An animal expert explains what domestic hedgehogs eat and what to avoid feeding them. The video covers suitable foods, prohibited items, and care tips for hedgehog owners or anyone who finds an abandoned hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are wild animals. However, some species have been adopted as pets and therefore it is common to find them in some homes. If you have decided to live with one of these animals, you must take into account several factors such as their care, their behavior and that their ownership is legal in your country. The abandonment rates of these little ones are quite high. For this reason it it is also possible that you have found an abandoned hedgehog and need to take care of it before transferring it to a specialized center. In this video by an animal expert, we explain what hedgehogs eat. Let's get started. Nutritional Needs of Hedgehogs Hedgehogs are mammals with high energy needs. That is why they need large amounts of food to survive. The basis of the hedgehog's diet is made up of proteins of animal origin. The rest consists of a smaller percentage of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. As a guide, these would be the most suitable percentages for a hedgehog's menu. Less than 35% with 22% being ideal. It should mainly be of animal origin less than 15% fat, although it is best to have around 5% as otherwise it would accumulate fat and at least 2% fiber, with a percentage of 15% being ideal. Below, we will review what hedgehogs eat so that you can create the most suitable menu for your little one, taking these proportions into account. What do domestic hedgehogs eat? Many hedgehogs are fed cat food as this has a similar composition to the correct diet for a hedgehog. On the other hand, dog or urchin food is not suitable as it does not adapt to their nutritional needs. If you want to give your hedgehog cat food, you should make sure to choose a quality one with a high percentage of animal protein and low in fat. We recommend that you check its composition on the label as not all meet these criteria when offering it to your hedgehog. Two tablespoons a day will be enough. On the other hand, there are also some foods specially prepared for hedgehogs on the market. They would be the best option as they are formulated to cover all their nutritional needs. If you decide to go for this option, we also recommend that you check the label as not all of them are of the quality they should be. Remember that having a hedgehog entails many responsibilities. Discover in the video that we have left for you above all the care that this animal needs. Natural Foods for Hedgehogs the menu can be completed with insects such as crickets, grasshoppers or mealworms that can be offered to them three or four times a week. These insects cannot be just any insects that we find on the street, as they could be contaminated with pesticides or carry parasites. The correct thing to do is to buy them live, dead, or dehydrated in specialized stores. In addition, we can also offer them half a dessert spoonful a day of foods that we can usually have in our pantry. Some examples would be meats such as chicken, turkey, or pork, cooked without salt or sauces fish such as salmon, tuna, or horse mackerel, cooked the same as meat and without bones boiled or scrambled eggs, preferably only the whites, and eaten occasionally the pulp of fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or mangoes without seeds or peels and vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, or cooked legumes. In the wild, hedgehogs hunt at night and feed on insects of all kinds, especially subterranean ones. For example, the they eat earthworms, slugs, snails, or small vertebrates. They can also eat fruits if they consider it necessary. Therefore, the foods mentioned are suitable and good for them. Although it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian specialized in exotic animals about the exact quantities and frequency Foods Prohibited for hedgehogs, it is essential to know the foods that hedgehogs cannot eat in order to ensure that we offer them foods that are good for their health. Hedgehogs cannot eat citrus fruits or acidic foods, as they can cause digestive discomfort and irritation in the mouth. They also cannot eat nuts or seeds, as they could choke on them and are difficult to digest. Likewise, they cannot be offered grapes, raisins, avocado, onion, or garlic, as they are toxic to them. On the other hand, they cannot eat mushrooms or cereals such as corn, oats, rice, or wheat. Furthermore, hence, hedgehogs do not tolerate lactose, so they cannot consume dairy products, although they can eat organic yogurt or cottage cheese. Finally, it is important to know that a hedgehog's diet cannot contain sweets, alcohol, caffeine, or junk food. If you like hedgehogs, you will surely love the video that we have included in the card in which we explain eight interesting facts about these small animals. Tell us, do you live with a hedgehog or have you found an abandoned one? If you have found one and have questions about its care, remember that there are wildlife recovery centers that can help you. Until next time, experts.
