The hedgehog is an animal that only relatively recently that we have as a pet in Spain, so we still can not find in the domestic market for them no specific food that meets all the requirements. This makes it difficult to give this animal a healthy, balanced diet. So, the best diet you can take to properly feed the hedgehogs in the home is based I think high-end cat, using those that are specific to urchins puppies six months old, and feed 'light' adult for more than six months.
It is true that some stores are feed these animals, but are not formulated as a basis for feeding the dwarf African hedgehog, but as a food supplement for European hedgehogs living in Spain and the rest of the continent. Must be purchased only if we have a parcel of land and want to leave a plate of food for the visitors this evening, but not for our pets.
Choice of feed
A suitable feed for a hedgehog as adults must have nutritional values approximate to the following:
- Protein: 22%
- Fat: 5%
- Fiber: 15%
- Calcium: 0.9%
- Phosphorus: 0.9%
- Iron: 75 ppm
- Copper: 4-23 7-16 3-7 mg / kg
- Magnesium: 11-146 11-70 5 mg / kg
- Zinc: 100-190 20-175 30 mg / kg
Feed for hedgehogs young always have the highest rate of fat than those used for adults, since a growing children animal does not require weight control, unless it is given special status of health or overweight. I think it is important that we choose meets these nutritional values as far as possible, especially at the level of fat, since everything above this value will not be metabolized by the hedgehog and you accumulate and can lead to overweight and problems arising therefrom.
Another important issue is that the ingredients are quality, meat being the main ingredient, preferably the non-animal origin, and with a low percentage of rice and cereals.
Nutrients
The feeding of feed must be supplemented with other foods which will provide approximately 15% of the diet. The hedgehog can be given fruits like pears, apples, bananas, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc.., Always avoiding citrus. We can also give vegetables like broccoli, cooked carrot, cucumber or potato. These foods, in excess, can cause diarrhea, so we give them in small quantities.
The meat of chicken or turkey and eggs cooked without salt or sauces, as well as salmon and tuna, are other foods that our hedgehog accept willingly. Also, suitable are cat food cans, considering that in excess may also cause diarrhea, and they contain more fat, additives and preservatives that the dry feed, so that no good abused.
Insects are also an important part of the diet of the hedgehog. It is always good to give your pet some insects a week as cockroaches, crickets, locusts or grasshoppers, mealworms, etc.., Always from pet shops or veterinary or bred by ourselves, as the insects to be found in parks and gardens can be contaminated with insecticides or fertilizers.
A young hedgehogs and pregnant females racionaremos not feed, will try to always keep your plate full. However, in an adult, the recommended daily amount of feed is two tablespoons, placed preferably in the evening, when starting new ones. Fruit and vegetables, we can provide dessert teaspoon daily, or a tablespoon and a half a week. With regard to insects, we will give about four pieces a week, depending on size and fat insect.
Vitamins and food is not recommended
The following foods may be harmful to our hedgehogs, so provide them avoid:
- Preparations: chocolate, potato fritters, sweets, burgers ...
- Raw carrot (yes we can give it cooked)
- Dairy
- Grapes and raisins
- Nuts and seeds
- Onions, Avocado
- Pepper
- Citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi)
- Corn,
- Pineapple
- Garlic
The need for vitamin or mineral supplements is not known, but may not be necessary for animals that eat a diet as we have discussed. If females are breastfeeding or pregnancy, can be given a calcium supplement, but also will need this little extra supply in case the hedgehog feeds on insects with a calcium and phosphorus ratio unbalanced.
Following these indications, we can see that the power of the hedgehog is a simple task that only requires special attention on our part to certain foods that can be harmful to the animal.
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