What Do Hedgehogs Eat? A Detailed Explanation of Hedgehog Eating Habits

Summary: Hedgehogs are docile in temperament, with a clumsy and adorable way of moving about, and they are easy to keep, which makes them very popular with children and teenagers. They have gradually become a beloved family pet. Hedgehogs are omnivorous animals. Wild hedgehogs eat nuts, grass roots, wild fruits, reptiles, crickets, small insects, and also eat small mice, bird eggs, small snakes and so on.

The hedgehog is also called the ci tuan, wei shu, melon-stealing badger, mao ci and so on. It is a small mammal and an omnivorous animal with many favorite foods. It usually feeds on insects and worms, and also eats some vegetarian foods such as vegetables, melons and fruits. Below, let us take a detailed look at what hedgehogs eat!

What Do Hedgehogs Eat?

Hedgehogs feed on insects and worms. Their favorite foods are ants and termites, and they also eat young birds, bird eggs, frogs, lizards and so on, and occasionally eat crops. A hedgehog can eat 200 grams of insects in one night, eliminating pests and therefore benefiting agriculture.

Hedgehogs also eat plant foods such as grass roots, melons, fruits and vegetables.

What Do Pet Hedgehogs Eat?

1. Hybrid hedgehogs kept at home can be given homemade feed, prepared by mixing meat scraps, grains and their by-products, green vegetables and so on in proportion.

2. Small animals such as caterpillars, beetles, snails and earthworms, as well as fruits, can also be fed to them.

3. Hedgehogs are sensitive to lactose, so dairy products must not be fed to them.

Notes on Artificial Domestication

1. If wild hedgehogs are artificially domesticated, animal-based feed should account for 80% of the food, and this can then be slowly reduced while increasing the proportion of plant-based food.

2. The feed given must be fresh and clean. Melons, fruits and vegetables should be washed before feeding. If the melons and vegetables are bought from the market, they should first be soaked in a water basin for 1 hour, then washed and mixed into the feed, to prevent pesticide poisoning.

3. The feed should be varied in type. A single type of feed will cause hedgehogs to bite and fight each other and refuse to eat.