What Do Hedgehogs Eat?
One of the rarest pets that you can have is a pet hedgehog, or maybe you just have a hedgehog who has taken residence in your garden. Hedgehogs in the wild are in decline for a number of reasons, but they do seem to be growing in popularity as pets. It is a very strange yet interesting pet to have and you will need to ensure it receives the correct diet.
OneHowTo can tell you all about what hedgehogs eat, so you can give your pet the right diet or simply help out a friendly hedgehog in your neighborhood.
Contents
Do Hedgehogs Eat Bugs and Insects?
When you have decided to take a hedgehog as a pet or you have a wild one hanging out in your garden, it is very important to feed it properly. So what do Hedgehogs eat? Hedgehogs do not seem to be very picky eaters, but it is important that you do not feed them the wrong things. This could make them sick and could hurt their digestive system. Most of their diet is made up of invertebrates. This includes worms, slugs, beetles, earwigs, millipedes, and caterpillars.
What do Hedgehogs Eat apart from Insects?
Hedgehogs that are in the wild must find anything to feed on. They will not let their families starve, so if there are no insects available for them, they must find other food sources. Hedgehogs will eat carrion scraps, mice, baby birds, and bird eggs. The hedgehog may be a very small animal, but they have a huge appetite.
Hedgehog Food
When taking care of a hedgehog, it is very important that you feed them the best quality food possible. It is important that they eat organic food because they do have delicate digestive systems. If you are buying or making food for your hedgehog, it should contain the following ingredients:
- Meat Protein
- Lamb, Chicken, or Chicken Meal
- High fiber ingredients
What Not to Feed a Hedgehog
A lot of people try to feed their hedgehogs cat or dog food, but they have very small and fragile teeth. It is important that you do not feed them this food because they could break or crack their tiny teeth. There are quite a lot of other foods that you should not feed your hedgehog such as seeds or nuts, raisins, dried fruits, or vegetables.
By feeding your hedgehog the right foods, it will live much longer and healthier, and you can enjoy its company for many years to come.
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