Feeding your pet hedgehog: tips for future owners.

In children's fairy tales, hedgehogs are often depicted with apples or mushrooms on their spines, which creates a misleading impression of their actual diet. “Your Puppy” explains that in reality, these little creatures have quite a diverse menu.

What to Feed a Hedgehog at Home

The diet of a hedgehog living in captivity can be made similar to its natural one. At home, hedgehogs can be given:

1. Meat – it is recommended to feed them lean meats (rabbit, veal, turkey, chicken). To retain all essential vitamins and trace elements, it is best to serve it raw. To reduce the risk of parasite infection, the meat should be frozen for a few days and then scalded with boiling water.
2. Offal – your pet can be fed with lungs, liver, tongues, hearts, and stomachs.
3. Fish – although this food is not part of a hedgehog's natural diet, they will enjoy fish. You can give your pet not only fish fillets but also its entrails. Only fresh fish should be fed to hedgehogs, as poor-quality or spoiled products can cause food poisoning. Fish should not be a regular part of their diet; it is better used as a treat or a beneficial supplement to their main diet. Mackerel or sardines are the best options. Before feeding fish to a hedgehog, it should be boiled in water or steamed without spices and salt.
4. Insects – these are the basis of a hedgehog's natural diet. Therefore, a pet hedgehog should also eat insects such as mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, and cockroaches. They can be purchased at pet stores or gathered independently. When choosing ready-made products, pay attention to the ingredients and select those that contain one or more types of insects.
5. Vegetables and fruits – hedgehogs can be fed peaches, melon, apricots, pears, and apples. They can also enjoy raspberries, blueberries, pitted cherries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, and wild strawberries. Among vegetables, hedgehogs can be fed asparagus, spinach, zucchini, cucumbers, and carrots.
6. Eggs – chicken or quail eggs should be given no more than once a week.

Foods Forbidden for Hedgehogs

Some foods can be harmful to hedgehogs:

• milk;
• sweets;
• chocolate;
• grapes;
• pineapples and avocados;
• dried fruits;
• vegetable oil;
• fast food;
• cat, dog, and other pet foods.

Hedgehog Feeding Schedule

An adult hedgehog is fed 1-2 times a day, while a juvenile should be fed three times a day. A pet weighing up to 1 kg should receive about 100-150 g of food daily, with the majority of the portion reserved for the evening.

For the animal, not only a balanced diet is important but also maintaining proper hydration. Therefore, your pet should always have access to fresh water.