What do ground hedgehogs eat

What do ground hedgehogs eat

Hedgehogs are relatively unknown animals, of which many people do not know what their diet and lifestyle are. If you have doubts about what your diet is, in the following oneHOWTO article we will explain what do ground hedgehogs eat, as well as field and sea urchins.

It is also possible that you want to have a hedgehog as a pet, if so, before giving you the details about how to feed a hedgehog, you should be aware that not in all countries it is legal to have it as a pet. So we recommend that you review the legislation in your country to see if you can have a hedgehog in your home.

What do hedgehogs eat

  • The ground hedgehogs: they have a very varied diet, but they mainly eat insects, fruits and vegetables.
  • The wild ground hedgehogs: They mainly eat beetles, snails and other types of insects, but they also eat fiber and chitin that they find in the exoskeletons of other animals.
  • The african hedgehogs: like the previous ones, their diet is based on insects, fruit and vegetables.
  • The sea ​​urchins: in general it is a herbivore, as it feeds mainly on pieces of algae, however it can occasionally eat dead animals. Their diet is also made up of substances such as silt or clay.

Beyond this, below we will explain in depth what you should do if you have a ground hedgehog, how you should feed it, what foods you can give it and which ones you can not.

How should the hedgehog feeding be?

Hedgehogs are precious animals, however, the price you have to pay for having such an exotic and untraditional animal as a pet is that in the market we do not find special food for them. The dry cat food, the highest quality, is the closest thing to his diet, although feeding him only of that will not ensure all his nutritional needs. To complete its diet you can add fruit, chicken, turkey or eggs.

The insects They are another of the favorite foods for hedgehogs, yes, what you can not do is catch crickets or worms from your garden. Normally in these places pesticides and other toxic products abound that can harm your hedgehog. The solution is to buy them in specialized stores.

If your hedgehog is pregnant or lactating, it will need more vitamins, it is best to go to a vet for a comprehensive check-up.

Hedgehogs are a type of animal that have tendency to gain weightSo controlling your diet is essential so you don’t gain weight. If your hedgehog becomes overweight, he will be unable to roll up and may develop pockets of fat that will prevent him from walking properly.

What do ground urchins eat - How should the hedgehog feed be?

Recommendations for feeding a hedgehog

Take into account the recommendations that we will give you below about what should be the feeding of a hedgehog:

  1. You should feed it in the afternoon, as well as make sure it always has fresh water.
  2. Do not give him cold food or out of the fridge, this can cause diarrhea.
  3. Do not always give it the same, hedgehogs are omnivorous animals that need different nutrients and vitamins.
  4. Do not combine the fruit with the other food, give it separately and in small portions.
  5. When he finishes eating, remove the remains so that he does not eat spoiled food.
  6. If we take into account that a hedgehog eats half a kilo a month, it is better to opt for high-quality food, since it does not involve a great economic effort.
  7. Being an omnivore is not synonymous with the fact that you can eat anything, here is the list of foods that you cannot eat.

If you have other questions about the care of a hedgehog, in the following oneHOWTO article we explain how to take care of a hedgehog and how to bathe a hedgehog.

What do ground urchins eat - Recommendations for feeding a hedgehog

Foods allowed for hedgehogs

Here we explain the foods you can give your hedgehog:

  • Hedgehogs can eat chicken, turkey or fish meats as long as they are well cooked.
  • They can also eat boiled eggs.
  • Between the fruits that yes they can eat we find the banana, the watermelon, the apple or the pears.
  • Herbs like chamomile or peppermint.
  • Vegetables such as cucumber, radishes, turnips, and potatoes, as well as cooked carrots.
  • Vegetables cooked
  • Alfalfa
  • Insects like crickets or worms they are a delicacy for hedgehogs
What do ground hedgehogs eat - Foods allowed for hedgehogs

Forbidden foods in hedgehogs

  • Dairy productsHedgehogs love cheese, paradoxically, they are lactose intolerant, which is why they should not be fed. What can be done is to give them lactose-free products.
  • Sweet: chocolate and snacks.
  • Fruits: There are different fruits that affect the kidney functions of hedgehogs, including grapes, pineapple, avocado and citrus.
  • The nuts They can stay in your throat and choke them, in turn they can damage your teeth.
  • Between the vegetables that hedgehogs cannot eat we find onion, paprika or garlic.

If you want to read more articles similar to What do ground hedgehogs eat, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.