What do I feed my hedgehog?

What type of food do you feed a hedgehog?

• I just got our school hedgehog for the summer and they have been feeding him wet cat food, but I was wondering if there are other foods hedgehogs like. So far I've been giving him carrots, blueberries, and strawberries(all chopped up of course) and he seems to like those. Any suggestions?

• Answer:

  Royal Canin Slim 37/38: This food has 38% protein and 9.5% fat. Hedgehogs love it, and it is one of the best foods for them. This food can be bought in 3.5 pound bags for 11$ at Petco. It can also be bought in 3.5 pound bags for 9$ at Pet Smart. It can also be bought in 3.5 pound bags for 9.99 Chicken Soup For The Cat Lover's Soul Adult Cat Light: This food has 32% protein and 9% fat. Hedgehogs like it, and it is very inexpensive. It is usually found at non-chain pet stores, such as Fox Mill Pets. It can be bought in 1.5 pound bags for 2.99$ on Because hedgehogs are insectivores, they consistantly need to have insects as a part of their diet. The most common insects are mealworms and crickets. Silkworms are also a common treat. Superworms aren't a good idea because they have teeth. They can easily hurt a hedgehog by biting its mouth or even stomach. Insects can be fed live, dead, freeze dried, or whatever other way you can think of. Live ones are better for the hedgehog, but some hedgehogs will only eat dead. For an adult hedgehog, 2-3 mealworms every few days is enough. For young hedgehogs, 1 every 4 days or so is plenty. The same applies with crickets. I would suggest getting the small ones (weather you get live or dead) as they are easier to eat for the hedgehog. What other things can hedgehogs eat? Hedgehogs can eat a variety of human foods. If you aren't sure if a food is safe, don't give it. Some acceptable treats are cooked peas, cooked carrots, cooked squash, cooked sweet potato, (make sure that all of the following meats are UNSEASONED) chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, pork, salmon, tuna, banana, cranberries, grape pieces, kiwi, watermelon, pear, apple slices, strawberry, hard boiled eggs, baby food, cottage cheese, yogurt. Never feed your hedgehog chocolate, caffine, nuts, seeds, onions, raisins, If your hedgehog won't eat mealworms, there are three things you can do- 1. Wait. Sometimes hedgehogs won't eat something one day and the next day it's the best food ever. 2. Warning: This may sound gross. You can cut or break the mealworm in half, then rub it on the hedgehog's lips. This will give it a taste of the mealworm. Sometimes hedgehogs simply don't eat mealworms because they don't know they can. 3. Give up. Some hedgehogs just don't like mealworms! Won't Eat Crickets: If your hedgehog won't eat crickets, there are four things you can do- 1. Wait. Sometimes hedgehogs won't eat something one day and the next day it's the best food ever. 2. There are two ways to do this. Either break the cricket's legs off and give it to your hog (if it can't hop away, your hedgehog might eat it) or freeze it for a little bit. When you take it out and let it dethaw, its legs will break off by themselves. Then give it to your hog. 3. Warning: This may sound gross. You can cut or break the cricket in half, then rub it on the hedgehog's lips. This will give it a taste of the cricket. Sometimes hedgehogs simply don't eat crickets because they don't know they can. Any type of nut, along with raisins, can get stuck in the roof of a hedgehog's mouth. hopr this helps.