Can Hedgehogs Eat Mealworms? (The Good & The Bad)

When we own a Hedgehog, it is important to provide them with a balanced diet. This means we will need to provide a diverse range of food groups, to prevent them from getting bored. Due to this, owners are constantly looking for a way to add a variation in their little one’s diet, but can Hedgehogs eat mealworms?

I did a thorough research about Hedgehogs and mealworms, and here is what I have found out!

Hedgehogs can eat mealworms, but only when it is served in moderation. Mealworms don’t provide many nutritional benefits; it is more likely junk food for them. Make sure you only feed a small number of live mealworms once in a while to your Hedgehogs. Avoid feeding them with dried or dead mealworms.

If you offer a mealworm to your Hedgehog, he will be quick enough to eat it. Mealworms are one of the favorite treats of Hedgehogs. It’s like fast food and is an example of live food for them.

In this guide, we will dive into the details of mealworms and Hedgehogs and whether or not it is a good idea to feed mealworms to our Hedgehogs.

Are Mealworms Safe For Hedgehogs?

Mealworms are safe for Hedgehogs to consume. However, we must keep in mind that portion control is the key. Therefore, we cannot serve mealworms to our Hedgehogs daily.

The mealworms should be given to our Hedgehogs as treats only. As mealworms contain a decent amount of phosphorus in them, overfeeding might be a problem for our Hedgehogs.

Excessive phosphorus leeches the calcium out of the bones and teeth of our Hedgehogs, which in turn might lead to Metabolic Bone Diseases (MBD) in them.

Are Mealworms Bad For Hedgehogs?

Mealworms are not an ideal food choice for our Hedgehogs. Overeating mealworms can result in severe health problems. Listed below are some of the health hazards that your Hedgehogs might have to face if you overfeed them with mealworms:

  • High Fat Content: Mealworms contains a decent amount of fat in them, which can be a problem for our Hedgehogs. Therefore, it is important to limit the serving of mealworms to our Hedgehogs. Over consumption of mealworms can easily make our little ones obese.
  • Difficult To Digest: As mealworms have a tough exoskeleton, it sometimes becomes difficult for our Hedgehogs to break it down. This can easily cause impaction, as they struggle to digest them properly. This has the potential to cause serious issues.
  • Hedgehogs Might Get Addicted To The Mealworms: Although it sounds crazy, the fact that Hedgehogs easily get addicted to mealworms is pretty easily. Just like humans get addicted to fast food, Hedgehogs can get addicted to mealworms.
  • Metabolic Bone Disease: Metabolic Bone Disease in Hedgehogs, is basicallty, the loss of bone density as a result of losing calcium from the bones. Mealworms have a large phosphorus content respective to how much calcium is in the mealworm, which becomes a problem for our Hedgehogs.

Can Mealworms Kill Hedgehogs?

Although consumption of mealworms would not kill Hedgehogs, a poor calcium and phosphorus ratio meaning they should only be fed as part of a balanced diet.

Overeating mealworms can lead to several diseases, especially Metallic Bone Disease in Hedgehogs. Therefore, if you introduce mealworms to your pet’s diet for the first time, you must be very cautious. Keep an eye on the reactions of your Hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs have a sensitive digestive system. Therefore, sudden changes in their diet might make it very difficult for them to adjust.

Are Mealworms Good For Hedgehogs?

Although mealworms are not an ideal food choice for our Hedgehogs, there are some health benefits of eating mealworms for our Hedgehogs:

  • Good Source Of Protein: Mealworms are packed with proteins, which helps our Hedgehog’s body to build and repair essential tissues. Besides this, it also aids to make enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals in the body.
  • Rich In Iron: Iron present in mealworms helps to maintain a robust digestive system. Besides this, iron also helps in transporting oxygen throughout the body.

Can Hedgehogs Eat Mealworm Beetles?

Hedgehogs can eat mealworm beetles without any worries. Mealworm beetles contain a good amount of protein, which has many health benefits for our Hedgehogs.

Most Hedgehogs love to munch on the crispy shells of the mealworm beetles. However, your pet doesn’t need to like it. Therefore, do not force-feed them.

Can Hedgehogs Eat Dried Mealworms?

Dried mealworms are not a healthy option for our Hedgehogs. The lack of water content in dried mealworms can be a problem for our Hedgehogs. In addition to this, dried mealworms are not easy for our Hedgehogs to digest. Therefore, the best option is to serve them with dried mealworms.

Can Hedgehogs Eat Freeze Dried Mealworms?

Like dried mealworms, freeze-dried mealworms do not contain any water, making it very difficult for our Hedgehogs to digest.

Dried mealworms can easily cause impaction, as they struggle to digest them properly. This has the potential to cause serious issues. Therefore, it is advised to serve your Hedgehogs with live mealworms only.

Can Hedgehogs Eat Live Mealworms?

Hedgehogs can surely eat live mealworms. Live mealworms are an amazing way to provide our Hedgehogs with fresh and nutritious protein. However, I would advise you not to feed any more than one live mealworm at a time.

It would help if you kept in mind that it is important to buy live mealworms from a reputable seller. Also, it would help if you did not store more mealworms than your pet can eat before they grow into beetles.

Can Hedgehogs Eat Dead Mealworms?

It is advised not to feed dead mealworms to your Hedgehogs. Dead mealworms are a bad nutritional choice for our pets. Also, most Hedgehogs won’t eat a mealworm unless it’s alive and moving.

Therefore, the best option is to serve our Hedgehogs with live mealworms. Also, it is important to serve in moderation to avoid any health problems.

How Often Should I Give My Hedgehog Mealworms?

The age of your Hedgehog is the deciding factor, according to which you must decide the frequency of serving. However, as a general rule, 1-2 mealworms once-twice a week are ideal for Hedgehogs.

Also, I would advise you to avoid serving mealworms to baby Hedgehogs. This is because mealworms have a thick exoskeleton, which can lead to digestive issues.

Can Many Mealworms Can A Hedgehog Have In A Day?

Hedgehogs should be given mealworms as treats only. You must not make a part of your pet’s regular diet. Mealworms carry a decent amount of fat, which can easily make our Hedgehogs obese.

In addition to this, mealworms are rich in protein, which sometimes can be a problem for our pets. Therefore, 1-2 mealworms at a time is an ideal choice for the Hedgehogs.

Furthermore, it would be best if you also served mealworms to your Hedgehogs based on their age. For example, you can feed the young Hedgehogs with tiny worms.

How To Feed Mealworms To My Hedgehogs?

It is important to serve the mealworms to our Hedgehogs in the correct manner. As discussed above, the best option is to serve our Hedgehogs with live mealworms only. Also, it is advised to not serve mealworms to baby Hedgehogs, it might have a bad impact on their health.

To make sure that the process is safe, we need to take care of a few things before serving mealworms to our Hedgehogs:

  • The first thing you need to consider is the portion. Mealworms should be served to our Hedgehogs as treats only. Over consumption of mealworms can lead to severe health problems. The staple portion of your Hedgehog’s diet should be kibble, followed by insects/worms.
  • Also, you must always provide your Hedgehogs with fresh mealworms only. If you wish to store the worms for a longer period, some worms might die. Avoid feeding dead mealworms to your Hedgehogs.
  • Now, it is recommended to serve the worms in your pet’s food bowl. However, you can also choose to hand feed them. The choice is yours.
  • You can also serve the worms with your Hedgehogs kibble. This will make sure that your pets get all the essential nutrients. However, please do not end up serving them too much at a time.
  • The last step is to remove any uneaten part of the worm from your Hedgehog’s enclosure. This is important to keep the flies away.

Best And Safe Mealworm Options For Your Hedgehogs

After consulting my veterinarian friends and talking to a few experienced Hedgehogs owners, I picked out the best commercially available mealworms for our Hedgehogs.

JARDTEC Non-GMO Dried Mealworms - 100% Natural Treats for Birds Chickens Hedgehog Hamster Fish Reptile Turtles, 1 lb
  • EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN FOR YOUR PETS - Protein contents account for 53% of the...
  • EASY TO STORE & KEEP FRESH - Our mealworms are packaged in a craft paper zip lock bag...
DIIG Non-GMO Dried Mealworms - Treats for Birds Chickens Hedgehog Hamster Fish Reptile Turtles, 8 oc
  • EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN FOR YOUR PETS - Protein contents account for 53% of the...
  • EASY TO STORE & KEEP FRESH - Our mealworms are packaged in a zip lock bag that keeps...
Sale
Sunseed Vita Prima Wigglers & Berries Hedgehog Treat - Mealworms for Hedgehogs - Small Animal Trail Mix Snack
  • Fun Trail Mix Style Treat With Delicious Mealworms & Berries
  • High Protein Treat Designed Specifically For Hedgehogs That Encourages Natural...
JARDTEC Non-GMO Dried Mealworms - 100% Natural Treats for Birds Chickens Hedgehog Hamster Fish Reptile Turtles (2 lb)
  • EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN FOR YOUR PETS - Protein contents account for 53% of the...
  • EASY TO STORE & KEEP FRESH - Our mealworms are packaged in a craft paper zip lock bag...

My little ones have loved each one of them. I hope your Hedgehog will love them too!

Mohini

Hello, I am Mohini, the founder of this blog. I am a qualified Animal Nutrition. I am here to help everyone understand their pets better.

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