Pet Hedgehog Diet

Hedgehogs are becoming increasingly popular pets in North America, due to their low maintenance, friendly disposition and distinctive look. You can even train them to use a litter box. To keep your pet healthy for a lifespan that commonly reaches 6 years, you need to understand a little bit about its background and what a hedgehog needs in his diet.

  1. Wild Hedgehogs

    • There are 17 known species of hedgehog found around the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. Hedgehogs are typically very gentle creatures that spend part of the day and night foraging around brush for small insects, mushrooms, nuts and berries, though they eat carcasses of other small animals if they find them. When threatened by a predator, a hedgehog rolls into a tight ball and positions its quills to cover most of its body. This is a highly effective defense mechanism that protects hedgehogs from predators such as dogs, foxes and birds.

    Domesticated Hedgehogs

    • The popularity of keeping hedgehogs as pets has been growing since the 1990s, when the video game Sonic the Hedgehog reached its peak. Since then, the hedgehog has been a staple pet in many pet stores around the world. Pet hedgehogs typically have a relaxed attitude toward other pets, such as dogs and cats, though they will roll into a ball if they feel threatened. You can litter train them just like cats, which makes them very low maintenance pets.

    Pet Hedgehog Diet

    • Most pet stores that sell hedgehogs also sell a specialty blend of hedgehog food. This food comes either from a hedgehog food manufacturer or is created by the pet store itself. The blend pet stores make is commonly a mix of cat food and ferret food. Many hedgehog owners feed their pet a mix of cat and ferret food, along with fresh vegetables and meat scraps a few times a week.

    Pet Hedgehog Treats

    • Since hedgehogs are foragers in the wild, some special treats you should have on hand for them include mealworms and crickets. A few times per week, offer these to your pet hedgehog in his cage (so the food doesn't escape). These foods are high in protein and hedgehogs enjoy eating them. You can also offer fresh vegetables and fruit such as lettuce, carrot slices and watermelon, which hedgehogs really seem to enjoy.

    Hedgehog Warnings

    • In some American states and Canadian territories, it's illegal to own a hedgehog unless you have a breeding license. Hedgehogs are considered pests in certain areas, since they can breed and disrupt certain ecosystems. You usually won't find them in pet stores in these areas, but it's always a good idea to double check with the USDA (especially if traveling with your pet).