If such a diet is not available in your area, you'll need to improvise. Most breeders feed a variation of a "zoo diet." The basis for this diet is a high-quality dry cat food, preferably a "lite" or reduced-calorie formula. Start your hedgehog with 1 to 2 tablespoons of dry food per day. It is best to feed in the evening, when your pet is more active. Weigh your pet weekly to make sure it is not gaining or losing too much weight. A healthy hedgehog should feel flat when sitting on the palm of your hand--not bony or flabby.

To the basic diet of dry cat food, you can add small amounts of canned cat or dog food, cooked egg, chicken or turkey, chicken broth and cottage cheese. A good guideline is one teaspoon of moist food each day. Many veterinarians and breeders recommend adding a small amount of fruit and vegetables to the diet, such as apples, grapes, raisins, yams, corn or peas. No more than 1 tablespoon of fruit and vegetables should be added to each cup of dry food. This means not more than one or two kernels of corn, half a grape or a small cube of yam each day. Remove any uneaten moist food in the morning and wash the food dish thoroughly.

If you are not squeamish about feeding live food, most hedgehogs will come running for mealworms, waxworms or crickets. You can feed three to five mealworms, one waxworm or one cricket per day.

Author(s): Dawn Wrobel

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