Hedghog Pet Diet

Hedgehog Food List: What to Feed Them With?


So Many Options but Not All the Same. What Are the Alternatives for a Healthy Diet?

In this hedgehog food list, we’ve compiled all the foods your hedgie should and should not eat.

 

This list is made up of the suggested and general consensus of many breeders and actual owners.

 

Before you go any further, I suggest printing this list and using it as an easy guideline.

Also, I recommend you read my pet hedgehog’s diet guide, so you become more comfortable with his feeding routines.

 

Good Primary Source of Protein

These foods should make up most of your hedgehog’s diet (1-2 tablespoons per day, depending on its size).

Find one that your hedgehog likes or mix a few brands of cat foods to ensure proper nutrient balance, and try to stick with this choice for consistency.

 

Cat food (low fat, high protein)

If you have had a cat (or know someone that does), you may have experienced they would eat primarily wet food and dry grains when there is nothing else.

 

The same goes for African Pygmy hedgehogs!

 

Whatever you choose to put on their plate, it is essential to provide low-fat meals with high protein.

So, can hedgehogs eat wet cat food? Yes, they can, and some of these could be:

 

Wet Food – Fancy Feast by Purina

cat food for hedgehog with chicken and high protein
BENEFITS: Provides high protein, easy-to-eat, good white chicken meat.

 

Dry Food by Blue Wilderness

Dry free grain cat food with chicken protein for African Pygmy hedgehogs
BENEFITS: This dry, free grain food has low-fat ingredients ideal for adult hedgehogs

 

Food dedicated to hedgehogs

Now, it is way better to provide foods that have additional nutrients for a healthy diet.

Some of the best recommenced (but not limited) are:

 

Vita Prima Hedgehog Food

Vita Prima hedgehog food with mealworms
The Good Stuff: This brand provides a high level of nutrients by including mealworms, which is what they eat in their natural habitats.

 

 

ZooPro – A mix of Dried Insects

ZooPro dry insects and chicken grain free meal with no artificial colors or preservatives
Good: This mix of chicken, mealworms, and black soldier fly can provide the nutrients needed and, more importantly, when they are still growing.

 

 

Good Snack Foods

These foods a great treatment options to give your hedgehog in tiny amounts (1 tablespoon or less), 3-4 days per week.

  • Meat & Fish:
    • Chicken
    • Salmon
    • Tuna
  • Vegetables (usually cooked):
    • Romaine lettuce
    • Arugula
    • Dandelion greens
    • Collard greens
    • Spinach
    • Broccoli
    • Sweet potato
    • Asparagus
    • Radish, turnip
    • Green pepper
    • Carrot
  • Fruits
    • Apple
    • Banana
    • Cherry
    • Pears
    • Melons: Cantaloupe, Honeydew,Watermelon
    • Papaya
    • Mango
    • Peaches
    • Plum
    • Squash + Pumpkin
    • Berries: Strawberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberry (without skin)

 

Acceptable Snack Foods

These foods are decent hedgehog meal alternatives to offer some variety in their diet but should be fed only occasionally in small portions (1 tablespoon or less).

  • Insects:
    • Mealworms
    • Waxworms
    • Crickets
  • Meat:
    • Lean steak
  • Dairy:
    • Cottage cheese
    • Yogurt
    • Eggs

 

What to Avoid?

The following can be poisonous or could upset their stomach, so make sure they don’t eat them at all.

  • Dairy:
    • Milk, especially if it is full of cream.
  • Fruits:
    • Grapes and raisins
    • Citrus fruits
    • Avocado
    • Pineapple
  • Vegetables:
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Potato
    • Tomato
    • Mushroom
  • Meats:
    • Processed and canned red meat
    • Raw meat
    • Seasoned or fried meat
  • Insects:
    • From bait shops
    • From your yard (just in case you spread chemical products to control pests or weeds).
  • Other:
    • All nuts and seeds
    • Chocolate

Suppose you are still unsure what else can be included in your hedgehog food list for their proper nutrition. In that case, I suggest contacting a trusted breeder or, alternately, a veterinarian online at any time.


 

2 thoughts on “Hedgehog Food List: What to Feed Them With?

  • Hi Meg! I’m picking up my new hedgehog next week. I have a heat lamp that has the purple night light. Is that the wrong lamp or can I use that one? An exotic pet store told me to use that one. Thanks! Rita

    Reply
    • Hi Rita, thanks for your question.

      I personally would not recommend using any type of light as this will prevent the hedgehog from coming out at night (when they are more active). If you want to keep it warm, a ceramic heat emitter could do the job.
      Regards,
      Meg

      Reply

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