Diet Plans?

[jessran_88]

I have read so much on hedgehog diet that it is driving me crazy--I can't find any straight forward information. I have found various brands of food people feed (and won't feed) but I can't find a list of the proportions of food people use.
Do I mix foods pound for pound? Or are the foods balanced out by their protein/fat ratios?
If I could get a list of what you use and how much you mix together that would be really great.
Thanks,
Jessica

[Tampaquillowner]

I feed my boys a mix of CSFTCLS Adult lite and a small bit of Kitten food (I know I know) and I also mix in Royal Canin 38, and I have just started mixing in Wellness brand Adult lite formula. I get the trial size bags of CSFTCLS and I mix those two first. Then I mix in as much Royal Canin and Wellness as I can fit in the tub. Any leftovers I will use the next month. I also mix in some grapenuts for fiber and some flaxseed meal for their coats. This mix lasts me about a month with two boys, but if I got a bigger sterilite I would probably make it last longer. Its up to you and what you want to mix, you dont have to do certain proportions its all up to you.

[jessran_88]

If the proportions don't matter than how do you know your hedgehogs are getting the proper nutrition?

[Tampaquillowner]

Well I dont measure it out, you cant force your hedgie to eat every food anyway. I could make up any mix I wanted but that doesnt mean that they are going to eat all of it anyway. I know that my boys pick out the CSFTCLS and eat that first and then if they are still hungry they may eat a little of the RC or Wellness. I mean sure I could measure out the proportions but that doesnt mean that they are going to eat what I want them to eat. I dont know how everyone else does it but thats just the way I do it. Maybe someone else could help you with proportions. But IMO if you are feeding them the best food available and balancing their food with treats, and veggies etc. then they will get the best nutrition they can. That is why we mix foods, so that if they wont eat the Royal Canin then maybe they will eat the Wellness, or if they dont eat the Wellness maybe they will eat the CSFTCLS. I dont know if you get what I mean but maybe someone else can help you more.

[jessran_88]

Thanks.
I understand you can't make them eat everything I was just wondering if there was a way you were supposed to mix it so the nutrition was considered "balanced"

So, it would be okay to get the smallest bags of each and just mix them together?

[CoquiMom]

I try to put in equal amounts *example 1 pound of each* Blue Buffalo Lite Cat food, Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul Adult and Lite formula's and Royal Canin Cat 38 Slim. Sometimes I may add half a pound of Special Kitty from Wal-Mart. Several breeders are recommending a small amount of it for fiber.

I figure the hedgies will eat what they want in the beginning and when they have nothing but one kind left they will eat that. It seems to be working.

[SherAlana]

I obtained the following information from a book my vet had:

Diet Choice No. 1(for adult hedgehog of 550g. BW)
- 1 heaping tsp. bird of prey diet or insectivore diet
-1.5 heaping tsp. high quality cat/kitten chow*
-1 heaping tsp. fruit/veggie mix**
-6-10 mealworms or 1-2 crickets (more if pregnant or lactating)

Diet Choice No. 2(for one adult hedgehog per day) ---This is the one I use!
-3 heaping tsp of high quality cat food (*1 tsp. CSFCLS, Royal Canin, Wellness)
-1 heaping tsp. fruit veggie mix
-6 small mealworms or 1-2 crickets
<Side note: What he has not eaten by morning I take out of the cage & start fresh in the evening again>

Diet Choice No. 3 (for one adult per day)
-3-4 tsp. commerical insectivore diet (Mazuri)
-5-6 mealworms or 1-2 crickets


I hope that helps!