Am I missing something?

[razzle]

I know that hedgehogs are insectivores ....and I would THINK that their main diet should be bugs, right? However, I was recently told by my vet to limit the worms/crickets due to high fat content (I was giving him too many treats). I've had a few people ask me why I feed him mainly dry cat food if hedgehogs are insectivores and I explained about the high protein/low fat issues, but the question always comes up about what is a natural diet for them. But wouldn't worms/crickets be their main diet in the wild? :confused:

[Paris_Honey]

I thought it was grubs but I don't have a hedgie so I wouldn't know! :|

[kaiteedyd]

In the wild hedgehogs have to search for and hunt down their food. By doing this they burn lots more calories then they are able to burn in captivity. I don't know the exact number but a wild hedgehog will travel several miles in one night.

Because or hedgehogs are more sedintary then their wild counterparts they need a lower calorie food. Cat food meets their nutrional needs pretty well and doesn't make them too fat. That's why even though bugs are their natural food, you should only supplement with bugs for you pet hedgehog.

Crickets and silk worms are a lower fat choice then worms are. SO if you really want to imitate a wild diet, they would be a good choice.

[Ododad]

In the wild hedgehogs have to search for and hunt down their food. By doing this they burn lots more calories then they are able to burn in captivity. I don't know the exact number but a wild hedgehog will travel several miles in one night.

Because or hedgehogs are more sedintary then their wild counterparts they need a lower calorie food. Cat food meets their nutrional needs pretty well and doesn't make them too fat. That's why even though bugs are their natural food, you should only supplement with bugs for you pet hedgehog.

Crickets and silk worms are a lower fat choice then worms are. SO if you really want to imitate a wild diet, they would be a good choice.
I agree. Also in the wild they are oppertunist and will pretty much take a taste out of most anything they come across. They will kill and eat a snake, will steal and eat small eggs of most any type and eat a bit of fruit or veggies.
http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/wild.shtml This may help.
Actually this site has quite a bit of information on it.

[mrgew]

Also think of this in the wild, since they have to hunt for food, one night they might not find food, or they might find very little so they dont have constant food available to them.

[Ginger]

silk worms are a lower fat choice then worms are. SO if you really want to imitate a wild diet, they would be a good choice.

Hummm, I am not sure about that !
Silk worm are very very fat ! (I read in a book about hedgehogs that it is 10 times fattier than a mealworm...)