You should feed your pet hedgehog once daily, in the evening or at night when they are most active, offering 1-3 tablespoons of high-quality cat/hedgehog kibble, plus a few gut-loaded insects (like mealworms/crickets) a few times a week, and small bits of fruits/veggies daily or every other day, always providing fresh water and monitoring for obesity.
The right quantity of food along with enough exercise is the key to keeping your hedgehog at an optimal weight. Hedgies require about 70 to 100 calories a day which isn't all that much. Roughly, depending on the specific calorie content of the food offered, this would break down to about 1 to 3 Tablespoons per day.
Avoid feeding too many treats or foods that are high in fat or sugar. Measure food portions: It can be easy to overfeed a hedgehog, especially if you're not sure how much food they need. Measure out food portions to make sure your pet is getting the right amount.
They reduce their body functions to a minimum. With the energy reserves they have piled up by eating, they can survive for up to half a year without food.
Insects and other invertebrates are the hedgehog's main natural food source. A typical diet includes: beetles.
Hedgehogs mainly eat creepy crawlies
The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects.
Despite their preference for limited physical affection, once your pet hedgehog has adapted to being handled and settled into its environment, you can gently stroke their quills and allow them to climb up your arms and explore various areas under supervision.
This is probably the biggest thing which hurts hedgehogs the most. Badgers: Badgers are the only animals in the U.K. that can unroll and kill hedgehogs. They are the only real native predator of them.
Leaving food and fresh water out in the garden each night will encourage visiting hedgehogs to return regularly. Try tinned meaty cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Place the food and water in shallow bowls so they can access them easily. Refresh daily, disposing of food if it's not been eaten.
Hedgehogs can be wonderful pets, and when they bond with you, the connection can feel truly wonderful. Unlike many small animals, hedgehogs can form meaningful bonds with their owners—but it's important to understand that this process takes time and patience. Hedgehogs are not domesticated animals.
What should I never feed a hedgehog? Foods that are toxic to hedgehogs...
Signs of stress
Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously. It is almost as if the hedgehog is saying “Sensory overload. I can't take it anymore.”
At least 2 x 3 feet (61 x 91cm) should be the minimum floor space provided. Walls must be high enough to prevent escape, as hedgehogs are good climbers. A glass aquarium or smooth-sided cage is a reasonable choice for many owners. An aquarium should be at least 30 gallons in volume.
Hedgehogs require daily handling in order to socialize them. It is best to handle your hedgehog with bare hands instead of blankets or gloves so they will be better acclimated to your touch. If your hedgehog has its spines erect, use your hands as scoops on either side and gently scoop him up from the bottom.
Avoid lettuce and celery, which are low in nutritional value. Do not feed avocados, as they are toxic to your hedgehog. Do not feed raw meats or raw eggs to your hedgehog. Hedgehogs are not able to digest milk.
Since hedgehogs are nocturnal it's best to feed them at night. Gut-loaded insects (i.e., five mealworms, one cricket) can be offered a few times a week. One to two teaspoons of fresh produce can be offered daily to every other day.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. They also make sure to hide themselves away in their nest when they're resting, to avoid disturbance and predation. For these reasons, sleeping and resting aren't behaviours we're likely to see a lot in the garden!
The intelligence of a hedgehog is to that of a hamster, they may learn certain behaviors through positive reinforcement or conditioning but only at a very basic level. Hedgehogs are known to be very communicative when it comes to their needs, and often make a low purring sound when they are happy or content.
Provide some fruits, such as apples, plums or pears, and nuts, such as unsalted peanuts or brazils. Leave out root vegetables like carrots, along with some cooked potato. If food isn't eaten overnight, remove anything that will go off and replace it with fresh offerings in the evening.
WOBBLING AND WEAK
Hedgehogs are very strong on their feet and to see one wobbling, swaying, or falling over is a bad sign. Often due to being extremely weak from dehydration or severely emaciated. You will likely see indented skin around their spines with an elongated oval rather than round body.
Hedgehogs can bite you, but very rarely will that happen. This usually happens when they are young and think your fingers are going to feed them (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother).
Since hedgehogs can carry Salmonella bacteria, with or without signs of disease, sensible hygiene precautions are advised as a routine measure when handling these animals (see Prevention below). People with salmonellosis most typically develop signs of gastroenteritis.
you can't really “play” but it's more like offering things for them in their home like little cat toys, mint cat toy stick, tunnels, dog boxes filled with pom poms or cut strips of fleece and hiding worms / insects inside for them to scavenge, and honestly just letting them lay with you on your lap or beside you.
Eyes and ears: Hedgehogs have pretty poor eyesight, so they instead rely on their sense of smell to get around and hunt for food. Hedgehogs have short ears, mostly concealed by their fur.