New hedgie diet questions

[mutt]

:confused:

Hi! I'm getting my very first hedgehog this weekend and was hoping some of you could answer a few diet questions:

1) Has anyone tried feeding their hedgies Ultra Blend Select from 8in1? Any opinions on this brand?

2) I've heard that dead insects produce dangerous levels of bacteria. Is it safe to feed hedgehogs canned or freeze-dried crickets and mealworms?

3) How old does a hedgehog need to be before you can start experimenting with different kinds of food? Is 8 weeks too young?

4) Do hedgies need/like salt licks?


(My apologies if any of these questions have previously been discussed!)

[paris26]

Congrats on your new hedgie. Pics are mandatory you know :)
When you compare all of the commercial hedgehog foods that are made, 8in1 is not one of the better ones. Most people, including myself, choose to feed a mix of high quality lite cat foods. I don't feed any commercial hedgehog foods myself. I feed CSFCLSL, Wellness Light, Innova Light, Felidae, and Royal Canin Slim 38. My herd eats it very well and I feel better because I'm feeding them good food. Hedgehog nutrition is still a controversial subject and no one knows exactly what they need 100% so it's recommended to feed a mix so what one food doesn't provide another food will. Check out the following link for ratings of tried hedgie foods with a breeder in Kansas. It's a great guideline to follow
http://www.pogstarhedgehogs.com/nutrition/
I've never heard that dead insects produce dangerous levels of bacteria for hedgies. I think the main concern with "wild caught" insects is the threat of contaminants such as pesticides and you wouldn't want to expose your hog to intestinal parasites. I feed freeze dried myself for the most part, but will occasionally buy a dozen live mealies as a treat because they love the hunt :)
For an 8 week old hedgie, or any new hedgie for that matter, you want to slowly transition the hog from the old food to the new food to avoid upset tummies and diarrhea. When I got my hogs as hoglets, I used a 2 week time frame for a complete transition.
Hedgies do not need salt licks or any other mineral supplement. If you feed a high quality diet, you will be meeting those requirements.
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54206

[Tampaquillowner]

Ultra 8in1 is not good food for hedgehogs. Please do a search on Hedgehog diet and you will come upon many many many posts in relation to the topic. You may also come across a website, it will rate different catfoods and hedgehog foods on a best to worst scale. A rule of thumb when you are looking for a quality catfood, the first three ingredients should be meat not wheat or grain or rice or meal. Most commercial hedgehog foods are crap, the best is I think Browns but even that is pretty crappy compared to the available catfoods.

I feed mine a mix of Chicken Soup for the Cat Lovers Soul Adult and a small bit of Kitten (not reccommeded because of the fat content but my boys are small). Also Royal canin slim 38 and Wellness slim.

Hedgehogs are Insectivores and need to be fed bugs. They should never be fed bugs from outside as those bugs could poison them. You can feed freeze dried insects like Flukers or Zoomeds, and you can feed live mealworms or crickets from a store. You can even raise your own colony if you are ambitious.

You need to slowly wean your hog off of its original food by mixing them together over a couple of weeks. You can start giving treats as soon as you want to. But be prepared that they may not eat what you give them. My Tico only eats Beef baby food, insects, and whipped sweet potatoes. Nemo will only eat mealworms. And believe me I have tried everything.

Hedgies do not need salt licks. I wouldnt reccommend even giving one, because it could give them health problems I would imagine.

[Ododad]

I believe Paris covered it all. Listen to her, she knows that of which she speaks! lol
My crew get CSFTCLS, RC38Slim and soon to introduce Wellness Lite. All of my hogs so far turn up their noses at anything except live mealies but all hedgies are as different as all humans are and you will just have to give it time and let them choose what they like. I can't wait to see your new hedgie, and everywhere on this board is outstanding information on hedgies by the people owned by them and who love them.

Oops, posted this before I saw Tampa's post. Tampa is another good one to listen to!

[paris26]

Lol Billy! Your hogs are going to love Wellness! At least my hogs did :)
Most commercial hedgehog foods are crap, the best is I think Browns but even that is pretty crappy compared to the available catfoods.
Actually I think Spikes might be a little bit higher "quality" than Browns, and that's not saying much :(

[Ododad]

I've got it ordered! I tried that flaxseed oil tonight. Can't tell if it is going over good or not. I will know in the morning.

I have a bag of Spikes, none of my crew will eat it. I can't run them off of that CSFTCLS though. They are not turning down the RC38Slim either.

[Tampaquillowner]

Whoops! I knew it was one of those! Like I said I wasnt sure, I just know they are pretty much all crap.

[mutt]

Thanks for the quick replies!

I'm finding all the different hedgie diet info out there unbelievably confusing and the prospect of first-time hedgie ownership is a bit scarier than I had anticipated. It was such a HUGE relief to find this forum!! Thanks again for the help.

(I'll definitely get a pic of her up as soon as I can...)

[paris26]

Whoops! I knew it was one of those! Like I said I wasnt sure, I just know they are pretty much all crap.
:) That's what I think too, but that's just my two cents

[Ododad]

Thanks for the quick replies!

I'm finding all the different hedgie diet info out there unbelievably confusing and the prospect of first-time hedgie ownership is a bit scarier than I had anticipated. It was such a HUGE relief to find this forum!! Thanks again for the help.

(I'll definitely get a pic of her up as soon as I can...)I know exactly what you mean! When I got Odo, my first, I thought it was no big deal, treat it like a hamster. Boy, was I ever in for a shock! I had no idea of the requirements of a healthy hedgie nor did I know of the love and attention they require. I now have three hedgies and would trade nothing in the world for any of them. They are not just pets, but are all very much loved members of my family. Just wait until you have had yours for a little while. You will see exactly what I mean! :) This board has been a life saver for me and I have found the people here to be most friendly and knowledgeable. I would have never made it without this board. That is a fact!
Photo's are a requirement here! ;)