7 Essential Foods You Need to Feed a Hedgehog
- Poultry-based dry cat biscuits. The ideal food for pygmy hedgehogs is dry cat biscuits with their low fat and a...
- Insects. Pygmy hedgehogs are primarily insectivores feeding on a multitude of insects in the wild but they are also...
- Cooked chicken. When we have roast chicken at home, we cook with it without any...
What foods are safe for hedgehogs?
- Romaine lettuce
- Arugula
- Dandelion greens
- Collard greens
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Sweet potato
- Asparagus
- Radish, turnip
- Green pepper
What foods can hedgehogs eat?
There are plenty to choose from that a good for hedgehogs, these include:
- Apples – eaten in moderation, apples are a deliciously crunchy treat for hedgehogs. ...
- Leafy greens – hedgehogs love veggies like broccoli, cucumber, lettuce and more. ...
- Berries – organic blueberries and raspberries in particular are okay for hedgehogs to eat, opt for organic if you can because these will less likely have been sprayed with possibly ...
What fruit can hedgehogs eat?
Some of the best fruits to feed your hedgehog include apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and watermelon. Although you can feed hedgehogs any of the fruits in the above list, these six fruits are the best options. No matter which fruit you select for your hedgehog, it’s important that you select an organic variety.
How much does an African pygmy hedgehog cost?
The African pygmy hedgehog is the most common type of hedgehog sold as a pet. Average African pygmy hedgehog cost is around $150; however, they range in price from $20-$400. Price varies per location and from where they are bought. Prices are usually higher at a breeder than at a pet store.
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.
Can African pygmy hedgehogs eat lettuce?
Dark, Green and Leafy Kale, romaine or leaf lettuces and collard greens are all good choices. Iceberg lettuce has no place in a pet's diet -- it's mostly water and has very low nutrient content.
Can pygmy hedgehogs eat bananas?
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 human food can pygmy hedgehogs eat?
Pygmy hedgehogs can eat:Berries.Kiwi.Papaya.Watermelon.Peaches.Cherries.Bananas.Apples.
How many mealworms do you feed a hedgehog?
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.
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.
What human food can hedgehogs eat?
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.
Do hedgehogs like peanut butter?
Peanut butter isn't the best choice of a treat for hedgehogs. The sticky texture and the high-fat content make peanut butter a treat that should be avoided or only given sparingly.
Can hedgehogs eat raw lettuce?
So, while they can eat a little lettuce, it should be nothing more than an occasional treat. A small leaf or a tablespoon of shredded lettuce offered once a week or so is plenty. Hedgehogs can be fed multiple types of lettuce and other greens from the garden, including: Romaine.
What vegetables can a hedgehog eat?
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 human food can hedgehogs eat?
Some commonly enjoyed human food treats to offer include cooked chicken, scrambled or boiled egg, other cooked meats, melons, strawberries, peaches, other soft fruits, peas, cooked carrots, green beans, cooked sweet potato, tomato, cottage cheese, yogurt, small pieces of cheese, baby foods, baby turkey sticks, and more ...
Can hedgehogs eat raw broccoli?
While they can eat broccoli, it's best to cut it up into small pieces before giving it to your little hedgehog friend for easier digestion. Cooked with no seasoning or steamed is the safest way to feed broccoli to your hedgehog, and avoid raw broccoli. They can eat the stems, too.
What do African hedgehogs eat?
Usually, the African Pygmy hedgehog’s diet consists of fruits, insects like mealworms, and dry cat food. However, some cat foods can be high in fats which can lead to your hedgehog gaining weight. An incorrect or improper diet can lead to your hedgehog becoming underweight or overweight. To prevent weight problems such as Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome ...
How to prevent pygmy hedgehogs from getting sick?
These include: Dental disease and gum disease. This can be prevented by feeding your hedgehog the correct diet, routine brushing, and scaling. Eye infection or injury.
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.
Why is it important to know about hedgehog stress?
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. Hedgehogs (and especially African Pygmies), are fragile, little creatures that need extra care and attention to provide them with a stress-free life.
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 is the name of the African hedgehog?
With the scientific name Atelerix Albiventris , the African Pygmy hedgehog is a hybrid of the white-bellied and the Algerian hedgehog and is the most popular species of hedgehog to keep as a pet. They are named ‘pygmy’ due to their small size. They have dark noses and long pointy snouts that are usually pink or brown.
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.
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.
High quality cat and dog food
Most pygmy hedgehog owners feed their hedgehogs on high quality meat based cat or dog food.
Fruits and Vegetables
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.
Lean Meats
You can feed your pygmy hedgehog on a variety of cooked lean meat. Cook the meat without adding any oil or seasoning. Cut the meat into small sizes that your hedgehog can eat.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Because of this, I urge hedgehog owners to feed their pets live invertebrates, such as: 1 Dubai Roaches 2 Green Hornworms 3 Crickets 4 Snails 5 Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Also known as Calci-Worms or Phoenix Worms) 6 Mealworms in moderation (or that have pupated, since beetles are better than the worm) 7 Superworms 8 Waxworms 9 Silkworms 10 Earthworms
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 pygmy hedgehogs eat?
Pygmy hedgehogs can eat: High-quality dry cat food. High-quality dog food. Specialised hedgehog food.
What is the best food for African hedgehogs?
Favourite brands among African pygmy hedgehog owners are Purina One and Iams. High quality, poultry-based cat biscuits seem to be the number one choice among hedgehog owners. Poultry-based dry cat food high in protein and low in fat needs to make up the majority of a hog’s diet.
Why are hedgehogs obese?
Pet hedgehogs are prone to obesity as they are not as active as wild hedgehogs who have to hunt their food, so insects, fruit and veg should only be given as treats.Obese hedgies are not very fond of exercise. Weight gain can cause diabetes and liver issues.
How many insects do hedgehogs eat a day?
Pygmy hedgehogs love insects, especially mealworms and crickets. Only give up to two insects a day. Introduce one new treat at a time so you can monitor your hedgehog's response to it. Give small amounts of treats every day – giving your hog too much, and too many might spoil its staple diet.
How much protein should a pygmy hedgehog eat?
Pet pygmy hedgehogs should digest between 28% to 35% proteins and 12% to 15% fats. A protein-based diet with a low-fat intake does not mean no fat. Maintain the necessary amount of fat in your hedgies diet – between 12% to 15%.
What is the best diet for a hedgehog?
The best diet for your pet hedgehog. Pet hedgehogs thrive best on a diet high in proteins, low in fats and rich in chitin. Unlike their wild relatives, pygmy hedgehogs to not hibernate and do not expand a lot of energy. They are greedy eaters and prone to obesity, so owners need to mindfully regulate feedings.
Do hedgehogs eat insects?
They are greedy eaters and are predisposed to obesity, so, many of the insects that make up the majority of a wild hedgehog's diet should only be given as treats to pet hedgehogs. African pygmy hedgehogs are a domestic breed ...
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs’ diet in the wild consists mainly of protein as their primary source of food is insects. Not only insects provide them with protein but they also contain water which results in the protein exiting the hedgehog’s body quickly.
Why do hedgehogs eat fruit?
The reason for that is high intake of sugar can lead to becoming overweight and diabetes.
Is it cheap to have a hedgehog as a pet?
Fortunately, having a hedgehog as a pet is fairly cheap. The reason for that is their small size and requiring only small amounts of food to keep them fit and healthy.
Can hedgehogs eat lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat vegetables, although you should pick vegetables that will provide them with the most nutrients. For instance, regular lettuce doesn’t have much nutrients, so it should be avoided.
These are the Top 3 dry cat biscuits for 2020
It’s important to mix the dry cat biscuits to ensure variety and when I compared these to other types of dry cat biscuits, I found the Go-Cat Complete Adult for Indoor Cats with Chicken and Purina ONE Healthy Metabolism Adult Dry Cat Food ticked a lot of the boxes, as they:
These are the Top 3 Canned Wet Cat Foods for 2020
Even though canned wet cat food is a treat, I still compared the different types and found the Whiskas Jelly Wet Cat Food for Adult Cats ticked a lot of the boxes, as it:
These are the Top 3 insect foods for 2020
Sitting down and comparing the different types of insect a hedgehog could eat, led me to Zoo Med Laboratories Can O Worms as a good choice (I would still recommend live mealworms), as it:
These are the Top 3 Hedgehog treats for 2020
I decided to find out what could provide a treat for our hedgehog and compared the different types of treats, I found the Dreamies Chicken Cat Treats ticked a lot of the boxes, as they:
These are the Top 3 feeding and drinking bowls for 2020
I decided to find out what type of bowl our hedgehog could use for his food and his water. I compared the different types of bowls out there and I found the Rosewood Ceramic Bowl Naturals Twin Dish ticked a lot of the boxes, as it’s:
Lets talk food and treats
What foods cant hedgehogs have? What foods are good for hedgehogs? What treats are there for my hedgehog?
What's on the menu?
Finding a healthy balance is important with hedgehogs as without the correct diet a hedgehog can lead a very unhappy life.
Snacks...
Gutloaded live meal worms are a great treat. (daily!!!!) sadly although hedgehogs (and bug phobic people) like dried meal worms the nutritional value is zilch really, however they are safe to feed once or twice a day. Though Live meal worms is the best way to go.
What is the best food for a hedgehog?
Food and Water. In the wild, hedgehogs are 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.
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.
How to tell if a hedgehog has diarrhea?
Check around its legs and watch its hindquarter movement for signs of obesity or wobbly hedgehog syndrome.
Why do hedgehogs have wobbly hindquarters?
Since African pygmies have protruding eyes, these creatures are more prone to eye injuries or irritation.
What is the smallest hedgehog?
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.
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.
How to keep African pygmies from sleeping?
Provide a cardboard box or box-like enclosure inside the cage so your pet can hide and sleep comfortably. African pygmies like to exercise; in the wild, they travel great distances daily. Buy a running wheel for your hedgehog to get active.
