Hedgehogs (African): Basic Husbandry and Nutrition
In their natural habitat, hedgehogs eat a variety of insects, worms, small vertebrates, and fruit. This diet needs to be duplicated as closely as possible for pet hedgehogs. Diets should be fairly high in protein (30-50% dry matter) and low in fat (10-20%) since pet hedgehogs tend to become obese. The calcium:phosphorus ratio should be 1.2 - 1.5:1. The diet is formulated for an adult male. Adult females would get slightly less unless they are pregnant or lactating, in which case they may require 2-3 times the amount recommended for adult males. Young hedgehogs may eat up to the adult quantity, depending on stage of life and activity level. The weight and body condition of the hedgehog should be monitored routinely, and the amounts fed, adjusted accordingly.
A typical diet would include:
1-2 tablespoons of a commercial hedgehog diet. (If this is not available, use premium food for less active cats. Avoid diets too high in fat.)
Fruits Vegetables
Apples
Bananas
Berries
Grapes
Pears Beans
Carrots (cooked)
Dark, leafy greens
(e.g., spinach, kale, leaf lettuce)
Peas
Squash
Tomatoes
1-2 teaspoons of moist food such as canned dog or cat food, canned meats, low-fat cottage cheese, cooked egg, or cooked meats. Give this in the evening, when the hedgehog is more likely to eat.
1/2 teaspoon of a variety of mixed fruits and vegetables
Small amounts of treats can be given in the form of mealworms, crickets, earthworms, waxworms, and cat treats. To add mental stimulation, hide the treats in the hedgehog's bedding. Do not give milk or raw eggs. Avoid hard foods such as nuts and large pieces of raw carrot that can become lodged in the roof of the mouth between the molars.
2007-07-09 03:54:45
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answer #1
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answered by ? 5
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Do not beneath any circumstance feed a hedgehog bread and milk, it's highly bad for them. People are probably the most few species that can truely tolerate the lactose in milk as adults, and no longer everybody can. In some pet stores which you could truly buy hedgehog meals but failing that cat food is the first-rate factor but don't over feed them. They should not get reliant on being fed. Better nonetheless to let them consume what nature meant as so much as possible. Primarily this time of year when meals should be fitting considerable. There is plenty of information to be had on the net about hedgehogs.
2016-08-04 04:01:34
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answer #2
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answered by barksdale 4
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do no longer below any condition feed a hedgehog bread and milk, that's particularly undesirable for them. human beings are between the few species which could particularly tolerate the lactose in milk as adults, and not all human beings can. In some puppy shops you are able to particularly purchase hedgehog nutrition yet failing that cat nutrition is the excellent factor yet do no longer over feed them. they shouldn't get reliant on being fed. greater proper nonetheless to enable them to consume what nature meant as much as attainable. somewhat this time of 365 days whilst nutrition could be becoming to be ample. there is a lot of concepts attainable on the internet approximately hedgehogs.
2016-10-20 10:11:00
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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They eat slugs, snails, all sorts of bugs.
I've even known some people leave out dog food for a family of hedgehogs that were living in their garden.
2007-07-09 03:54:25
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answer #4
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answered by CMH 6
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Hedgehogs are omnivorous. They eat insects, roots, meat, fruit, snakes, frogs etc. They are especially fond of birds eggs and will climb bushes to reach them. Spiders also go down well. They carry several parasites, mostly fleas and tics.
They are members of the rat family.
2007-07-09 04:00:14
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answer #5
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answered by Spiny Norman 7
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fruit grows on woods or vines and fruit and vegetables grow in the floor.
2017-02-18 15:36:15
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answer #6
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answered by ? 4
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In captivity they are usually fed a high protein, high quality kitten food along with meal worms and crickets you can purchase at the pet shop. We also took our hedgie outside weather permitting to hunt in the garden while supervised or penned.
2007-07-09 03:56:56
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answer #7
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answered by Roger 3
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In the wild they eat slugs, worms, flies,etc. I have heard it's ok to give small amounts of dog food. It IS NOT alright to give them bread & milk, it can really do their tummies a lot of harm.
2007-07-09 03:55:19
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answer #8
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answered by Carol L 2
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mine loves frozen lasagna and blueberry poptarts
not strawberry though! oh god, if i have one piece of advice to pass down, do NOT give a hedgehog strawberry poptarts, frosted or not! arghhhhhh
2007-07-09 03:59:07
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Worms, slugs, snails. Catfood or dogfood if you want to put some out for them. NOT bread and milk!
2007-07-09 03:53:26
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answer #10
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answered by boojum 3
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