why different foods

[kabob]

Someone please explain why i can't stick to just one type of food - i was jus planning on CSFCLS lite (if i can get it)

what is the reason for feeding different types of food?? what are the advantages and what are good combinations?

[HedgeMom]

There are a couple of reasons for feeding a mix of dry foods. The two biggest, in my opinion, are 1. we have no clue what exact nutritional requirements are so we feed a blend to make sure we cover them and 2. if you can't get one of the foods, your hedgehog will have the other 2 or 3 to eat. Or suppose the hedgehog doesn't LIKE CSFCLS? I have one who picks out the Innova and drops it in the corner, building a little pile.

As far as good combinations, there are as many combinations as there are foods and hedgehog owners. Personally, I don't buy food from any large chain stores. The foods they sell are either of very poor quality or they sit in a warehouse for goodness knows how long and could be stale. I buy from small privately owned pet shops that don't sell animals.

My current blend is Innova, HundenFlocken, Wellness and Avo. Wellness and Innova are my basics and the other two change depending on what's on sale at Crunchies. I'll mix in Katzenflocken or other high quality, all natural cat or dog food of the right protein/fat blend. I'll occasionally add in a bag of vegan dog food just for a change of pace or even a bag of venison or trout and potato dog food. I've probably added at one time or another every type of high quality cat food there is.

HTH

[Steph]

Nancy,
What's Avo?? Is it new, I've not heard of it. Innova has a new one called Evo that I think looks really good in principle but the fat content is up there. Have you seen that one??

I know some of the breeders use a mix also so their hedgies get a different protein source, e.g. some from chicken, some from turkey, most foods use a different meat or two in their mix.

I am WAITING and WAITING for Merrick to make their dry cat food. Last time I checked they hadn't released it yet so I'm hoping they have when I go down next week!!

Oh, and I added the Grape Nuts at Nancy's suggestion for Fiber and my hedgies really like it...

Edited to add: I haven't heard of the first one in your list either Nancy? That's the good part of being in BFE (Not).

Also, for me I make sure I ALWAYS have the CSFTCLSL, it's my base to my mix and I don't like to ever run out of it...

[HedgeMom]

Avo's full name is Avo-Derm http://www.breeders-choice.com/Dog_Products/avodermdog.html

Innova IS Evo, Steph. Darn those name changes. :)

I mix bran into my soft food that I make. I'm not sure what difference it makes but it makes me feel better.

I had mixed success with Chicken Soup. Mine loved it at first then everyone began picking it out and not eating it and then the STO stopped eating it (and Joey eats EVERYTHING) so I stopped adding it in.

[kabob]

do i need to use moist foods as well or can i stick to dry stuff??

[Steph]

Totally your choice. I only use the wet food if I have a sick hedgie who needs syringe fed, some like to use it all of the time. It can help to cut down on dry skin since it has natural oils in it but some hedgies won't eat it...

[Steph]

Avo's full name is Avo-Derm http://www.breeders-choice.com/Dog_Products/avodermdog.html

Innova IS Evo, Steph. Darn those name changes. :)

I mix bran into my soft food that I make. I'm not sure what difference it makes but it makes me feel better.

I had mixed success with Chicken Soup. Mine loved it at first then everyone began picking it out and not eating it and then the STO stopped eating it (and Joey eats EVERYTHING) so I stopped adding it in.

Awww...I see. Innova is new to my mix so I'm not all up on the whole thing. My Innova light does have less fat than my Innova Evo though. Also the Evo had more Probiotics in it I think? I couldn't get Evo in a light when I asked but that was in February... Let me see if I can find the nutritional info on them and compare the differences. Maybe it's just the different between the light and the plain Innova?