No hay mucha investigación de fácil acceso sobre la nutrición del erizo. De hecho, hay mucha información contradictoria sobre lo que es seguro para alimentar a un erizo y lo que no.
Es por eso que he compilado una lista precisa de alimentos que puede alimentar a su erizo mascota y, lo más importante, alimentos que debe evitar.
La respuesta rápida es alimentar a su erizo con calidad y comida para gatos de croquetas de confianza. Los erizos son omnívoros, lo que significa que comen carne y verduras. Pero lo más importante para la dieta de un erizo es el equilibrio de proteínas, grasas y fibra.
En qué debe consistir una dieta equilibrada de erizos
Tu erizo tiene necesidades nutricionales al igual que cualquier otra mascota que puedas tener (¡y a ti mismo!)
Las pautas nutricionales ideales para erizos son que cualquier comida dada debe consistir en el siguiente porcentaje de proteína, grasa y fibra:
Proteína: 30-33%
Grasa: 10-13%
Fibra: 3-8%
Verifique los alimentos que compra y, si se ajustan a los rangos mencionados anteriormente, verifique los ingredientes. Los primeros cinco ingredientes deben ser alimentos integrales, sin maíz y sin subproductos.
Evite los alimentos sin granos, ya que los erizos son omnívoros que necesitan una buena combinación de granos saludables y proteínas animales (o insectos).
La cantidad que debe alimentar a su erizo depende de su tipo de cuerpo y peso, así que recuerde que es posible que no necesite mucha comida. (¡Los erizos no son animales súper grandes!)
Podrías escatimar en estos requisitos, pero eso no sería bueno para tu erizo. Si los alimentas con grasa todo el tiempo, por ejemplo, su esperanza de vida puede acortarse, así que trata de seguir las recomendaciones anteriores.
¿Puedo usar alimentos para mascotas comprados en la tienda destinados a otras especies?
Sorprendentemente, la mayoría de los propietarios de erizos lo alientan a evitar por completo las croquetas destinadas a los erizos.
Los productos alimenticios de erizo normalmente están llenos de subproductos, maíz y otros alimentos no nutricionales que no son realmente buenos para los erizos.
Peor aún, muchas marcas de alimentos para erizos están llenas de rellenos como el aserrín y no tienen ningún valor nutricional. La única otra opción que tienes es comprar alimentos destinados a otras especies. ¿Pero cuáles?
¿Pueden los erizos comer comida para gatos o perros?
La comida para gatos es la opción más aceptable para un erizo sano y feliz.
Las pautas dietéticas de antes todavía se aplican, así que verifique los niveles de proteína, grasa y fibra y esos primeros cinco ingredientes. Hay una buena lista que aborda muchas croquetas, por lo que le dará un buen lugar para comenzar.
Esto también se aplica a la comida para perros, aunque los tamaños de croquetas para perros suelen ser más grandes que para los gatos, lo que podría dificultar que el erizo mastique adecuadamente la comida.
Si aún se cumplen los requisitos para la comida para gatos y puede comprar comida para perros pequeña y crobbed, esto es aceptable. Pero tenga cuidado: una gran cantidad de comida para perros tiene demasiado maíz y almidón, así que manténgase alejado de esas marcas.
La mayoría de los alimentos húmedos son ricos en proteínas y grasas, así que tenga cuidado con la cantidad que los alimenta.
También pueden contener pescado, lo que podría darle a su erizo algunos problemas de heces apestosas. Todavía pueden comer pescado, pero puede que no sea tan cómodo para ellos.
¿Pueden los erizos comer hámster, conejillo de indias o conejo?
The short answer, is no.
Hedgehogs are a different species than hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits which are all rodents and therefore vegetarians. Since your hedgehog needs a healthy amount of animal protein, it is not advisable to feed your it hamster, guinea pig, or rabbit food.
Aditionally, many of these commercial pet foods for rodents are typically full of sugars with not many nutrients.
Hedgehogs don’t have rodent teeth and they don’t grow as rodent teeth do. Having your hedgehog constantly gnawing on something that’s meant to wear a rodent’s teeth is really not good for your hedgehog, and it could end up with some serious dental problems!
Can Hedgehogs Eat Suet Pellets or Other Bird Foods and Seeds?
Hedgehogs can eat bird suet made from insects, but these are high in fat and low on protein, so be careful that your hedgehog doesn’t overeat.
Some may say that hedgehogs don’t, or even can’t overeat, but these people may have never seen anobese hedgehog.
Like always, balance your hedgehog’s diet out, and feed them something other than bird seed or suet.
Do Hedgehogs Eat Hay, Leaves, or Grass?
Hedgehogs might be omnivores, but just like humans, there is a limit to what it is that we will eat. Again, the short answer is no, they don’t eat hay, leaves, or grass.
Hedgehogs need a lot of protein in their diets because they are deceptively active creatures. Hay, leaves, and grass are good nesting materials for hedgehogs but lack any nutritional value so they will not actively eat them.
Don’t try a diet like this for your hedgehog, it could get malnourished very quickly.
Do Hedgehogs Eat Dried or Live Mealworms?
Hedgehogs love mealworms, and you should preferably feed them live mealworms. Dried mealworms holdalmost no nutritional valueand have been linked to Metabolic Bone Disease in hedgehogs, so avoid them.
Live mealworms are also good because they stimulate a hedgehog’s brain while he goes snuffling after them!
Remember that mealworms are high in fat and low on protein, so these should be treats or supplemental pieces to your hedgehog’s diet. They aren’t suitable to be the primary diet of your pet.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Fat Balls?
Hedgehogs will eat fat balls made of worms and insects but be careful about their fat intake.
A hedgehog who has access to fat all the time will become overweight very quickly!
Most store-bought fat balls have mealworms as their main ingredient, which are low on protein and high on fat, so beware.
What Are Good Treats To Give a Pet Hedgehog?
Hedgehogs can have treats like any other pet, and they’re normally related to what they can eat already. The only things to steer clear of are toxic foods and too much of any one thing.
Live insects (store-bought only) like mealworms, crickets, waxworms, and the like.
Baby food, made from fruit, veggies, or meat. (Avoid ‘pasta’ flavored foods.)
Cat and Dog treats if they are cut small and soft.
Hedgehog mouths are tiny, and they don’t have much jaw strength, so be sure you’re cutting their snacks very small.
Many snacks and foods represent a choking hazard to your hedgehog, so be careful.
Like the commercial hedgehog food, many store-bought hedgehog treats are dried insects and things like that, but these are not the best primary energy source for your pet.
They may save space, but they won’t help your hedgehog any, so just buy the live crickets.
What Kinds of Fruit are Good to Give a Hedgehog?
Hedgehogs can eat certain fruits as snacks or treats, but these cannot comprise their whole diets. A good working list of fruits includes:
Fresh fruit should be the only thing you treat to your hedgehog. Dried fruit has negligible nutrition, and the salt content could be harmful to your pet, so do not give them dried fruit.
If your hedgehog has trouble with the skins of some of these fruits, peel them and let your hedgehog nibble on the insides.
And of course, don’t let them eat the rinds of melons. It isn’t particularly toxic, but it can give them tummy troubles.
Among the fruits to avoid are grapes, which are toxic to hedgehogs, as well as most citrus fruit which gives them upset stomachs because of the high acidity.
What Vegetables are Good for Feeding Hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs love vegetables too, and in moderation, they can be a great part of the diet of your pet. Vegetables that are good for hedgehogs include:
Carrots, potatoes.
Sweet potato, pumpkin, squash, eggplant.
Bell peppers, asparagus, green bean.
Cucumber, zucchini, broccoli, peas.
Spinach, kale, cabbage, dandelion greens.
Brussel sprouts, turnips.
You may have to cook most of these to present them to your hedgehog. They can’t bite down on hard vegetables like carrots or turnips, or even potatoes, so give them a quick boil.
Do not season anything.
Hedgehogs cannot eat most seasonings in large doses, and some are in fact quite toxic to them (as I’ll get to down below), but just as a preliminary precaution do not use seasoning.
Steam, boil, or bake your veggies. Do not fry them in oil as the high-fat content is bad for your pet, and uneven pan-frying can be another choking hazard for them.
There are many vegetables that are technically okay, but they have zero nutritional value and high sodium content. These are vegetables like celery or lettuce.
Yes, your hedgehog can eat them, but they aren’t any good in comparison to the ones above, so don’t bother with them.
What Human Foods Can Hedgehogs Eat?
There are some human foods that hedgehogs can eat, as humans are also omnivores. Hedgehogs like meats (unseasoned), some grains, and many of the same diets as humans. Moderation is key.
Stay away from junk foods like chips, candy, and dried fruits. These are not inherently toxic to them, but they aren’t very good for your hedgehog either. You can give them very small amounts without harm, but it’s better to just give them snacks they can have at any time.
Hedgehogs are still animals and will want your food like a cat or dog would, even if it’s bad for them, so resist their snuffle and give them their own treats.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Rice, Quinoa, Grains, Oatmeal, and That Sort of Thing?
Hedgehogs need healthy grains in their diet.
Many cat foods have rice, quinoa, and other healthy meal in their ingredients. These things are not bad for your hedgehog, but they simply cannot make up the majority of their diet.
Some vets say to stay away from corn, but the key is still in moderation.
If you plan on making your own food for your hedgehog and you want to include any of the above, just be sure to cook it. If the grain is too hard your hedgehog will not be able to eat it, or even worse, could choke on it.
What About Bread, Noodles, and Pasta?
Avoid bread, noodles, and pasta.
These foods are full of empty calories and sometimes a lot of sodium content. With everything else available to a hedgehog, you shouldn’t need to fill their diets with any of these.
They are empty at best and harmful to your hedgehog at worst.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Ham, Chicken, Beef, or Other Meats?
Hedgehogs can eat boiled, steamed, or baked chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Avoid frying the meat or battering the meat as the salt content will be too high for your pet.
Again, do not use any seasonings, especially no salt.
Make sure the harder meats like beef and pork are cut into small pieces for your hedgehog. If you can, mince them in a food processor or chop them finely.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Eggs?
Hedgehogs can eat unseasoned and cooked eggs, scrambled or hard-boiled (and smooshed up). They do not eat the shells any more than we do, so don’t try to feed them the eggshells.
What About Canned Foods Like Tuna or Pumpkin?
If you want to use any canned foods for your hedgehog, make sure the contents have not seeped in saltwater or oil. These can be very unhealthy for your pet.
If the sodium content is not too high and they aren’t among the foods to avoid from above, hedgehogs can eat canned food. But it isn’t advised.
There are other things to worry about with canned goods, like the metallic content and any added preservatives.These are the same reasons why you might want to think twice before eating canned foods, yourself.
If you want to feed your hedgehog canned food, keep to canned food for cats or baby food, but it’s best to avoid canned human food altogether.
Can Hedgehogs Eat Nuts Like Cashews, Peanuts, Almonds, or Pistachios?
Much like the bird seeds, hedgehogs can (and will) eat nuts for food. But most nuts are too big for hedgehog’s mouths, so they present a choking hazard.
Hedgehogs can have nuts but use them sparingly. Too much protein and fat for hedgehogs (which nuts are full of) can cause kidney stress for the little guys.
Some owners will say to not feed nuts to your hedgehog at all, so use your own judgment and make sure you pay attention to your hedgehog as they eat things like these.
Should You Give Your Hedgehog Honey, Jam, or Jelly?
Honey, jams, and jellies are full of sugars and preservatives, so they are not healthy for your hedgehog.
They are not toxic for your pet, so if you choose to feed them a little bit, it should be fine. Preferably go with natural honey or jams from a farmer’s market or something similar, just to avoid the preserves.
And give them very small amounts!
Can Hedgehogs Eat Dairy?
Hedgehogs can eat some dairy, as it isn’t inherently poisonous, but hedgehogsare lactose intolerant.
It is the lactose in these dairy products that is what is the problem for hedgehogs, so products made from goat’s milk, or non-dairy/vegan products might be something they can handle, but unless you’re sure, it’s best to just nix dairy from their diets.
Things You Definitely Shouldn’t Feed Your Pet Hedgehogs
Your hedgehog is still an animal, and as such has foods that are simply not part of their diet.
Some of these foods are harmful only in large quantities, but they are still on this list. Some of these foods are toxic to your hedgehog, so never feed them to your pet.
This includes (but is not limited to):
Any vegetable in the allium family; garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, shallots, chives (toxic)
Anything made from the allium family (above) so onion powder, garlic powder, mustard, and the like
High citrus/acidic fruits like oranges, limes, lemons, grapefruits, pineapples, pomegranate, and tomatoes (can cause ulcers and mouth sores)
Chilies and avocadoes (toxic)
Chocolate and ice cream (high sugar and lactose intolerance)
Wild mushrooms (toxic)
Seasoned food like deli meat, veggies in saltwater
Peanut butter (high in preserves and difficult to swallow, can rot in mouth)
Grapes and raisins (highly toxic)
This is not a complete and exhaustive list of everything that could hurt your pet, so if you come across something new or have doubts, consult online sources and your local pet shops.
If you ever have any questions about what to feed your hedgehog, there are several sources online where you can find the information you need.
Estas fuentes tienden a ser esporádicas y tienen diferentes opiniones sobre lo que es y no es aceptable para su mascota. Asegúrese de hacer su investigación. Esta lista, y de hecho, todas las que están en línea no son completamente exhaustivas.
La clave de la dieta de un erizo es el equilibrio.
Los erizos necesitan un cierto porcentaje de proteínas, grasas y fibra para tener una vida saludable.
Al igual que los humanos, esto no significa que no puedan comer algunos bocadillos o golosinas azucaradas, simplemente no deberían ser la norma. Los erizos pueden volverse obesos como cualquier otro animal, y es importante recordar cuánta comida necesitan.
Su erizo es nocturno, por lo que la mayoría de los expertos aconsejan alimentar a su mascota al atardecer cuando se despierta o se vuelve más activa. Si parecen hambrientos cuando te despiertas por la mañana, también puedes alimentarlos.
Si no lo hacen, puedes usar un plato como para su comida. Asegúrese de que la botella de sorbo o el plato de agua se limpie todos los días, ya que esto podría afectar si su erizo bebe de él. (Las botellas de Sipper pueden obstruirse con alimentos, así que revíselas diariamente).
¿Cuánta comida es demasiada?
Los erizos deben parecer pequeños rollos simétricos de púas, y deben ser capaces de entrar en sí mismos en su peso perfecto.
Si su cintura es más delgada que sus hombros, considere aumentar su comida. Si son tan rechonchos que no pueden levantarse, considere volver a marcar la croqueta.
Se estima que un erizo requiere de una a dos cucharadas (cucharadas) de croquetas al día. Si están perdiendo peso, dales una cuchara colmada.
Si no son muy activos, nivela esas cucharas. Los erizos activos van a necesitar más comida que los perezosos.
Tenga en cuenta que también podría estar sobrealimentándolos con sus bocadillos, así que tenga en cuenta los bocadillos que le da a su mascota. Por lo tanto, los bocadillos azucarados y grasos no siempre se recomiendan.
Algunos manipuladores dicen que puede alimentar una cucharadita (cucharadita) de frutas o verduras con su hora de comer, pero primero determine las necesidades únicas de su erizo.
Se aconseja a los erizos que tengan entre 400 y 600 g de peso, pero esto podría depender de la raza y el tamaño total de su erizo, por lo que es mejor seguir una guía visual que un número para su peso ideal.
Estas pautas son solo para erizos domésticos y mascotas, y no se recomiendan para todas las razas de erizos o erizos traídos de la naturaleza. (¡No intentes criar un erizo salvaje como mascota, por cierto! ¡No son lo mismo que los erizos mascotas!)
Conclusión
Los erizos son omnívoros que pueden comer carnes y verduras, y una gran cantidad de otros alimentos con moderación.
Necesitan principalmente proteínas con un pequeño porcentaje de grasa y fibra. La mayoría de los alimentos que están fácilmente disponibles para usted son alimentos que pueden comer.
Los manejadores más conocedores de erizos recomiendan que la comida para gatos de calidad es el mejor tipo de comida para darle a su mascota y evitar la mayoría de los otros tipos de alimentos para mascotas a favor.
No todos los alimentos para gatos se crean por igual, así que verifique los datos nutricionales para asegurarse de que la comida para gatos tenga todo lo que su erizo va a necesitar.
Los erizos necesitan una dieta constante y equilibrada para vivir sus vidas más plenas y largas, así que manténgalos saludables, y estarán resoplando y rodando alrededor de su vida durante algún tiempo.
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