Feeding your Pet Hedgehog
Although there are hedgehog foods available in stores, most do not have good quality ingredients. When choosing food consider a high quality, indoor adult dry cat food or an insect kibble. Cat foods are typically made with poultry, and some are even made with beef, venison, lamb, etc. These are good options, but since hedgehogs are insectivores by nature, a good quality insect kibble is an excellent option. This type of food is hard to find, but luckily The Hedgehog Store has their own brand of Black Soldier Fly Larvae kibble, click here to order.
Our dry insect kibble’s main ingredient is in fact insects, the main protein being black soldier fly larvae. This food is available to our customers to purchase here on our website. This food can only be purchased here at The Hedgehog Store.
If you would like to choose a cat food as your hedgehog’s staple diet, consider using 2-3 different foods and mix them together. This way, if the manufacturer changes one of the cat food recipes (it happens!), your hedgehog will have at least 1-2 other kibbles in his mix that he is familiar with (many hedgehogs are picky eaters!). Also, choose foods with different types of proteins and look for ingredients that start with a solid protein (example: "Chicken" vs. "Chicken Meal.") Protein should be 30-35%, fat under 15% and a minimum fiber of 4%. Typically high quality, indoor adult dry cat food formulas have these percentages. The Hedgehog Store sells a premium mix of several cat foods that were carefully chosen with everything considered above, and more. Take the guess work out of your hedgehog’s diet and buy this food by clicking here.
Most of our customers buy our Black Soldier Fly Larvae Kibble and the Premium Cat Food Mix to combine the two; along with the Bug Blend Combo to make up a complete diet. For picky eaters try adding the Churu Chicken Creamy Purée Treat on the kibble to entice your hedgehog’s appetite, or get the Hedgehog Booster Multivitamin to fill in any gaps in the diet.
When switching dry foods mix 3/4 of the old food with 1/4 of the new food for a few days, then 1/2 of the old food with 1/2 of the new food for a few more days, then 1/4 of the old food with 3/4 of the new food for a few more days. If you have a lot of your old food left that you don’t want to waste, just lengthen the time of each measurement. Either way, keep in mind that diarrhea is normal as your hedgehog adjusts to the new food, although, the slower the transition is, the less likely it will occur.
Whatever dry kibble you choose should be supplemented by at least 10% of insects that are either sun-dried, roasted, oven-dried, live or canned (NOT freeze dried - they get impacted in the jaws & bowels requiring surgery). For other treat ideas try meat-based purees, wet cat food, cooked meats and eggs (no seasonings). The Hedgehog Store offers many hedgehog safe treats, click here to order.
Dry Cat Food Recommendations: Vetreska Kibbles (available in chicken & beef), Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul (Indoor Hairball), Performatrin (Healthy Weight), Natural Balance (Indoor Ultra Rabbit & Salmon), Wellness Complete Health (Indoor Health), Natural Balance (Green Pea & Duck), 4Health (Indoor Cat Formula), Holistic Select (Indoor Health / Weight Control), Blue Buffalo Grain Free Freedom (Indoor, Chicken Recipe).
Acceptable Treats & Supplements: Churu Chicken Creamy Purée Treat, wet cat food, unseasoned cooked meats, unseasoned eggs: scrambled or hard boiled.
Insects: mealworms, crickets, super worms, wax worms, silk worms, phoenix worms, horn worms, hissing roaches, dubia roaches. (not freeze dried).
People tend to want to offer fruits and veggies to their pet hedgehogs. Many aren't going to eat them, and honestly, they're not good for hedgehogs. But if you insist, some safe ones include: Fruits: apple, banana, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherry, cranberry, honeydew, kiwi, papaya, peach, pear, plum, pumpkin, raspberry, squash, strawberry, watermelon. Veggies: asparagus bell peppers, broccoli, carrot, celery, cilantro, corn, cucumber, green beans, green pepper, peas, spinach, sprouts, sweet potato, turnip, zucchini, leafy greens.
Unacceptable Treats: Freeze dried insects, citrus or dried fruits, grapes/raisins, avocado, onion, rhubarb leaves, peanuts, pits and seeds, human junk food, chocolate.
