Is he too underweight?

[yourmine]

My little Zeek is about 4.5 months old now and I would say he only weighs around 200-230 grams (this is the best I can estimate with the scale that I have). He acts completely normal and loves to get his excersise (wheels almost constantly all night every night). He eats plenty of good quality food and drinks what I'd consider a normal amount. He just doesn't seem to be as large as I think he should be (I've been comparing him to the weights of similar aged hedgies on the HWS weight site). Should I be concerned about his weight or is he still on the "normal" side?

[paris26]

Allie, Zeek is probably normal for him. I have a 7 month old hedgie that averages between 230-250 grams. My first hedgie was 3 yrs old when I adopted him and he weighed between 230-240 grams. Both were good eaters and wheelers. That's what was normal for them. My vet likes to see them between 200-500 grams. Her eyes about popped out of her head when she saw Tico is almost 600 grams and Annabelle who is pushing 700 grams :)
I would be more concerned if he had a sudden weight loss and no appetite

[Love4Hedgies]

I agree with Tawana. Hedgies vary drastically in size. Just because one is on the small side doesn't mean he/she is unhealthy. :)

[Pringlesmom]

I agree with everyone so far. Pringle varied from 220-240 grams his whole life. The vet never made mention that she was worried about his weight. She said it was normal.

[lyndaj]

My boys are the same age and both weigh 300 grams.

[HedgieMomma]

It also can vary depending on the parents weights- typically if I put two mid size hh's together- they babies will be mid sized as well. If I put two small hh's together, the babies typically stay smaller. I only have a few hh's in my herd that are around 300 grams, the rest are 500 and up. I have had a few come from one breeder a few years back, not a single one of them got over 250 grams. It has a lot to do with parents weights, exercise, and what kind of food it is on.
Michelle

[yourmine]

Thanks everyone! I've spent the last couple days thinking of how I can fatten him up and now I'm not so worried :laugh: .