Nutrition

Dry food and insects is a must for your hedgehogs’ diet. Make sure your hedgehog’s primary food source is dry food whether it be the food I provide, other hedgehog food brands, or cat food. Hedgehogs MUST have a CONSTANT source of FRESH water!

My daily meal plan for my hedgehogs include: 1 tbsp of spikes delight, 1/4 tsp of rose petals and buds, 1/2 tsp of Mazuri, 7-10 mealworms or sunworms, and 1/8 tsp of hedgehog booster.

Obesity

Obesity and obesity related problems are the most common medical problems that occur in captive hedgehogs and most hedgehogs will pass away due to fatty liver disease. If your hedgehog is unable to curl into a ball completely or has difficulties doing so, then your hedgehog is obese. You can fight their obesity with exercise, appropriate foods, and limiting the amount of calorie intake.

Insects

Hedgehogs are insectivores, meaning their diets mostly consistent of insects. It is very important for you to mimic your pet hedgehogs’ diet to that of a wild hedgehog’s diet. Their diets must consist 30-50% of high protein (insects contain high amounts of protein) and maximum of 12% of low-fat foods but do not feed them over the 12% of fat. Females on the other hand should get slightly less amount mentioned above unless they are gravid (pregnant) or lactating (producing milk). If the hedgehog’s intake to much fat, they could develop future liver diseases and obesity will cause fat to envelop around the heart and inside the bloodstream. DO NOT allow your hedgehog to eat insects from outside or lying around your homes because the insects could carry parasites or harmful insecticides.

The following are insects that are safe for your hedgehog: sunworms, mealworms, and crickets. Wax worms contain high amounts of fat that will cause problems for your hedgehogs, so avoid purchasing and feeding these to your hedgehog.

Fruits

You are able to feed your hedgehog other foods such as fruits, but I advise for you to give them as treats rather than a meal. The following are fruits that are safe for your hedgehog: apples, bananas, cherries, pears, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon), papaya, mangos, peaches, plum, squash, pumpkins, and berries (strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and must all be without the skin). Avoid the following fruits: grapes, raisins, citrus fruits, avocado, and pineapples.

Vegetables

You are able to feed your hedgehog other foods such as vegetables, but I advise for you to give them as treats rather than a meal. The following are vegetables that are safe for your hedgehog: romaine lettuce, arugula, dandelion greens, collard greens, spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, asparagus, radish, turnip, green peppers, and carrots.

Meat

You are able to feed your hedgehog other foods such as meat, but I advise for you to give them as treats rather than a meal. Any meat you feed your hedgehog, must be cooked without any seasoning. The following are meats that are safe for you hedgehog: chicken, salmon, and tuna.

Other

Foods to avoid: diary, chocolate, any junk food, human food, all nuts, and all seeds. Hedgehogs are lactose-intolerant so they will have difficulties such as diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomachs after the consumption of any diary product.