food...how long

[kabob]

i remember vaguely about ppl writing about not wanting to buy dry cat/dog food for hedgy from some stores due to the fact that they keep the food for so long it's stale.

so my question is how do i know whether it's fresh or not - how long shud they have it for before it becomes too stale ???

also (i don't have my hedgy yet) but when i do - how long should i keep the food for before it's too stale? should i buy a new bag every month or is this something i'm over worrying about??

[bloane]

It really depends on the store and the brand of food you are using. Some foods will have a manufacture date on the bag, so you know when the food was made and how long it has been sitting.
Some foods are recommended for use within 3 months of manufacture, some will last for a year as long as the bag hasn't been opened. Once you choose a brand, call the company and ask them about their recommended useage time frame.
For single hedgehogs, I recommend keeping out a month or so worth of food, and keeping all surplus in the freezer. :)
Becca

[treva.]

about how much food is a month's worth, do you think? i'm really bad at estimating volumes.

[bloane]

Depends on your hedgehog. I would start with about a pound of food, and see how long that lasts, then adjust your amounts from there to make about a month's worth.
Becca

[kaiteedyd]

I've never had a problem with catfood going stale. I buy the medium sized bags and store the food in a plastic container.