Pygmy hedgehog what do they eat

Sadly, we have attended properties where hedgehogs were being kept in completely unsuitable conditions; in enclosures which are far too small, where hedgehogs have been neglected or were being fed an inappropriate diet, resulting in serious health problems. Our team has also been called to capture and collect stray African pygmy hedgehogs that have been deliberately abandoned - mostly likely after their owner realised that they couldn't look after them properly.

Doing so releasing an African pygmy hedgehog intentionally is a punishable offence under the Animal Welfare Act. Unfortunately, It's currently legal to own an African pygmy hedgehog as a pet, however under the Animal Welfare Act, owners must be able to meet the animal's full welfare needs, which includes allowing the animal full opportunity to display normal behaviour.

Information on keeping a non-domestic animal as a pet, plus care sheets for more common species. We have concerns about the trade and keeping of wild animals as pets, known as 'exotic' pets. Share this African pygmy hedgehogs. Where do African pygmy hedgehogs come from? What do African pygmy hedgehogs eat? Do African pygmy hedgehogs make good pets? What is an African pygmy hedgehog's natural environment? African pygmy hedgehog rescues Our inspectors have taken in African pygmy hedgehogs that were no longer wanted by their owners, or when owners have realised they cannot care for them properly.

Are African pygmy hedgehogs currently legal to own in the UK? Read more about obesity in hedgehogs and other health issues by clicking here Hedgehog Diseases — Sick Hedgehog Signs. For that reason some of the foods that wild hedgehogs eat, can only be given as an occasional treat to pet hedgehogs. Some of these foods include insects and fruits.

As hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and sleep during the day, they must be fed in the evening when they wake up. In addition to that, you should be aware of how often you should feed your pet hedgehog as if fed too often or too much, it can become overweight and subsequently develop further health problems. Fruits and insects should be given as a occasional treat. This can be done by the use of a baby scale or kitchen scale. Furthermore, there are foods that are not only unhealthy but also unsafe and toxic for hedgehogs to eat.

Knowing this information is essential to keep your hedgehog safe and healthy. As mentioned above, you should be very careful when it come to your African Pygmy Hedgehog diet. As mentioned above, pet hedgehogs are prone to becoming obese. This is because they are not as active as they would be in the wild when hunting for their food.

Therefore, foods that are high in protein, fats or sugar should only be given on occasion as a treat. Furthermore, insects are one of their main food source in the wild. On the other hand, for hedgehogs in captivity, feeding them insects daily can result in too much protein and subsequently — organ failure.

Finally, when getting the insects for your pet hedgie, you should be cautious and do the following:. The reason for that is high intake of sugar can lead to becoming overweight and diabetes. For instance, grapes and raisins are toxic to hedgehogs. In addition, some fruits contain too much sugar and should be given very rarely. Not a single one of my hedgehogs turns these types of feed away.

Take my word for it: when you feed a more natural diet to your animal, It will become more active, more robust, and more vibrant! Because of this, I urge hedgehog owners to feed their pets live invertebrates, such as:. This next point is extremely important: No outdoor insects should be fed to your hedgehog; they must be farm-raised! Additionally, you could end up feeding your pet the wrong type of bug that could even be toxic to it.

Here are some other ideas for nutritious meals to feed your pet hedgehog:. Remember: this is only a guide to providing a more natural based diet for your hedgehog. None of this information can or should replace professional veterinary care. Close search. Shop expand. Whole Prey Products What do we mean by whole prey feeding?