Do hedgehogs need a high protein diet?
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.
What should a hedgehog eat daily?
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 do hedgehogs eat for a diet?
The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects. More infrequently, they will take advantage of carrion, frogs, baby rodents, baby birds, birds’ eggs and fallen fruit.
Why shouldnt you feed hedgehogs?
Feeding hedgehogs Specialist hedgehog food is also recommended and can be bought from wildlife food suppliers. Never feed hedgehogs milk as it can cause diarrhoea; instead provide plain, fresh water in a shallow bowl.
Can hedgehogs get too fat?
Hefty Isn’t Helpful If You’re a Hedgehog But they can become so obese if they are fed inappropriate, high-fat foods (such as excess amounts of carbohydrate- and fat-enriched pellets) that they become too big to fit into their wheels and too short of breath to run.
Will hedgehog food attract rats?
Whilst rats love most of the supplementary food that we put out for hedgehogs they are not much interested in the things that make up a hedgehog’s natural diet. Beetles, caterpillars, slugs and snails are all loved by hedgehogs and ignored by rats.
Why are dried mealworms bad for hedgehogs?
We DO NOT recommend feeding dried meal worms to hedgehogs, they contain almost no nutritional value and can harm their health. This is because the calcium in her bones has been drawn out into her bloodstream to counter the low levels caused by the high levels of phosphate – a result of eating mainly meal worms.
When is the best time to clean a hedgehog house?
The only time that you could clean out a hedgehog box is early spring, after hedgehogs have woken from hibernation and before they start to mate and look for maternity nests, which really means April time only.
Can you over feed a hedgehog?
Make sure you don’t put out too much food, as it’s not nice to have leftovers lying around, and just remember that what we provide is supplementary to their natural diet, so do not overfeed your ‘hogs. Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread as they can’t digest them and it upsets their stomachs.
How much food should I Feed my Hedgehog?
In captivity, when kept as pets, hedgehogs don’t require anywhere near the same amount of caloric energy. Most experts suggest feeding pet hedgehogs around ¼ cup of dry food and a small amount of wet food, along with a few treats, amounting to only a few ounces in total (compared to the 16-28 oz body weight of adult pet hedgehogs).
What foods should you not feed a hedgehog?
The following foods should be avoided when feeding hedgehogs: Bread and milk (hogs are lactose intolerant so milk can make them ill. Bread has little nutritional value) Mealworms (thought to cause health problems when eaten in large quantities)
Where do hedgehogs get most of their food from?
Wild hedgehogs can be found in parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. They are considered insectivores because they receive most of their nutrition from insects like caterpillars, slugs, and beetles. When given the opportunity, hedgehogs are known to supplement their diet with small prey like young rodents, toads, and birds’ eggs.
What should I do if my Hedgehog wont drink my water?
If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, there is a chance your hedgehog won’t like it either. If your hedgehog seems to refuse water, try offering filtered or bottled water instead. Like most humans, hedgehogs love treats.
Is it OK to put out Hedgehog food?
Be aware that putting any food out will attract all sorts of wildlife and not just hedgehogs, this includes predators. To avoid the food you put out being eaten by pets or foxes you could make a feeding station that is difficult for anything larger than a hedgehog to access.
What’s the best fat ratio for a hedgehog?
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. You will have to experiment with your hedgehog to determine which food helps or doesn’t.
Why do hedgehogs share the same food station?
Hedgehogs are solitary animals generally. By putting food out, you are more likely to attract several hedgehogs. As they share food from the same feeding station, its possible that they could spread disease between one another.
How much Kibble should a hedgehog eat a day?
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. 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.
