the information available, when in captivity, the recommended levels are around 30-50% protein and 10-20% fat, with about 15% fiber. The protein and fat contents are often refined to a maximum of about 35% for protein and 15% for fat.
What is the best food for a hedgehog?
Chitin is a necessary component to a hedgehog's diet but it isn't the only thing a hedgehog needs from its food, so various items should be fed in addition to insects. Mealworms: Live or freeze-dried mealworms are a good source of chitin for hedgehogs.
What are some good treats for hedgehogs?
Waxworms: Live waxworms are higher in fat but lower in chitin content than mealworms so these should be saved as treats for hedgehogs. Crickets: Also available live or freeze-dried, crickets provide chitin as well as mental stimulation for a hedgehog.
Can hedgehogs eat crickets?
Crickets: Also available live or freeze-dried, crickets provide chitin as well as mental stimulation for a hedgehog. As with other insects, gut-loading should be done before feeding crickets to your hedgehog to ensure they are loaded with nutrition.
Do hedgehogs eat cat kibble?
Hedgehogs are prone to obesity, so it is of utmost importance to monitor how much you are feeding it. The hedgehog or cat kibble should make up the majority of the daily diet, and even though a hedgehog is very active at night and burns a lot of energy, you'll want to control how much kibble it gets.
When do hedgehogs eat?
If there is more than a 10 percent weight gain you should cut back on how much food is offered. A hedgehog may eat more at night when it is most active and running on its wheel, so don't worry if you don't see it eating much during the day.
Do hedgehogs need cat food?
Being insectivores, hedgehogs need nutrients that may not be found in many other pet foods. Historically, cat food was often used to feed these spiky pocket pets, but there are also quality hedgehog foods that provide ideal nutritional components for a hedgehog to eat.
Is a hedgehog an omnivore?
Hedgehogs are considered either omnivores or insectivores, depending on the source referenced. If you look at the actual diet of a hedgehog you'll see that the omnivore description is probably a more accurate one since hedgehogs in the wild will eat a variety of foods, not just insects. Different species of hedgehogs will have slightly varied diets depending on the part of the world they are from, but most pet hedgehogs are African Pygmy hedgehogs so being a hybrid, their diet isn't the same as a wild hedgehog.
What is the best food for a hedgehog?
Of the 14 foods we have listed as safe to feed your hedgehog, most would agree the high-quality cat food is the best choice as it’s inexpensive, easy to find, and contains all of the necessary ingredients in the proper ratios. If you have access and unlimited funds, hedgehog food is the obvious choice. Hedgehogs enjoy a varied meal, so you may want to stock up on several of these items. Keep a constant watch over your pet’s weight because hedgehogs love to eat and can quickly become obese.
What do hedgehogs eat?
The hedgehog is an omnivore and feeds on a variety of insects and small animals, as well as plants, berries, and vegetables. Some of the foods they like to eat in the wild are as follows.
Can hedgehogs eat insects?
Unfortunately, your pet hedgehog will not get the exercise that a wild hedgehog gets. Also, some of these foods are hard for the wild hedgehog to get, so they eat very little. Even though insects contain Chitlin, which is an important nutrient for hedgehogs, it can gain weight if fed too many, so it’s better to give these foods as treats.
Do hedgehogs need water?
All life needs plenty of clean water to stay healthy, and the hedgehog is no different. We recommend you always keep a constant flow of clean water within the hedgehogs reach so they can stay hydrated at will, reducing urinary tract infections and other problems associated with dehydration.
Can hedgehogs be pets?
Hedgehogs are not commonly kept as pets, and many new parents may not have a clear idea of what types of foods are best to feed them and what foods you should avoid. We’ve researched this topic well and own several hedgehogs ourselves. We will list as many foods that they can eat as we can, as well as tell you a little about them and how to find them.
Is grape poisonous to hedgehogs?
Grapes – Grapes are also toxic to hedgehogs and should not them to your pet.
Is dry cat food good for cats?
Dry cat food is an excellent second choice, and many people recommend using cat food as their main food source due to its availability and high-quality ingredients. The thing to remember when buying cat food is to use a brand that has about 35% protein and 15% fat. You also want to make sure the first ingredient is chicken and not a meat byproduct or a carbohydrate.
What to feed a hedgehog?
Meats. Try to get lean cuts of the following meats , and only give them to your hedgehog as a snack a few times a week. It’s best if you buy the meats raw and cook them yourself, as precooked meats are often full of salt and other ingredients that are bad for your pet’s health. Chicken. Salmon.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs are omnivores, and as such, they can eat small amounts of lean, cooked meat, like chicken, salmon, tuna, or the occasional bite of steak.
How Often Do Hedgehogs Drink Water?
A healthy hedgehog should drink somewhere in the vicinity of 1 ½ to 2 ½ tablespoons of water every day.
Why does my hedgehog stop eating?
Featured Image Credit: szabfer, Pixabay. There are many reasons that a hedgehog might stop eating. Many of them have to do with stress, but others could be signs of disease or illness. Don’t be alarmed if your hedgehog doesn’t eat when you first bring them home or if you move to a new place.
What does it mean when a hedgehog has a blockage?
They may have an intestinal blockage, an upset stomach, problems with their teeth and gums, or a more serious disease, like cancer. If you’ve tried to solve the problem yourself to no avail, take your hedgehog to the vet as soon as possible.
Why won't my hedgehog eat?
If you suspect that your hedgehog’s refusal to eat is due to environmental factors rather than health problems, you can try to remedy the problem yourself. You can also try to tempt your hedgehog to eat by offering them high-value foods, like baby food or other beloved treats.
What could be affecting my hedgehog's appetite?
Other things that could be affecting your pet’s appetite include loneliness or discomfort due to temperature . You should do everything in your power to make sure your hedgehog is comfortable, and that may include changing the ambient temperature in their tank or getting them a friend.
What do hedgehogs eat?
The hedgehog’s natural diet mainly consists of ground beetles, caterpillars, worms and slugs.
How to stop aggression in garden?
Place in a shallow dish and put in a sheltered area of your garden, or a feeding station (see below), around sunset. Splitting food over several sites may reduce aggression at food bowls. Don’t forget to offer water bowls too!
Do hedgehogs eat cat food?
Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food, as these are high in the protein that they need. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary.
Can you feed hedgehogs bread and milk?
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so please do not give them milk. Bread is low in energy so fairly worthless to them.
What is the diet of a hedgehog?
The rest of their diet consists in fruits and vegetables. However, we must bear in mind that their diets will vary depending on their species and which part of the world they are from. When it comes to the nutrition of a hedgehog. Their diet consists of: Protein: should be around 22% of their diet, always less than 35%.
What do wild hedgehogs eat?
Some are capable of traveling enormous distances at night. They eat considerable amounts of insects of any kind, especially underground ones, such as:
Why are hedgehogs important?
Wild hedgehogs help in pest control as they mainly eat insects. When adopting a domestic hedgehog, it's important to imitate their diet as close as possible to what they would eat in the wild. This way, we make sure they live a long and happy life. You may also be interested in our article about why hedgehogs bite.
How long do hedgehogs drink milk?
Hoglets will consume only milk until they are approximately six weeks of age. Then, they will begin eating the same foods as their mother, which we have mentioned above.
What are some forbidden foods for hedgehogs?
Here is the complete list of forbidden foods for hedgehogs: Dairy products. Fatty foods.
Can hedgehogs be domesticated?
Nowadays, they can also be domestic pets. However, many hedgehog companions ask themselves what pet hedgehogs eat. In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain what hedgehogs eat. We'll go through their nutrition and complete food list.
Do hedgehogs drink their mothers milk?
Baby hedgehogs, also known as hoglets, are mammals and therefore drink their mother's milk as babies. If they are with their mother, she will take care of feeding them and providing all the care they need. Humans shouldn't intervene or stop this process as it's very important for their health and wellbeing.
What human food can you feed a hedgehog?
Take a look at the following lists. In the first one, we put all the food items that should be eaten as main food sources. The second list shows all the food that is best for snacks and treats. But do remember that this is just a broad overview. All of the food comes with important exceptions. Some common food is dangerous for hedgehogs!
What is the best food for a hedgehog?
When you give too much protein, this isn’t good for you hedgie as well. Let’s make a short list of the best vegetables that you can give to your hedgehog: Arugula. Broccoli. Dandelion greens. Spinach.
What are the best snacks and treats for hedgies?
Best snacks and treats include fruits and vegetables. Still, some experts admit that even regular chicken should stay as a treat. According to them, the most optimal way is to give chicken along with other snacks three to four times a week. Actually, this makes a lot of sense. The hedgehog food or cat food already contains high-quality protein. When you give too much protein, this isn’t good for you hedgie as well. Let’s make a short list of the best vegetables that you can give to your hedgehog:
What else should I know about giving human food to hedgehogs?
Avoid food that’s sweet. Refined sugar isn’t nice for your hedgehog at all. Both sticky and hard foods don’t make for good snacks. The hard ones could quickly become a choking hazard for your hedgie. On the other hand, sticky foods, like all sorts of dried fruit, can get stuck to the mouth roof or teeth. In turn, your hedgie can develop serious tooth decay or just plain discomfort.
Why is canned meat not good for hedgehogs?
Fried and spicy foods don’t get along well with an average hedgehog stomach. Frying inevitably creates greasier food. Consequently, that isn’t well-handled by their intestinal system adapted to lesser fat intake. Excessive salt in food is another serious concern. That’s one of the reasons why canned meat is out of their menu. Inadequate salt intake creates electrolyte imbalance in their body. And that could become an acute health threat. Better be safe than sorry!
Can hedgehogs eat chicken?
Many of the human foods overlap with hedgehogs’ meal preferences. But that concerns the snacks and treats. Their main source of calories should come from a high-quality cat or hedgehog food. As for snacks, you could provide poultry, fruits, and vegetables. Basically, all of these food groups carry many important exceptions. You should learn about these before offering any food to your hedgehog. This ensures the good you give to your prickly buddy doesn’t threaten their health and well-being in any way.
Is a hedgehog an insectivore?
Hedgehogs are omnivorous or insectivorous, depending on who you ask. That means their menu covers a lot of different food items. Now, you might wonder what kind of human food can you feed a hedgehog? In this post, we’ll cover exactly this question along with the basics of hedgehog nutrition needs.
What food should I feed to wild hedgehogs?
Good quality proprietary hedgeh og biscuits, dog biscuits and cat biscuits are best in that order. Along with plenty of fresh drinking water offered in a shallow sided dish. Cooked meaty dog and cat food are also good alternatives. Ark wildlife stocks a great range of hedgehog food that means you don’t have to go making your own!
What is the best food for hedgehogs?
Along with plenty of fresh drinking water offered in a shallow sided dish. Cooked meaty dog and cat food are also good alternatives. Ark wildlife stocks a great range of hedgehog food that means you don’t have to go making your own!
What else should I consider when feeding hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs are natural insectivores* but in addition to insects, they can enjoy and digest quite a variety of foods. Insect and animal proteins are best but bear in mind hedgehogs need a lot of fibre (think of all those insect and snail shells they eat!), so overly processed foods are out. Being nocturnal insectivores*, they are necessarily very efficient at processing vitamins (we need sunlight to produce vitamin D, hedgehogs do not), so watch the additives in pet foods as some cat food can have very high levels of vitamin A and D. Hedgehogs have evolved to metabolise fat easily and gain weight quickly, ideal for an animal that hibernates. While I’ve never seen an obese hedgehog in the wild, I’ve seen plenty in captivity! Just bear this in mind and avoid overfeeding, or excessively fatty foods.
Should I feed vegetables to my hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs do not generally feed on any vegetable matter but do ingest some greens incidentally while feeding on worms and other invertebrates. They do not make a nutritional contribution and do not need to be provided.
What harms hedgehogs?
There are so many easy ways to support and provide food for hedgehogs, that there are simply never reasons to offer milk, salted food or sweets. Hedgehogs may well appear to be enjoying them but you could well be killing them with kindness. Do not feed these items.
What causes a hedgehog to weaken?
It is a weakening of the bones (amongst other symptoms) caused by a lack of calcium. The hedgehogs’ diet is poor in calcium and much of its natural food prey have a poor calcium : phosphorous ratio (the same is true of bats, another nocturnal insectivore). Therefore, when providing supplementary feeds, it’s important to ensure we add calcium to their diet and do not strip it even more. The two things hedgehogs need are room to roam and good quality food that has an appropriate calcium balance to avoid this condition.
Why is dried fruit not good for hedgehogs?
The issue with dried fruit is the much higher sugar content and stickiness compared to fresh. As there is no nutritional reason for feeding dried fruit, the small risk of tooth decay excludes their use. Dried fruit will not attract hedgehogs to your garden and better foods are available.
