Pygmy hedgehogs can eat:
- High-quality dry cat food
- High-quality dog food
- Specialised hedgehog food
- Lean meats
- Boiled or scrambled eggs
- Some fruit & veg
- Insects
- Baby food
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)
How much and how often do you feed a hedgehog?
You should free feed your hedgie, that's what most people here do As for how much a hedgehog eats, it varies between hog to hog. Kashi eats about 20-30 kibbles a night, so I put in about 40 in his bowl... but recently I have had to start crushing up his kibble into smaller pieces (because he kept choking on them), so I measure by table spoon, and he eats about 1 tbsp a night.
What type of food do you feed a hedgehog?
What to Feed a Hedgehog Pet: The Complete Guide
- Use Good Quality Dry Meat-Based Cat Food As the Staple. ...
- Use Moist Meat-Based Cat and Dog Foods as an Addition. ...
- Supplement Your Hedgehog’s Staple Diet With Insects. ...
- Try to Avoid Poor Quality Speciality Hedgehog Foods. ...
- Add Small Quantities of Unseasoned Cooked Meat and Eggs. ...
- Water Is a Vital Part of a Pet Hedgehog’s Feeding Needs. ...
What foods are safe for hedgehogs?
- Romaine lettuce
- Arugula
- Dandelion greens
- Collard greens
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Asparagus
- Radish, turnip
- Green pepper
What does a pygmy hedgehog eat?
African pygmy hedgehogs are natural omnivores in the wild, mostly eating small invertebrates like spiders and insects, as well as plants, small vertebrates and bird eggs.
What should I feed my hedgehog everyday?
Each serving should consist of one cricket or large mealworm or two to three medium sized mealworms. If you elect not to feed live, dry insect food can make up 15 to 25% of your hedgehog's daily meal. To avoid overfeeding, live food and dry insect food should not be given together on the same day.
What should I feed my hedgehog?
A pet hedgehog's diet should mainly consist of high-quality hedgehog food mixed with high-quality, low-fat cat food. The following supplemental foods can be offered in small amounts two to three times a week: Gut-loaded insects, such as mealworms and crickets.
What fruits and vegetables can a hedgehog eat?
Pumpkin, squash, zucchini, and cucumber They all contain carotenoids which are the precursor of vitamin A, necessary to keep your hedgehog's eyes healthy. All but cucumber can be fed roasted and mashed, and cucumber is best fed grated raw. It's primarily made up of water so is a good hydration food.
Can I feed my hedgehog wet cat food?
Moist hedgehog food Moist foods are primarily given as treats in the form of canned/moist cat food, boiled or scrambled egg or baby foods. Hedgehogs who are fed mainly canned cat food might need additional fibre in their diet. Moist foods are not as high in fibre as dry foods.
What can hedgehogs not eat?
Toxic foods are poisonous to hedgehogs and should be completely avoided.Grapes.Raisins.Tea Tree oil.Chocolate.Avocado.Garlic.Potato.Egg yolk.More items...
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.
Can hedgehogs eat raw chicken?
Pet hedgehogs may eat such table foods as cooked, lean chicken, turkey, beef or pork (in moderation due to fat content). Hedgehogs will often eat small amounts of vegetable and can be given small amounts of fruit as treats .
Will hedgehogs eat fruit?
Treat your hedgehog to a moderate helping of fruit, such as apples, bananas, berries, melons, and kiwi. These fruits are not the only ones that are acceptable, but they are the best for your hedgehog.
What can 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.
Are dried mealworms OK for hedgehogs?
We DO NOT recommend feeding dried meal worms to hedgehogs, they contain almost no nutritional value and can harm their health. The x-ray of the entire hedgehog shows the effects of feeding large quantities of mealworms, she had severe metabolic bone disease.
Can hedgehogs eat banana?
Fruits: Dried fruit should be avoided, but a small amount of fresh fruit can be offered to your hedgehog as treats. 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.
How often should hedgehogs eat mealworms?
Your hedgehog should never have more than one or two mealworms in a sitting and never more than four in a week. Mealworms can be an occasional treat, not the main part of their diet.
How much food should I put out for a hedgehog?
How Much To Feed? If you offer dry hedgehog food or crushed dry dog or cat biscuits to hedgehogs visiting your garden, aim for around an ounce or 25 grams per hog per night. Twenty-five grams is about one-third of the 75 grams of food that hedgehogs eat most nights.
Can you overfeed a hedgehog?
It's hedgehog inequality! Too much food can also stop them hibernating, which messes up their breeding cycles. Apparently, some hedgehogs get so chubby that they can no longer roll into a ball.
How much dry food should I feed my hedgehog?
Each day, one to two tablespoons of kibble should be offered to an adult hedgehog in addition to a teaspoon of fruits and vegetables and some insects. Larger and very active hedgehogs may need more food, but your hedgehog's weight should be monitored with the use of a baby scale.
What is the best food for a pygmy hedgehog?
The ideal food for pygmy hedgehogs is dry cat biscuits with their low fat and a healthy amount of protein. Better still, the indoor cat variety of the dry cat biscuits have the right balance of fat, protein along with some fibre.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Pygmy hedgehogs are primarily insectivores feeding on a multitude of insects in the wild but they are also opportunistic and will feed on small frogs, lizards, fruit and vegetables. Their tastes vary on what is on offer and if insects are scarce they will try to seek out alternatives such as fruit.
Why do hedgehogs eat biscuits?
It’s important hedgehogs are fed a diet that is low in fat with a good balance of protein as they are prone to obesity. Obesity can lead to associated diseases like diabetes so sticking to dry cat biscuits as a staple part of their diet, helps immensley controlling their weight.
Why are hedgehogs lactose intolerant?
Hedgehogs generally are lactose intolerant as they do not possess the enzyme to break down lactose in milk and associated dairy products. As a result of this their digestion suffers, when ingesting milk.
How long can hedgehogs live without food?
How long can hedgehogs go without food? We haven’t tested this and wouldn’t want to but it’s believed they can survive without food for around 10 days . I think there’s been some controlled testing that’s been done to validate this, which seems a bit cruel to test a theory. However, I think the reason they can survive this long without food, is because they’ve evolved to do this as in the wild food may not always be available in plentiful supply, so there could be prolonged gaps between feeds.
How to make hedgehogs digest vegetables?
We let the vegetables cool down to room temperature before cutting them into very small pieces. The cooking breaks down the starch in some of the vegetables making it easier for hedgehogs to digest.
What vegetables are toxic to hedgehogs?
Some vegetables can be toxic to pygmy hedgehogs and should be avoided at all costs. These include onions, garlic, tomatoes, certain mushrooms, celery to name a few and these can cause organ problems if eaten by pygmy hedgehogs.
What Insects can pygmy hedgehogs eat?
Insects are an important part of hedgehog diet in the wild. They provide hedgehogs with proteins and chitin that are important for hedgehogs.
What are some good foods for hedgehogs?
Cooked eggs are a good source of proteins which makes them good for pygmy hedgehogs.
What is the most popular diet for hedgehogs?
Hedgehog kibble if available should make the largest percentage of pygmy hedgehog diet.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Pygmy hedgehogs are omnivorous animals. In the wild apart from eating insects and small animals they also forage on a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
What is hedgehog kibble?
Hedgehog kibble is pet food that has specially been formulated for hedgehogs. It comes in two forms. Either as dry food or wet food.
Can pygmy hedgehogs eat?
There is a wide range of foods that pet pygmy hedgehogs can eat. We have made this article to serve as a guide to help you choose the right diet for your African pygmy hedgehog.
Is cat kibble good for hedgehogs?
Cat kibble is more preferable as it is usually small in size. Dog kibble comes in large sizes that may be difficult for hedgehogs to chew.
What Foods Can’t Hedgehogs Eat?
Now you know the foods that your hedgehog can eat, it’s absolutely vital that you know the foods that they can’t eat too.
Why do hedgehogs eat dry food?
Dry food also helps to keep your hedgehog’s teeth in good condition. The dry nature of the food keeps their teeth strong and healthy. It’s a little known fact that hedgehogs actually suffer from teeth and gum problems and a major cause of this is tartar buildup on teeth, this can often lead to infection and abscess.
Why can't hedgehogs drink milk?
Can hedgehogs drink milk? Hedgehogs can’t drink milk due to the fact they are lactose intolerant. Milk can cause a hedgehog to have serious abdominal pain and it can even kill them in some cases.
Why do hedgehogs need sugar?
They also need to consume low amounts of sugar due to their obesity problems and also potential problems with their teeth. Now let’s take a look at what you should be feeding your hedgehog as the main part of their diet….
Is a hedgehog lactose intolerant?
Hedgehogs are also lactose intolerant and most dairy products aren’t suitable for them.
Can hedgehogs eat collard greens?
The first and probably most obvious is the health benefits that veggies and greens provide. Greens such as dandelion greens and collard greens, for example, are high in calcium and other highly important vitamins and minerals. Below is a list of vegetables and greens that your hedgehog can safely eat…. Arugula.
Do hedgehogs eat in captivity?
In order for your hedgehog to be healthy in captivity, there are a few guidelines you need to follow in their diet. Hedgehogs in captivity are prone to obesity if they aren’t fed a healthy diet so it’s important that you follow the guidelines as much as possible. Luckily, the principles of the hedgehog diet are pretty simple once you understand ...
What to feed a hedgehog?
Here are some other ideas for nutritious meals to feed your pet hedgehog: 1 Other types of meats: I recommend organ meats like hearts and livers (duck, turkey, and chicken) that are par-cooked and either chopped or pureed. I’ll occasionally offer cooked tripe to my hedgies; some like it, some don’t. Venison, chicken, duck, turkey, lamb, beef, and pork can work as well. 2 Eggs: Quail, Duck, Chicken… I par scramble them using olive oil or I hard boil. Then I repurpose the shells and process them to be used as a calcium supplement once a week, sprinkled or mixed in with their food. 3 Canned Cat/Dog Foods: These are more of a treat than used as a complete meal. The exception of Evangers dog food that has a sole ingredient like chicken, lamb, duck, or rabbit. 4 Fruits and Veggies: Typically, I don’t offer fruits or vegetables and would never serve them raw. Ultimately, I only suggest pumpkin, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, baby applesauce (NO seasoning), or bananas. 5 Kibble: We do offer a small amount of kibble to our hedgehogs which we mix from 5 to 6 different brands to offer a larger variety. This helps to round out its overall nutritional value by providing additional vitamins and minerals.
What Insects Can Hedgehogs Eat?
Did you know that in the wild, over 80% percent of a hedgehog’s stomach typically contains invertebrates? It’s one of the largest portions of a balanced hedgehog diet and is indispensable for their nutrition.
How many different brands of kibble do hedgehogs eat?
Kibble: We do offer a small amount of kibble to our hedgehogs which we mix from 5 to 6 different brands to offer a larger variety. This helps to round out its overall nutritional value by providing additional vitamins and minerals.
What meat should I feed my hedgies?
I’ll occasionally offer cooked tripe to my hedgies; some like it, some don’t. Venison, chicken, duck, turkey, lamb, beef, and pork can work as well.
Can hedgehogs eat raw feed?
Fortunately, there is a compromise; you can also use raw diet feed to supplement one that’s more processed. This feeding method is traditionally used in the reptile community, but it’s surprisingly adaptable for an African pygmy hedgehog diet as well.
Can African hedgehogs eat pygmy crawlies?
The single best food for an African Pygmy Hedgehog diet has not yet been created. Instead, it’s best to offer a larger variety for your hedgie to choose from; that way, you may just hit on the right ingredients for a good and healthy diet. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals that feed upon all the “creepy crawlies.”.
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 do hedgehogs eat?
What kind of food do I need for my hedgehog? Hedgehogs feed mainly on dry cat biscuits, as these provide them with nearly all the nutrition they need and protect them from gaining weight and becoming obese. Dry cat biscuits have the correct mixture of fat, protein and carbohydrates and can be supplemented with moderate quantities of other food like safe fruit, vegetables, insects and lean meats.
Why is it important to feed hedgehogs?
When it comes to feeding hedgehogs, the food chosen is very important to maintain their health and give them enough nutrition. The wrong food can end up causing health issues from obesity like diabetes and liver problems.
Can hedgehogs break biscuits?
are easily digestible, allowing the hedgehog to break the biscuits with ease.
Can hedgehogs eat pea protein?
don’t contain any ingredients that could cause health issues in hedgehogs such as too much pea protein which can cause bone damage from calcium leaching;
Can hedgehogs eat wet cat food?
We also feed our hedgehog canned cat food also known as wet cat food but this is only in moderation. Then there are treats, we tend to use these after Hynee has had a bath, as a treat but these are to be strictly used in moderation only.
What should your hedgehog eat?
To ensure your African Pygmy hedgehog is happy and healthy, they need to have the correct diet.
How to avoid a sick hedgehog?
To avoid ending up with a sick hedgehog, you must buy one from a reputable, responsible breeder. But how can you tell if a breeder is responsible?
How should you groom your hedgehog?
A little pamper now and then is also important for an African Pygmy hedgehog’s care and wellbeing. Your hedgehog will need the following grooming:
What should you do if your hedgehog is stressed?
It’s important to know hedgehog stress symptoms so you can recognize them in your pet, know what stressful situations to avoid, and improve their well-being.
Why do hedgehogs need room temperature?
This is why room temperature is crucial. If they show signs of hibernation such as lethargy and are not waking up from sleep, they need to be warmed up. However, the room can be too hot too.
How to keep a hedgehog warm?
You can keep your hedgehog warm with bedding such as fleece. However, avoid using clothing with holes in it as your hedgehog can get stuck. Where you put the cage or enclosure is also important. You should avoid placing it in loud areas in your home, such as above or below a TV or stereo.
How much space do African hedgehogs need?
An ideal cage for an African Pygmy hedgehog should have 1 meter of floor space for your hedgehog to move around comfortably.
What Do African Pygmy Hedgehogs Eat & Drink?
In the wild, hedgehogs are primarily insect-eating mammals. High-quality cat food—supplemented with mealworms, crickets, and other treats—used to be the go-to food choice for pet hedgehogs. Nowadays, the pet industry sells high-quality hedgehog food that provides the exact nutrients your prickly pet needs. If you choose to feed it cat food, make sure it is a grain-free variety.
How to feed a hedgehog water?
Supply water in either a water bottle with a metal tip for drinking or in a small bowl. Some young pets may need both until they get used to using the bottle. Whatever you choose, make sure to change your hedgehog's water daily and check that the bottle tip is working.
Why do hedgehogs have wobbly hindquarters?
Since African pygmies have protruding eyes, these creatures are more prone to eye injuries or irritation.
What are hedgehogs like?
Pet hedgehogs have smooth spines on their coat, similar to the bristles of a brush. Unlike rigid porcupine quills, which are sharp, these creatures are more approachable and not dangerous. The African pygmy hedgehog or four-toed hedgehog is the smallest of the hedgehog species and is the species often sold for the pet trade. You can find these pets in a wide array of color patterns like salt and pepper, snowflake, and cinnamon. Pet hedgehogs are quiet, active, entertaining, and require a lot of care. They make great companion pets, however, as nocturnal animals, you will need to feed and care for them in the evening hours.
Why do hedgehogs froth?
When a hedgehog gets introduced to a new scent or food, it begins to froth at the mouth and spread its saliva all over its back. No one is entirely sure why hedgehogs do this, and some do it more than others. But, it is not a cause for concern. Experts think it could be a stress release or a form of protection.
What do African hedgehogs use to line their cages?
Some African pygmy hedgehog owners use indoor-outdoor carpeting or fleece fabric to line the cage instead of using loose bedding material . If you choose this bedding, make sure to clip loose threads that can tangle up your hedgehog and always have a backup for easy cleaning and replacing.
Why are hedgehogs considered invasive?
These restrictions were likely enacted due to the ability of some hedgehog species to carry foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious condition of cloven-hooved animals. Also, they ca n become invasive pests if introduced into the wild where they don't naturally occur.
What is the best cat food for hedgehogs?
What is the best cat food for hedgehogs? The best type of cat food for hedgehogs is dry cat biscuits as these are low in fat (less than 15%) and have a good balance of protein, at around 30%. Wet cat food can also be given in moderation but this food doesn’t contain enough protein for hedgehogs.
What percentage of fat should a hedgehog eat?
The general guidelines for fat content are between 10% to 15% and we are within these guidelines with only 10% fat. Too much fat in the hedgehog’s diet will result in obesity and fatty liver disease, the latter can lead to more serious health issues and potential liver failure.
Why do cats eat vegetables?
Vegetables are often added to dry cat food biscuits to provide additional vitamins and minerals however care should be taken to appreciate what these extra vitamins and minerals can do if they are eaten every day.
Why is it important to know how much nutrients a hedgehog is getting?
It’s vitally important we know exactly how much nutrients our hedgehog is getting to ensure his well being isn’t being compromised. Cross-contamination in production can also be a problem, just like how nuts can enter the production line of foods for humans where multiple foods are processed on the same line, the same can happen with cat biscuits.
How to get rid of hedgehog poop smell?
1. Choose a dry cat food. During our initial investigations into the best cat food for our hedgehog, we were advised by the breeder to use dry cat food (some people call this type of food kibble but I’ve always associated that word with dog food) as it makes their poop smell less.
What happens when a hedgehog eats an insect?
When the insect is eaten by the hedgehog in the wild, not only is the protein been eaten, there’s also water involved. This water allows any excess protein to be easily removed from the body, I don’t know the exact mechanics of how this is done but the liver and the kidneys are involved.
Do hedgehogs use less energy?
Likewise, when hedgehogs are kept as pets they will use less energy than they would in the wild and whilst they won’t necessarily be sedentary, they will still most likely spend large amounts of the night time on their running wheels.
