Here is a complete list of natural foods you can feed your hedgehog:
- Insects: mealworms, grasshoppers, etc.
- Cooked meats: chicken, turkey or pork.
- Cooked fish: salmon or tuna, with no bones.
- Fruits: watermelons, papaya, pears, cantaloupe, peaches, plums, squash & pumpkin, mangos, apples, bananas, cherries, honeydew, strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries.
- Vegetables: arugula, spinach, dandelion greens, asparagus, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, radish, romaine lettuce, turnips, green peppers, collard greens.
What is the best thing to feed a hedgehog?
Recommended hedgehog treats include:
- mealworms
- boiled chicken
- scrambled / hard boiled eggs
- apples
- bananas
- berries
What is the best Hedgehog to have as a pet?
4 Things You Need to Know About Pet Hedgehogs Before Adopting One
- Find a Responsible Breeder. Just as with other companion animals, it's important to do your homework before buying a hedgehog. ...
- They're Very Sensitive. When I got my hedgehog, he was a tiny baby, just weaned from his mother. ...
- They Love Unusual Scents. ...
- Respect Their Nocturnal Schedule. ...
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 is the best food to feed a hedgehog?
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. Moist cat food, insects, fruit & veg, boiled eggs and baby food are used to supplement a pet hedgehog's diet.
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 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.
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...
How often do hedgehogs need baths?
Once a monthOnce a month bathing is adequate for the average hedgehog. Some hedgehogs need baths frequently and others seldom need one. Bathing generally helps to relieve dry skin; however, bathing too frequently may contribute to dry skin.
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 .
Do hedgehogs prefer wet or dry 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.
What treats do hedgehogs like?
The most popular insects of hedgehogs and hedgehog owners are mealworms, wax worms, silk worms and crickets. Treats can include live, canned or freeze dried crickets, mealworms (only one or two per day), wax worms or other insects.
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.
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 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 hedgehogs eat strawberries?
You can feed your hedgehog a fresh, organic strawberry up to three times a month depending on their overall captive diet. It is best to keep the fruity treats to a limit and avoid dried strawberries and fruit as they are high in sugar and lack the nutrients found in fresh strawberries.
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.
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.
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 do hedgehogs eat?
What do pet hedgehogs eat? In the wild, hedgehogs eat a diverse selection of insects as well as some plant material and very occasionally small or baby mammals (like pinkie mice). Hedgehogs usually eat at night.
What to feed lizards?
Small amounts of gut loaded insects (i.e. insects fed nutritious food that is then passed on to the lizard), such as worms and crickets and a small amount of fresh vegetables and fruits can also be offered. Check with your veterinarian regarding which vegetables and fruits are recommended.
Can hedgehogs eat raw meat?
As a rule, hedgehogs don't require treats, although an occasional offering of fresh vegetables, fruits, and grains is acceptable. Hedgehogs should not be fed raw meats or eggs. Hedgehogs are not able to digest milk, which may lead to diarrhea.
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.
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.
Can I Use Store-Bought Pet Food Meant For Other Species?
It’s encouraged by most hedgehog owners to avoid kibble meant for hedgehogs altogether.
What Human Foods Can They Eat?
There are some human foods that hedgehogs can eat, as humans are also omnivores. Hedgehogs like meats (unseasoned), some grains, and many of the same diets as humans. Moderation is key.
Other Considerations
If you ever have any questions about what to feed your hedgehog, there are several sources online where you can find the information you need.
How Much Food is Too Much?
Hedgehogs should look like little symmetric rolls of quills, and they should be able to ball into themselves at their perfect weight.
Conclusion
Hedgehogs are omnivores that can eat meats and vegetables, and a slew of other foods in moderation.
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?
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 is the best food for hedgehogs?
Moist Food. Moist food should also be fed to your pet. Canned cat or dog food work well as hedgehog food. Be sure to get a food that is high in protein and is made primarily from meat or chicken. Fruits & Vegetables. A small amount of fruits and vegetables should be added to his diet.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs have been known to eat insects, slugs, baby mice, frogs, fish, worms, small snakes, eggs, and even fruit. They are definitely not picky eaters.
What are some good treats for hedgehogs?
Insects like crickets and mealworms make great treats. Other choices are moist cat or dog treats, and cooked foods like eggs, hamburger, and chicken. Giving him a small piece of your food is an easy way to supply treats. Water. A hedgehog needs to always have a source of clean fresh water.
Do hedgehogs eat protein?
They are definitely not picky eaters. For your pet hedgehog you want to provide a well balanced diet that is high in protein. How much you should feed him depends on his activity and metabolism. If you notice your hedgehog becoming fat, cut back on his portions.
Can hedgehogs eat chicken?
There is commercial hedgehog food, but it is not always available at some pet stores. A meat or chicken dry cat food that is high in protein is a decent alternative. Dry food should be the primary portion of your pet’s diet. Moist food should also be fed to your pet.