Can Hedgehogs Eat Fruit? - Hedgehog Harmony

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Hedgehogs are known to be insectivores, but they also eat hedgehog and cat food to get the nutrients that they need. Meanwhile, it is also common for most animals to eat fruits as a healthy snack.

Aside from hedgehog and cat food, you might be wondering, “what other foods do hedgehogs eat?” Can hedgehogs eat fruit?

Hedgehogs can eat many fruits as a snack but these should be fed as a treat in very small amounts. Safe fruits for hedgehogs include apples, strawberries, bananas, berries, melons , pears, papaya, kiwi, mangoes and peach.

Not all fruits are safe for hedgehogs to eat though.

Fruits that are safe for hedgehogs to eat:

1. Apples

Perhaps this is one of the first fruits that comes to your mind when we talk about healthy treats for our pets. After all, apples are easy to find, cheap, and can be stored.

Hedgehogs can eat apples and most of the time, they will actually enjoy munching on them.

Apples are safe for hedgehogs to eat and hedgehogs enjoy them. Both the skin and the flesh are safe but peeled apples are best and you should avoid feeding apple seeds. Like other treats, it should be fed in moderation.

About a small amount of apple three or four days a week would be enough. Giving them too much can cause them to gain weight due to the high sugar content.

To prepare, first, peel off the apple’s skin, then cut it into small pieces. Doing this minimizes the risk of choking, and also for easier digestion.

2. Strawberries

Strawberries are safe for hedgehogs to eat when fed in moderation. Like other fruits, hedgehogs seem to enjoy their sweet taste. Strawberries provide a good source of Vitamin C and water for your hedgehog.

Compared to other fruits, strawberries have less sugar, but actually taste sweeter. This is good for hedgehogs since they can eat more of these without greatly affecting their blood glucose levels.

To be safe, it’s best to follow the three to four days a week rule that we mentioned earlier.

Aside from being a healthier snack, strawberries also provide many health benefits. It’s a good source of Vitamin C and polyphenols – an antioxidant that helps balance free radicals in one’s body.

They are also a great source of hydration since strawberries contain about 90% of water, and the others are carbohydrates, protein, and a very small amount of fat.

Pick a fresh strawberry and like apples, wash it clean, slice into half, remove the seeds, then chop it again into smaller pieces to avoid risk of choking.

3. Bananas

Bananas are safe for hedgehogs to eat but should be fed in moderation due to their high sugar content. Choose ripe bananas to ensure easy digestion and slice into small pieces before serving.

Bananas are soft, chewy, easy to break, and of course, it’s delicious. A perfect snack for hedgehogs, bananas should only be given in moderation since they are also high in sugar content. Too much of it can cause obesity, and in the long run, hedgehogs can develop diabetes.

Also, the ripeness of the banana is an important factor you must consider if you’re going to use it as a treat for your hedgehog.

An overripe banana tends to be sweeter since it has more sugar content, while under ripe bananas can be difficult for your pet to digest.

As always, slice it first into smaller pieces before giving to your hedgehog.

4. Melons

sliced-yellow-melon-slices-of-watermelon-and-blueberries

Hedgehogs can safely eat most type of melon including honeydew, watermelon, and cantaloupe. While all these are safe for hedgehogs to eat, make sure that it is cut into small pieces and should be given in moderation.

Melons are rich in vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamins C, B6, K, folate, as well as potassium, magnesium, fiber, and beta-carotene.

5. Berries

Raspberries and blueberries are some of the most popular berries that can be given to hedgehogs as a treat. However, make sure to remove the skin first to avoid the risk of choking, as well as to lessen the impact of chemicals sprayed onto the berries.

Berries contain nutrients, including Vitamin C, manganese, Vitamin K1, copper, and folate.

6. Pears

Pears are a good treat for hedgehogs, so long as the skin is removed and it is cut into smaller pieces. Keep in mind that pears also have high natural sugar content, and therefore should be given as a rare treat to avoid risk of obesity and diabetes.

Pears are a good source of fiber, Vitamin C and K, potassium, copper, and small amounts of folate, provitamin A, and niacin.

7. Cherries

Cherries are safe for hedgehogs to eat as long as it is pitted – meaning, the stone is removed.

Like every other fruit, you should also remove its skin and chop it into small pieces. Give cherries in small amounts first, and if there are no adverse reactions, then you can safely feed it to them in moderate amounts.

Cherries are highly nutritious fruit, and contain fiber, potassium, calcium, vitamin A, and folic acid.

8. Kiwi fruit

A sweet and tangy fruit, kiwis have a lot of nutrients to offer for our hedgehogs, such as Vitamins C, K, and E, as well as folate and potassium.

To prepare, kiwis must be peeled and cut into small pieces. Make sure to give it in moderate amounts as well.

9. Plums

Hedgehogs enjoy plums as an occasional treat. Like cherries, plums should be pitted, the skin should be removed, and then it should be sliced into small pieces before giving to hedgehogs.

Some nutrients that are present in plums are Vitamins A, C, K, potassium, copper, manganese, as well as small amounts of phosphorus, Vitamin B, and magnesium.

10. Pineapple

A tropical fruit, hedgehogs can eat pineapples so long as it is given in moderation. Unlike other fruits, pineapples can be quite acidic which can result in potential digestive issues for our hedgehogs. Therefore, make sure not to overdo it.

Pineapples are loaded with nutrients and minerals, including fiber, Vitamin C, manganese, Vitamin B6, copper, thiamin, folate, riboflavin, iron, and more.

11. Mangoes

Another tropic fruit that makes a tasty treat for hedgehogs are ripe mangoes. However, since mangoes tend to be very sweet, it should only be given as a rare treat.

To prepare, remove the skin and seed, then chop it into small pieces.

Mangoes are delicious fruits that contain Vitamins A, C, B6, fiber, and potassium.

12. Peach

Hedgehogs can consume small amounts of peaches. But if it’s your first time feeding them this fruit, you might need to check first if no outward signs were developed, such as diarrhea, before giving them in moderation.

Peaches are packed with Vitamins A, C, E, K, potassium, niacin, copper, manganese, as well as small amounts of B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron.

To prepare, remove the skin, the stone, and cut into small pieces.

13. Papaya

Ripened papaya can be given to hedgehogs. However, remember not to feed them the unripe one since it contains huge amounts of latex which can cause kidney damage for our pets.

To give as a treat, peel off the papaya’s skin, remove the seeds, and slice it into small pieces.

Aside from being delicious, this tasty treat contains Vitamins C, A, folate, potassium, as well as small amounts of B vitamins, calcium, and magnesium.

Fruits are tasty and healthy snacks for our hedgehogs, provided that they are given in moderation. As we always remind you, don’t overdo it. While fruits can bring benefits for our pets, anything that is too much is bad.

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