Introducing a new food

[pixiestix]

Pixie's been on Spike's Delite since I got her from Vickie because thats all she feeds her hogs. I figured it'd be less stressful to keep her food the same for the time being. I've had Pix for a month (She's 3 months old tomorrow!!) and decided I should start mixing it with something else.

I bought some Royal Canin 37 at the pet store today. I offered Pix a kibble to see if she'd eat it. She did, then annointed :rolleyes:

I wasn't sure HOW gradual i need to be to introduce this into her diet. Her crock holds 4 tablespoons, so should i do 1 RC and 3 SD? or less than that?

and do I eventually want her at 50/50 of each or more of one than the other?

[Vincent]

I think that the portions you feed are up to you; if they're both good hedgehog foods, it shouldn't matter how much you feed in proportion to one another. :) Unless your hedgie likes one more than the other. Lol!

Give the new food time. Edmund will annoint with any treats I offer him, but won't actually eat them unless they're served in his food bowl. Maybe Pixie just needs some time to figure out that it really IS food.

I introduce new foods very slowly, over two weeks. It's a terribly slow process, and involves counting kibble every night, but 10 days seemed to be enough time for my boys to adjust. :) I think that adding 1 RC and 3 SD is a little too fast, and may result in some green poops, so maybe add half a tablespoon per night instead.

[freznow]

It depends on how much yours eats. If she eats about 2 tablespoons a night, then she'd probably only eat the spikes unless she really likes the RC. I'd count the kibble and slowly change to the desired amount. Generally I think it's 3/4 old 1/4 new for a week and the next week 1/2 and 1/2 and so on, so if she eats 60 pieces or so a night, I'd put 15 pieces RC 50 pieces spikes for the first week and maybe change 5 pieces a week from there on out... but most of it depends on what you think is a comfortable rate for your hedgie.