How Often Do You Feed A Hedgehog? (Owner’s Guide)

Hedgehogs are one of the most popular exotic pets around the globe. However, not all owners have the correct knowledge about the feeding schedule of Hedgehogs. I did some research, and talked to my vetenerian friends to learn about the the same. Stick to this article if you wish to understand more about your Hedgehog’s feeding schdule.

In general, Hedgehogs should be fed two times a day, in the morning and late evening. It is recommended to serve 1-2 tablespoon of kibble in one serving and insect/worms in the other. As Hedgehogs are greedy eaters, you must never top up their food bowl every time you feed them.

You will notice that your Hedgehog finishes its food in no time. They always seems hungry. However, never serve them with fresh food every time you see their food-bowl empty.

It is crucial to feed your Hedgehogs with the correct amount of food in a timely schedule. Overeating might lead to several health problems such as obesity, diabetes, diarrhea, etc. in our little ones.

Do Hedgehogs Eat Every Day?

Although Hedgehogs can survive without food for a log time, it is important to feed a domesticated Hedgehog everyday.

However, if your Hedgehog has to go a day or so without eating because you’re out of town briefly, they should be fine. Just don’t make this a regular occurrence.

How Often Does A Hedgehog Need Feeding?

It is essential to feed our Hedgehogs appropriately. You must provide your Hedgehogs with two to three tablespoons of kibble every 24 hours.

I usually prefer to feed my Hedgehog one to two tablespoons of kibble every 12 hours. The truth is, servings of two small meals instead of one large meal makes a huge difference.

In the wild, Hedgehogs hoard their food. They have multiple meals in a day, ensuring that they at least eat some of their food. Serving your Hedgehogs with two small meals in a day will mirror how they eat in the wild.

Also, it is crucial to remove all the uneaten food every 24-48 hours. It is vital to make sure that our Hedgehogs do not eat rotten food over fresh ones. Terrible food often leads to stress in our Hedgehogs.

How Much Food Do You Feed A Hedgehog?

It is essential to serve our Hedgehogs a well-balanced diet. They need to be fed with a well balanced diet of kibble, insects, worms, fruits and vegetables.

Commercially made kibble: Kibble, especially the cat food, are filled with nutrients and are formulated to provide our Hedgehogs with all the essential nutrients they require to lead a healthy life. Therefore, it is important to ensure that they get their daily dose of nutrients before serving them with any other kinds of food. 1-2 tablespoons of kibble a day is a must. This will help the owners to ensure that their little ones are not missing out on any vital nutrients.

Insects/Worms: Insects and worms are a crucial part of a Hedgehog’s diet. You can give them one-two insects a day. However, not all insects are suitable to consume daily. Therefore, you must be extremely careful with what you feed your Hedgehog.

Occasional fruits and vegetables: Owners often choose to feed their pets with fresh fruits and vegetables once in a while. However, not all fruits and vegetables are safe for Hedgehogs to consume. Therefore, you must do your research before introducing a new food to your pet’s diet.

Water: We must serve your Hedgehog with fresh water every 24 hours. Water is essential for the survival of all living beings. You can serve them water in a bowl or a water bottle. Personally, I prefer to install both in my little one’s cage.

How Long Can A Hedgehog Go Without Eating?

Although it is essential to feed domestic Hedgehog on a proper schedule, wild Hedgehogs can survive for several weeks without food.

Domestic Hedgehogs get habituated to their regular diet, and if you deprive your pet of food for a long time, then it may lead to several health complications in them.

Being deprived of food may also lead to intestinal blockages in our little ones. Therefore, the staple portion of your Hedgehog’s diet should be kibble, followed by insects/worms.

Although insects and worms are crucial for our Hedgehog’s health, kibble (protein-based) will keep them full for a more extended time.

You can leave your pest Hedgehog without food for 2-3 days; after that, their digestive system might start to trouble them. Deprival of food, in turn, can harm their health.

If you plan to leave your Hedgehog alone for a few days, there are a few things you must keep in mind. First, read this article, ‘How Long Can I Leave My Hedgehog Alone?‘, to learn everything in detail.

How Long Can A Hedgehog Go Without Water?

Domesticated Hedgehogs should not go for more than 24 hours without drinking water. If your pet has not sipped any water in a day or two, then his life might be at risk.

Not drinking water for a long period can lead to dehydration and even organ failures. If you have any doubts regarding your Hedgehog’s health, I would advise you to take them to a vet as soon as possible.

Also, you must try to find out the reason due to which your Hedgehog is drinking less water or no water at all. There might be multiple reasons behind the same.

Furthermore, if you plan to leave your Hedgehog alone for a few days, set up multiple water bottles in their cage

Can You Overfeed A Hedgehog?

It would be best if you never overfed your Hedgehog. Overconsumption of food can lead to severe health complications in our little ones.

You might get tempted to serve your Hedgehog with more food, but this will only end up harming them. You will notice that Hedgehogs eat all the food we provide them within no time. It is typical behavior in Hedgehogs. Therefore, it is essential to take control of the amount of food you feed your pet.

Also, take care of the amount of kibble you feed your Hedgehog. There are no pellets out there in the wild, and Hedgehogs do very well without them. You must serve your Hedgehog with the correct amount of kibble so that he gets the maximum benefit out of it.

Overfeeding our Hedgehogs will make them obese. Overeating might also lead to other health problems such as digestive complications, heartaches, dental pain, etc. Therefore, never feed your Hedgehog more than the suggested quantity.

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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