Feeding a hedgehog well is more complicated than it first appears, and more important than most new owners realise. Obesity is one of the most common health problems in captive hedgehogs — it leads to fatty liver disease, joint stress, and a dramatically shortened lifespan — and it’s almost always caused by the wrong food, too much of it, or both. Getting the diet right from the start is one of the most meaningful things you can do for your hedgehog’s long-term health, and it begins with understanding what their digestive system actually needs rather than what pet food marketing suggests.
This guide covers the nutritional requirements, how to read food labels correctly, what foods to avoid, and our top picks for every part of the diet. For treats specifically, our best hedgehog treats guide covers insect and fresh food options in depth. For feeding bowls and water stations, see our best hedgehog feeding bowls and best hedgehog water bottle guides.
What Hedgehogs Actually Need to Eat
Hedgehogs are insectivores and omnivores. In the wild, they feed primarily on beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, and other invertebrates, supplemented with small amounts of fruit, plant matter, and the occasional small vertebrate. The core of their diet is animal protein — high in quality, lean in fat, and accompanied by the chitin fibre that insect exoskeletons provide. No commercial food replicates this exactly, but the nutritional targets it sets are clear: high protein, controlled fat, moderate fibre, and no unnecessary fillers.
In practical terms, the numbers the hedgehog community and veterinary guidance have settled on are 30% to 35% protein and under 15% fat, measured on a dry matter basis. Fat in particular needs to be watched carefully — hedgehogs become obese quickly on even slightly over-rich diets, and an obese hedgehog is a hedgehog heading toward serious health problems. The target is under 15%, and preferably under 12% for less active animals or those prone to weight gain.
The daily portion for an adult hedgehog is small: roughly 1 to 2 tablespoons of dry kibble per day, offered in the evening when they’re naturally active. Because hedgehogs are nocturnal, feeding at night means they eat fresh food at the time their metabolism is actually running. Remove any uneaten food in the morning rather than leaving it to spoil.
The Truth About Hedgehog-Specific Commercial Food
Most hedgehog-specific commercial foods sold in pet stores are not the best choice for hedgehogs — and this surprises a lot of new owners who assume food labelled for hedgehogs must be formulated well. Many hedgehog-specific kibble products use wheat, corn, or soy as primary ingredients, which are essentially filler — hedgehogs can’t digest plant-based carbohydrates efficiently, and foods built around them don’t provide the animal protein their biology depends on. Some also contain dried fruit and sugary additives that contribute to obesity and dental problems.
This is why the hedgehog community and most experienced breeders have converged on a different approach: high-quality dry cat food, chosen based on its actual nutritional profile rather than its label. Cat food is formulated for carnivores with similar protein requirements, comes in small kibble sizes appropriate for hedgehog mouths, and is produced under much more consistent quality control than most exotic pet food lines. The key is choosing the right cat food — not every brand qualifies.
How to Read a Cat Food Label for Hedgehog Use
Look at the guaranteed analysis on the bag and check three things: protein percentage, fat percentage, and the first ingredient. Real meat — chicken, turkey, salmon, lamb — should be the first ingredient listed. Meat or poultry meal as the second ingredient is acceptable and adds concentrated protein. What you don’t want to see in the first several ingredients are corn, wheat, soy, or unnamed by-products.
The ideal protein is 30% to 35% and fat is under 15% on the label as stated. One thing worth knowing: the percentages on a label include moisture content, which means a food with 12% moisture and 30% listed protein actually delivers about 34% protein on a dry matter basis — slightly higher than stated. This is fine as long as the fat number stays controlled. Avoid grain-free formulas that use legumes like peas, lentils, or chickpeas as primary protein sources — these plant proteins are not appropriate for hedgehogs and have been associated with cardiac issues in cats, raising parallel concerns for other insectivores.
What to Avoid
Seeds, nuts, raisins, grapes, citrus, and avocado are toxic to hedgehogs and should never be offered in any form. Dairy products cause severe diarrhoea very rapidly due to lactose intolerance, and raw meat carries pathogen risks that outweigh any nutritional benefit. Mealworms are a popular treat but should be strictly limited — they’re extremely high in fat and contribute to obesity when fed in excess. Wild-caught insects should never be used as they carry parasite and pesticide risks. Starchy vegetables like potato add empty calories with no nutritional benefit and are difficult for hedgehogs to digest.
Keep fresh food portions small — no more than a teaspoon, offered two to three times a week — and remove any uneaten fresh food within four hours to prevent spoilage and bacterial contamination in the cage.
Insects: The Part of the Diet Most Owners Under-Prioritise
Because a hedgehog’s natural diet is insect-based, dry kibble alone — even excellent kibble — doesn’t fully replicate what their digestive system is built for. Insects provide natural protein, the chitin fibre from exoskeletons that supports digestive health, and the foraging stimulation that turns feeding into enrichment. Most experienced owners aim to include insects three to four times a week alongside the base diet.
Crickets and dubia roaches are the best nutritional choice — lower in fat than mealworms, higher in protein, and with a better calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Mealworms are enthusiastically eaten by most hedgehogs but should be treated as an occasional supplement rather than a regular protein source. All feeder insects should be purchased from a reliable pet supply source and gut-loaded — fed nutritious food for 24 hours before offering to your hedgehog — to maximise the nutritional value your hedgehog receives from them.
Our Top Hedgehog Food Picks
Best Dedicated Hedgehog Food: Exotic Nutrition Hedgehog Complete
Exotic Nutrition’s Hedgehog Complete is one of the few commercially available hedgehog-specific foods that actually meets the nutritional targets the community has established. It’s formulated with animal protein as the primary ingredient rather than grain or corn, hits the target protein range, and keeps fat appropriately controlled. Exotic Nutrition is one of the most respected names in exotic small animal nutrition and their hedgehog line is developed with the specific dietary requirements of African Pygmy hedgehogs in mind rather than being repurposed from a generic small animal formula. For owners who want a dedicated hedgehog food rather than navigating the cat food aisle, this is the most defensible choice currently available and a strong option to use as part of a mixed diet rotation.
Best Cat Food Primary: Purina Pro Plan Adult Chicken and Rice Formula
Purina Pro Plan is the cat food that comes up most consistently when experienced hedgehog breeders and owners discuss what they actually feed their animals, and the adult chicken and rice formula is the specific product most commonly recommended. It delivers around 40% protein with real chicken as the first ingredient, has a fat level that sits at the upper edge of the acceptable range, and has decades of consistent formulation and quality control behind it. Importantly, Purina operates its own manufacturing facilities, which provides significantly more oversight over ingredient quality and consistency than brands that contract production out. The small kibble size is appropriate for hedgehog mouths without requiring breaking down, and it’s available in virtually every pet store and online retailer.
The fat content runs slightly higher than the ideal under-15% target for less active hedgehogs, which is why many owners use it as part of a mix — blending it with a leaner formula to bring the overall fat percentage down — rather than as a sole food. If your hedgehog is particularly active and maintains a healthy weight easily, Pro Plan alone works well. If they’re prone to weight gain, mixing it with a lower-fat option gives you more control.
Best Leaner Mixer: Wellness CORE Indoor Chicken and Turkey
Wellness CORE Indoor is the mixer that experienced hedgehog owners reach for when they want to bring the fat percentage of their primary food down without sacrificing protein quality. The indoor formula is specifically designed for less active animals — it runs around 36% protein with a lower fat level than standard adult formulas, and it uses real chicken and turkey as the first two ingredients with no corn, wheat, or soy. Many breeders recommend mixing a few different brands to ensure a well-rounded diet rather than relying on any single kibble, and the Wellness CORE Indoor is one of the most commonly cited mixer options for exactly this reason. A typical mix ratio is roughly equal parts Pro Plan and Wellness CORE, blended dry in the bowl each evening, which brings the overall nutritional profile into the ideal zone for most adult hedgehogs.
Best Supplement: Live and Dried Insects (Crickets and Dubia Roaches)
No list of the best hedgehog food is complete without insects, because no dry kibble diet is complete without them. Crickets and dubia roaches are the two most nutritionally appropriate options — both are higher in protein and lower in fat than mealworms, and dubia roaches in particular have an excellent calcium-to-phosphorus ratio that supports bone health. They can be offered live for the foraging behaviour and engagement they produce, or freeze-dried as a more convenient alternative. Whatever form you choose, gut-load them beforehand — feed them a nutritious diet for 24 hours before offering to your hedgehog — and purchase from a reputable pet supply source. Never collect insects from outdoors due to parasite and pesticide risk.
How Much to Feed and When
Most adult hedgehogs do well on 1 to 2 tablespoons of dry kibble per night. Put the food down in the evening when your hedgehog becomes active and remove anything uneaten by morning. If your hedgehog consistently empties the bowl before morning, increase by half a tablespoon. If food is regularly left behind, reduce slightly. Monitor hedgehog weight monthly — an adult African Pygmy hedgehog should generally fall between 250g and 600g depending on build and sex. A hedgehog that can’t curl into a complete ball, or where the belly visibly sags when walking, needs a dietary adjustment and a vet consultation.
Conclusion
Getting hedgehog nutrition right comes down to three things: the right protein-to-fat ratio, a quality animal protein source, and regular insect supplementation. No single commercial food handles all of this perfectly on its own, which is why the most successful approach is a thoughtful mix of a quality cat kibble base, a dedicated hedgehog food for variety, and insects several nights a week. Once that routine is established, it takes almost no time and makes a meaningful difference to your hedgehog’s health over the years.
For everything else your hedgehog needs at mealtime and beyond, our best hedgehog products page has feeding bowls, water bottles, treats, and the full product range in one place.