As a part of the hedgehog’s diet list, this is the second list in this series. We have added all the fruits and berries commonly available with their macronutrients and minerals provided. Do check out this list and hope this will help you out in choosing the right diet for your hedgy.
Check out the first article here.
Fruits and berries can become a part of the hedgehog diet but there some constraints.
Firstly many of them lack nutrients and are only full of sugars. This is not a good situation. Hence, they should only be provided in small quantities some of the time.
Some fruits and berries are acidic as well, and therefore they should be avoided. It is a case-to-case thing, so do take notice before providing anything.
Basic principle on providing fruits
Hedgehogs can definitely eat fruits, but most fruits available in the market contain only sugars and water.
That is not an optimal combination for your hedgehog. Try to maintain a diverse macro-nutrient ratio, so the hedgy gets all the nutrients. Also, it varies from fruit to fruit but, more or less, they should be a treat rather than a part of your hedgehog’s daily diet.
List of Fruits for hedgehogs:
- Figs — Yes.
- Cantaloupe — Yes.
- Honeydew — Yes.
- Papaya — Yes.
- Plum — Yes.
- Pumpkin — Yes.
- Limes — No.
- Nectarines — Yes.
- Raisins — No.
- Applesauce — Mostly No but depends.
- Pears — Yes.
- Kiwi fruit — Yes.
- Bananas — Yes.
- Apples — Yes.
- Grapes — No.
- Watermelon rind — No.
- Watermelon — Yes.
- Oranges — No.
- Cherries — Yes.
- Peaches — Yes.
- Avocado — Yes.
- Mango — Yes.
- Squash — Yes.
- Melon — Yes.
- Lemons — No.
- Pineapple — No.
Basic principle on providing Berries
Berries are similar to fruits, and most of them can be provided to hedgehogs. However, always look at the macronutrient ratios and other nutrients. Secondly, some berries are acidic, and those ones should be avoided at all costs.
List of berries for hedgehogs:
- Goji berries — Yes.
- Bilberries — Yes.
- Acai berries — Yes.
- Agarita berry — No.
- Black mulberry — Yes.
- Boysenberry — Yes.
- Buffalo berry — No.
- Cloudberry — Yes.
- Cowberry — Yes.
- Currant — Yes.
- Dewberry — Yes.
- Elderberry — Yes.
- Gooseberry — Yes.
- Wineberry — Yes.
- Strawberries — Yes.
- Strawberry tops — Yes.
- Raw cranberries — Yes.
- Blueberries — Yes.
- Blackberries — Yes.
- Raspberries — Yes.
Basic principle on providing Dry Fruits
Hedgehogs should not be provided with dried fruits of any kind. Firstly, dried fruits are harder to chew and can get stuck in the throat of hedgies.
They are also harder to digest for the small digestive systems of the hedgehogs.
Dried fruits for hedgehogs list:
- Dried cranberries — No.
- Dried Blueberries — No.
- Dried Blackberries — No.
- Dried Raspberries — No.
- Any other dried fruit — No.
Detailed Explanations
Figs and hedgehogs
Figs are known to create digestive problems in dogs.[1] Therefore for a small creature like a hedgehog, they should be provided in extreme moderation.
Except that, figs are mostly sugars (over 80% of the carbs present). They also do not contain any vitamins or minerals in high amounts.
Cantaloupe and hedgehogs
You can provide your hedgehogs with some pieces of cantaloupe as they are quite low in calories but do remember to remove the skin and seeds before providing it to them.
Cantaloupe is also quite high in sugars (around 90% of the carbs present) and has very little to no dietary fibers. They also have substantial amounts of vitamin C like various other fruits and have significant amounts of vitamin A.
Honeydew and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs would love to eat parts of a honeydew. It is quite low in calories (36 cal per 100 g), but like many other fruits, most of these calories are water and sugars (around 90% of the carbs present).
Honeydews contain a substantial amount of vitamin C and have some amounts of vitamin B6 as well. So, provide them accordingly to suit your hedgie’s needs.
Papaya and hedgehogs
Papaya is a delicious fruit and can be provided to a hedgehog. Do remove the skin and seeds before offering anything to the hedgie.
Papayas, like many other fruits in this list, are mostly carbohydrates (90% and above) and have minimal amounts of other macronutrients.
They are also full of sugars (around 75%) but are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. Except that there are not many minerals present.
Plum and hedgehogs
You can provide pieces of plum to your hedgehog but do remember to remove the pit as it contains sharp ends and can create digestive problems. Plums are also quite high in sugars (90% of the carbs present) and have little to show in other macronutrients. They do contain some amount of vitamin C, but that’s all.
Pumpkin and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat pumpkin, but some users have reported that large amounts of pumpkin can create digestive issues as they act as a laxative inside the stomach.
Pumpkins are quite low in calories, and their sugar levels are not that high (close to 40%). They also contain some amount of vitamin C and are rich in copper.
Goji berries and hedgehogs
Goji berries are mostly available in dried form. We, as a rule of thumb, do not advise anyone to provide dried fruits to their hedgehogs.
Therefore we do not recommend you to provide dried Goji berries to your lovely friend with quills. These dried berries are also quite high in calories (around 350 cal per 100 g).
They do contain some amount of protein (17%), but like other dried fruits they are mostly carbs.
Bilberries and hedgehogs
Bilberries (also known as European blueberries) are quite nutritious and contain a high amount of vitamin C as well as manganese.
They are also substantially moderate in calories (only 85 cal in one cup/ 185 g). These can definitely be provided to hedgehogs keeping in mind that no seeds or hard parts.
Also, keep them in a low amount as most of the calories in bilberries come from sugars.
Acai berries and hedgehogs
Acai berries are both nutritious and lovely to eat and hence they can be provided to your hedgehog.
They are moderate in calories (70 cal in 100 g) and provide better carbs (with a value of 50% fibers) while having fats as well. They also contain vitamin A (15% of the RDI).
Agarita berry and hedgehogs
Agarita Berry or Texas wild berries are quite acidic as they are used to prepare wine.[2] Therefore, they should not be provided to hedgehogs.
Agarita berries can create digestive issues due to their acidic nature, and hence, caution is advised.
Black mulberry and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat mulberries (black or otherwise) as they are seemingly acceptable in calories (43 cal per 100 g of fresh mulberries).
Mulberries contain a relatively high amount of proteins for a berry (11%), but mostly it is also full of sugars like others (close to 85%).
They do contain high amounts of vitamin C and have acceptable amounts of iron as well. So, avoid providing them in high amounts.
Boysenberry and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat boysenberries but do keep the amount is in a moderate order.
The seeds would not cause many digestive problems, but it is recommended to remove the seeds before providing to the hedgy. Boysenberries are medium to low in calories (50 cal per 100 g).
And, has high dietary fibers (close to 45% of the carbs present). So, you can provide it as a treat.
Buffalo berry and hedgehogs
There is not much data available on Buffalo berries but as we can say from the current data that they are quite acidic[3] (and, therefore used in making wines). So, we would not recommend providing them to your hedgehog as that could create digestive issues and even renal failure.
Cloudberry and hedgehogs
Cloudberry or Alaska berries can be provided to hedgehogs as they are one of the very few berries with a diverse macronutrient ratio (60% carbs/14% fats/20% proteins).
They are also quite a good source of vitamin C but except that they do not contain any other vitamins or minerals.
Cowberry and hedgehogs
Cowberry can be provided to the hedgehog keeping in mind that it is thoroughly cleaned and all the seeds are removed. Cowberries have been eaten for a long time by Native Americans.
They contain several nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B (B1, B2, B3), and vitamin A. It also contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium.
Currant and hedgehogs
Currant or blackcurrant can be provided to hedgehogs as they are quite low in calories and are filled with nutrients. One cup (112 g) contains only 63 cal and around 30% of the carbohydrate calories come from dietary fibers.
They are also quite rich in vitamin C and have a low glycemic index, so they digest slowly.
Make sure to remove the seeds before providing them to the hedgie.
Dewberry and hedgehogs
Dewberries are quite high in dietary fiber value (over 50% of the carbs present), and besides that, they do not have many calories as well (62 cal in one cup).
They also contain sufficient amounts of vitamin C. So. You can surely provide them to your hedgehog. But do note that there are also around 50% sugars as well so provide them in moderate quantities.
Elderberry and hedgehogs
Elderberries can be provided to hedgehogs as they are moderate in calories and contain a high amount of dietary fiber (close to 50% of the carbs present).
They are also quite high in vitamin C and contain antioxidants like phenolic acid.
Gooseberry and hedgehogs
Gooseberries can be provided to the hedgehog as they are quite a good source of dietary fibers (close to 50% of the carbs present). They are also quite low in calories (only 66 cal in 150 g or a cup of gooseberries).
They also contain a sufficient amount of vitamin C and some amount of vitamins B5 and vitamin B6. Gooseberries are also rich in copper and have some amounts of manganese and potassium.
Wineberry and hedgehogs
Wineberry is quite similar to Dewberry, so there should not be any problems in providing them to hedgehogs.
Make sure to remove any seeds or problematic parts before placing them in front of the hedgy. They also have high amounts of sugars, so avoid providing them in large quantities. They should only be given as a treat.
Limes and hedgehogs
Limes are acidic[4] just like other acidic fruits so they should not be provided to hedgehogs at all.
Limes can create digestive problems and could lead to organ failure in hedgehogs. There are also not many vitamins or minerals present in limes, so you are not losing much here either.
Nectarines and hedgehogs
Your hedgehog can surely enjoy some slices of nectarines, but as they are mostly sugars (close to 75% of the carbs present) and water, they should be avoided in larger quantities.
Nectarines also do not contain any other macronutrients in sufficient amounts except carbs. There is some copper in nectarines, but that’s all for minerals.
Raisins and hedgehogs
Do not provide raisins to your hedgehog as dried fruits like raisins can create allergies and digestive problems in these tiny creatures. Raisins are known to do the same in dogs as well.[5]
Also, raisins are mostly sugars and water. They do not contain any substantial amount of vitamins or minerals.
Applesauce and hedgehogs
It depends on the product you are providing. A lot of brands provide salted, seasoned applesauce, and that is not recommended for any hedgehog. Preservatives and seasoning are quite harmful to your hedgehog according to many in the community.
In case you want to provide applesauce, provide the unsweetened version but do remember to offer it only as a treat.
Applesauce will not provide any substantial value health-wise to your hedgehog as it contains mostly carbohydrates in the form of sugars.
Pears and hedgehogs
You can provide your hedgehog with some amount of fresh pears but do make sure to remove any seeds so that they do not become a problem or get stuck in the hedgehog’s throat.
Pears are all most all carbohydrates, and therefore they are mostly sugars and water. They do not contain any amounts of substantial amounts of vitamins or minerals.
So treat them as one in a month or once in two weeks kind of treat for your hedgie.
Dried cranberries and hedgehogs
We do not support providing dried fruits to hedgehogs[6] as they could create digestive problems and even lead to renal failure.
Also, the dried cranberries available in the market are quite high in calories (over 300 cal per 100 g of dried cranberries). So, not recommended at all for hedgehogs.
What about Raw cranberries?
Raw cranberries can be provided to the hedgehogs as they are relatively low in calories. But, do remember that like almost all other berries, cranberries also are filled with sugars.
They do contain high amounts of fibers as well (45% of the carbs present). So, providing small quantities as treats is recommended.
Kiwi fruit and hedgehogs
You can surely provide your hedgehog with small pieces of kiwi fruit. Do make sure that it is not too hard to eat for the hedgehog as they have little, fragile teeth.
And, take it as a treat rather than a meal. Do not provide it too often to them as it contains mostly carbohydrates in the form of sugars and water. Except for vitamin C, it does not include any other significant amount of vitamins or minerals.
Strawberries and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat strawberries, but they should be given as a treat and not as a daily food replacement. Strawberries are almost all sugars, and they do not contain any other macronutrients like protein, fats in substantial amounts.
They are quite low in dietary fibers as well.
Try to remove their skin to make it easier for the hedgehog to eat them. OTOH, They are a good source of vitamin C.
Strawberry tops and hedgehogs
Strawberry tops can be eaten, and they are quite healthy to eat. They have no harmful effects on various other animals, so providing them to hedgehogs is not a bad idea.
Do remember to store them carefully and use them as garnishes on other recipes to give that strawberry flavor.
Bananas and hedgehogs
Your hedgehog would love to eat a piece of a banana. But, bananas are almost pure carbohydrates (90% plus). The amounts of proteins and fats are little at best.
They can be a good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C but except that there isn’t much value. So, providing them as a treat would be the best idea.
Apples and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can be provided pieces of apple even with the skin present. Apples are a great source of vitamin C, and the apple skin has the most nutrients present.
So removing it would not be a good idea. You can provide it as a treat as it contains very low calories, but most of these calories come from sugars.
Grapes and hedgehogs
You should not feed your hedgehog grapes. Grapes are a source of renal failure and other organic failures in dogs.
And, hedgehogs can also suffer from the same scenarios if you keep giving them these types of fruits.
Watermelon rind and hedgehogs
Although watermelon rind is not unhealthy to eat, it is quite hard. Therefore giving it to hedgehogs as it is would not be a great idea.
It could get stuck in their throat or damage their teeth. If you can prepare it somehow, then it would be perfectly fine.
What about watermelons?
You can provide watermelons to your hedgehog as treats as they are very low in calories and are quite tasty to eat.
It is well known in the community that hedgehogs love to eat watermelons.
But do remember the watermelons have seeds in them so try to remove them before providing to your lovely pet. Watermelons are mostly sugars (80% of the carbs present) so do remember not to make them a daily part of their diet.
There are not many minerals in watermelons either – it’s all water and sugars.
Blueberries and hedgehogs
Your hedgehog would love to eat blueberries but remember to remove their skin before providing to the hedgies. Blueberries are also mostly carbohydrates (95%), and most of them are sugars.
So offer them in moderate amounts. To their credit, blueberries do contain a good amount of vitamin C.
Oranges and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs should not eat oranges at all. Any type of citrus fruits like oranges are not recommended for hedgehogs.
They can create digestive problems and can damage the digestive tract of your hedgehog, so do not provide them with oranges in any condition.
Cherries and hedgehogs
You can provide your hedgehog with some cherries but make sure to remove their skin before putting the cherry pieces in your hedgehog’s bowl. You should not provide cherries every other day because cherries are mostly sugars and water.
They contain very high amounts of carbs (over 90%), and other macronutrients (like proteins and fats) are minimal. Also, except vitamin C, they do not contain any sufficient amounts of vitamins.
Peaches and hedgehogs
You can provide your hedgehog with tiny bits of peaches every week or so. But, do remember that, like various other fruits in this category, peaches lack in nutritional value.
Their main constituents are water and sugars. They have some vitamin C, but that’s it.
Avocado and hedgehogs
According to many in the hedgehog community, avocados are considered toxic to hedgehogs. So, we would not recommend you to feed them avocados ever. They can be replaced by other fruits or insects-based diet.
Avocados contain high amounts of fats (70% and above), and rest are carbs. It is also a good source of vitamin E and vitamin C.
Mango and hedgehogs
Definitely! Hedgehogs can eat mangoes, and they would love to eat them. Do remember to remove the skin and place only the meaty part in their bowls.
Mangos contain a very high amount of carbohydrates (90%), and most of these carbs are sugars. So, do not provide these in high amounts and present them only as treats once in one or two weeks.
Blackberries and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat blackberries but remember to remove their skin before providing them to your hedgie. Blackberries are also full of carbohydrates (close to 80%). And most of these carbohydrates are sugars.
It is not a good idea to provide large amounts of sugary fruits to your hedgy. Only offer them as a treat once per week.
Pineapple and hedgehogs
Please do not provide your hedgehog with pineapples, ever. Pineapples are acidic fruits and therefore should not be provided to hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs have a tiny digestive tract, and the acidic fruits can harm or damage them severely.
Raspberries and hedgehogs
You can provide your hedgehog with some raspberries as a treat. They are mostly carbohydrates and water.
Almost half of the carbohydrates present are sugar, but there is also a substantial amount of dietary fibers present – which is excellent. They also, like various other fruits, contain a high amount of vitamin C.
Squash and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can eat squash fruit but do remember to remove the skin before providing it to them.
Squashes are quite low in calories, but most of their calories come from carbohydrates (93%). They also have very little in dietary fibers (15% of the carbohydrate value).
One good thing is that they do not have any sugars in them. They also have slight amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
Melon and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can definitely eat some melons. Do remember to remove the outer skin and seeds before providing them to the hedgehog.
Melons are very low in calories (28 cal per 100 g), so you can give them often but do remember that their calories mostly come from sugars (85% of the carbs present). They do have substantial amounts of vitamin B6 and vitamin C, but not many other minerals are present.
Lemons and hedgehogs
It is not a good idea to provide lemons to hedgehogs as lemons consist of citric acid and any acidic food is a big no-no for hedgehogs.
Lemons do contain high amounts of vitamin C, but there are not many other minerals except that. So they can be replaced by any other fruit easily.
