What to Feed Hedgehogs.
- Daily Foods. These should make up the bulk of your hedgehog’s diet and should be served at every meal.
- 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 ...
- Veggies.
- Fruits.
- Occasional Snacks.
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 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 are good treats for hedgehogs?
What Human Food Can Hedgehogs Eat?
- Meat and Fish. The first thing you can provide your hedgehog with is meat. ...
- Boiled Eggs. A treat that is widely popular among hedgehogs is boiled eggs. ...
- Fruits and Vegetables. Hedgehogs are insectivores in the wild and rely on protein as domesticated animals. ...
- Baby Food. You can also give baby food to your hedgehog. ...
What is the best food to 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 should I feed my hedgehog daily?
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 foods 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.
What can I feed my hedgehog as a treat?
What treats do hedgehogs like?Mealworms.Waxworms.Crickets.Silkworms.Centipedes.Millipedes.Moist cat & dog food.Scrambled or boiled egg.
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 .
Can I feed my hedgehog wet cat food?
If your hedgie's food is too high in fats and proteins, it's really bad for them. Also, if it's a fish-based cat food it can give your hedgie an awful problem with gas, and make for rather stinky poopies too. Wet cat food can help medicine go down when your hedgehog gets sick.
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 cheese?
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Milk and cheese will give them bad diarrhoea and can lead to serious illness as well.
Do hedgehogs recognize their owners?
Your Pet Hedgehog Will Learn To Recognize You Over Time You just have to be patient. Hedgehogs are naturally a bit nervous around humans at first and it takes some time for them to build that trust around you.
Do hedgehogs like scrambled eggs?
Eggs, Tofu, and Rice Scrambled or hard-boiled eggs are a popular favorite with most hedgehogs. The best way to scramble eggs is in the microwave with no added oils or seasonings. Make sure the eggs are not too hot when you give them to your hedgie.
Can you feed hedgehogs raw eggs?
Eggs are a good source of nutrients for hedgehogs, but it is not a common part of their diet so I don't think they will recognise it as food unless the shell is broken. And a small hedgehog will probably have trouble opening an egg, larger hedgehogs might be able to open it if they see it as food.
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.
What to feed a hedgehog?
Aside from mealworms, you may also treat it with moist cat or dog treats, and cooked foods like eggs and chicken.
What do hedgehogs eat?
To achieve a balanced diet, you can add some fruits and vegetables to your hedgehog’s diet. These may include peas, carrots, green beans, apples and corn. This, however, should be in very small portions considering the pet’s low absorption capability of vegetables and fruits.
Can hedgehogs eat dry cat food?
If your local pet store does not have hedgehog dry food, dry cat food will be a good alternative. The cat food should be high in protein, for example, chicken or meat cat food is a perfect choice. Dry food should be the main portion of the hedgehog’s meal. Adult cat food is preferred over baby cat food, because baby cat food contains more fat than proteins, therefore, it would be unhealthy for hedgehogs.
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.
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.
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.
Can you feed hedgehogs live insects?
Before feeding many insects to your hedgehog, we strongly recommend gut loading the insects. Gut loading is a process where you feed your insect’s nutritional meals for a few days to pack it with nutrients, which allows the insects to transfer the nutrition to your pet. Gut loading is another good reason to feed your hedgehog live insects when possible.
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.
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 are some good treats for hedgehogs?
Healthy Treats for Hedgehogs. Hedgehogs have a broad palate, so there’s a wide variety of foods that can be served as a treat. Many veggies or fruits make excellent treats, as they’re loaded with nutrition and delicious.
How much water should a hedgehog drink?
A healthy hedgehog should drink somewhere in the vicinity of 1 ½ to 2 ½ tablespoons of water every day. As a result, your hedgehog must have access to plenty of fresh, clean water at all times.
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 should I feed my hedgehog?
That means a diet containing moderate amounts of protein, low-fat, and some fiber. Generally, good quality dry cat food supplemented with live calcium-enriched insects and cooked meat should do the trick.
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.
What is the best insect feed for mealworms?
There are calcium-rich insect feeds that you can buy to help with this. For example, Fluker’s 70008 High Calcium Cricket Feed comes in a 6lb jar. It seems suitable for mealworms and dubia roaches, as well as crickets, and contains 8% calcium to 0.6% phosphorus.
How do hedgehogs get their fiber?
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. Despite their omnivorous tendency, hedgehogs don’t digest plant matter.
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.
Why is my hedgehog's bone weak?
Phosphorus absorbs calcium. 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.
What to avoid with meat?
But, there are things to avoid apart from unnamed meats or poultry. These include: 1 Meat or poultry by-products. Even if the name of the meat or poultry is specified, you can’t be sure exactly what it is. 2 Preservatives like Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT). These are thought to be safe in low doses but otherwise may be carcinogenic. 3 Ethoxyquin. This is an antioxidant with animal safety issues.
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.
Can you feed a hedgehog raw meat?
And never feed raw meat to your hedgehog! You should just cook the meat with a little bit of oil. No seasoning whatsoever, though. Chicken and turkey are the best options. Try to avoid beef, pork, and any other kind of meat. Meat that’s not poultry is not as easily digestible.
Can hedgehogs eat sugar?
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.
Is hedgehog food good for you?
Some people recommend skipping brand hedgehog good. They say that the food isn’t scientifically engineered to keep up with the hedgies’ nutritional needs. Furthermore, others say that hed gehog food is fine along as the owner checks the label for the nutritional value. Low-grade pet food is always a bad idea.
Can you give baby food to hedgehogs?
But you do need portion control. Baby foods aren ’t something to give them on a daily basis. It’s more of a treat as when people have some chocolate cake to celebrate something (never give that to hedgies, though!). Just check the baby food labels before you give that to your hedgehog.
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.
Hedgehog foods list
Generally, products sold as “hedgehog food” should be avoided. Instead, opt for dry cat food, and let this make up the majority of your hedgehog’s diet. Look for foods high in protein and low in fat. While most brands will do, we recommend looking for foods that are recommended by cat owners.
Hedgehog treat list: Recommended treats for hedgehogs
Okay, so you have nailed down your hedgehog’s main diet. That can get boring fast though, so why not spice it up with some treats? I mean, we love treats, so why wouldn’t we offer the same enjoyment to our hedgehogs? Just remember to think of these foods as occasional, though, and not as main foods.
What do hedgehogs eat in the wild?
In the wild, hedgehogs feed mostly on insects. These range from beetles to worms, and everything in between! They are omnivores though, meaning they will eat non-insect animals as well. For example, a wild hedgehog wouldn’t hesitate to eat a snail, if it had the chance.
Why feeding your hedgehogs good food is important
As with any pet, feeding your hedgie the right foods is very important. Bad diet choices can lead to disease and illness, two things you definitely wouldn’t wish on your pet, right?
What foods are toxic to hedgehogs?
While most foods won’t harm your hedgehog in any serious way, there are a few that should be avoided at all costs. These can cause serious illness, some because hedgies can’t digest them properly, some because they are choking hazards, and others because they are plain toxic.
Be careful with fatty and sugary foods
Anything high in sugar should be fed in moderation, as they often lead to obesity. An obese hedgehog is an unhealthy hedgehog, so avoid too much sugar and fat. Feeding these foods in too large quantities can make your pet accustomed to them, leading to less interest in regular, healthy foods.
Conclusion
So to round things off: We’ve covered the basics of feeding a hedgehog, with our own hedgehog foods list. While this post hasn’t raised all aspects of the subject, we feel confident it will work as a good guideline for any new or experienced hedgie-owner.
What to feed a hedgehog?
The best choice is a calci worm to feed them, so check out black soldier fly larvaes. They can be gut loaded with some yummy broccoli or carrots and potato 24 hours before feeding them to your hedgehog! Meat like boiled chicken, egg whites, and beef tripe are excellent choices to offer hedgehogs as well.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs are opportunistic carnivores that mainly eat their cat kibble and insects. They are lactose intolerant, so feeding them dairy can harm their digestive system and give them painful gas. Also, even though they find and munch on berries in the wild, their digestive systems do not benefit from directly eating fruits and vegetables because of their lack of cecum. However, they do benefit if the insects being fed to them has ingested fruits and veggies. This is a process called gut-loading their worms. Gut loading worms, means purchasing pet store bought feeder insects and feeding them fresh veggies, fruits 24 hours before feeding them live to your hedgehog. Speaking of insects though, you want to avoid feeding anything that is not balanced in calcium and phosphorus – so be careful of mealworms, crickets, and hornworms. We only know of one worm that is balanced in Ca:P, and that's the black soldier fly larvae – a nutritious calci worm. If you want to find out exactly why we say that about calcium and phosphorus – give this article on metabolic bone disease a read.
How much food do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs only eat 1-2 tablespoons per day. Even though the food list will cost a bit more when you choose higher quality food, it will last longer and so will the lifespan of your hedgie. If you portion properly, you will only have to purchase hedgehog food twice a year.
What is the recommended fat percentage for hedgehogs?
For the average hedgehog food list, the golden range for fat ratio is 10%-13%. This range gives you a comfortable scale to find food that will meet your hedgehogs needs.
What percentage of protein should be in hedgie food?
Optimal Protein and Fiber Percentage In Hedgie Food. Protein content needs to be below 35%, but optimally between 30% and 33% is best. The higher the protein the greater the risk of kidney and liver damage, causing a ton of potential consequences for their mental and physical health. Most noteably is fatty liver disease.
What insects are not balanced in calcium?
Speaking of insects though, you want to avoid feeding anything that is not balanced in calcium and phosphorus – so be careful of mealworms, crickets, and hornworms . We only know of one worm that is balanced in Ca:P, and that's the black soldier fly larvae – a nutritious calci worm.
Why can't hedgehogs eat acidic food?
Hedgehogs should avoid ingesting or anointing with anything acidic because it causes upset stomach, mouth sores, and ulcers. The items to strike off your hedgehog's food list includes, but is not limited to:
What do wild hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs living in the wild will feed on a range of things and tend to survive on a ‘whatever they can get their claws on’ basis.
What do domesticated hedgehogs eat?
Lots of people tend to think the only thing you can feed hedgehogs is cat food, but there are actually lots of things you can feed them.
Cat kibble (or other protein sources)
Cat or dog food like kibble as their main food source. You can actually purchase special hedgehog food, but cat kibble will do fine.
Certain fruits and vegetables
Including some safe to eat fruits and veggies is a great way to include different tastes and textures and some lower calorie nibbles for your hog.
Insects
If owners are able to purchase some from pet stores or online, this can be a nice treat for hogs.
Water
Just like other household pets like cats and dogs, hedgehogs need a constant source of clean water available to them to drink as and when they please.
