2023 Hedgehog Food Brand Comparison
What is the best hedgehog food? We've compiled details on the main brands available this year, so you can compare and reference all in one place.
[view this chart in a new window]
Reference links for Hedgehog Precision, Vitakraft Sunseed, Spike's Delite, Hedgehogs and Friends, Mazuri, Exotic Nutrition, Wild Harvest, Pretty Pets. Product details pulled on May 26th 2023.
Brand and Formula Quick Review
Hedgehog Precision
Formula(s): Standard Formula (listed below), Weight Control Formula
Guaranteed Analysis: Moisture (max): 10%, Crude Protein (min): 28%, Crude Fat (min): 8%, Crude Fiber (max): 5%, Calorie Content: 3,400kcal/kg (calculated), Calcium (min): 0.8%, Phosphorus (min): 0.7%
Ingredients: Black soldier fly larvae meal, chicken meal, brown rice, sorghum, dehulled oats, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavors, oat fiber, beet pulp, fish oil, salt, inulin (from chicory root), chitin powder, choline chloride, minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, sodium selenite calcium iodate), vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid), potassium chloride, yucca schidigera, propionic acid, natural antioxidants (citric acid, natural mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract).
Vitakraft Sunseed
Formula(s): Vita Prima (listed below), Vita Smart
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 38%, Crude Fat (min) 8%, Crude Fiber (max) 9%, Moisture (max) 14%, Calcium (min) 2%, Calcium (max) 2.5%, Phosphorus (min) 1.4%, Vitamin A (min) 22,000 IU/kg, Vitamin D3 (min) 2,860 IU/kg, Vitamin E (min) 600 IU /kg, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min) 250 mg/kg, Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.2%, (L. acidophilus, L. casei, E. faecium, B. bifidum, A. oryzae), Contains a source of live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms
Ingredients: Wheat Bran, Poultry Meal, Soy Protein Concentrate, Fish Meal, Shrimp Meal, Chitin Powder, Tuna Meal, Crab Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Freeze Dried Mealworms, Fish Oil, Vegetable Oil, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Yeast Culture, Ground Flax Seed, Dried Kelp Meal, Psyllium Seed Husk, Fructooligosaccharides, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, L-Lysine, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, Carotene, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Bifidum Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus Oryzae Fermentation Product, Torula Dried Yeast, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Cobalt Sulfate, Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Sodium Selenite.
Pro-Plan Spike's Delite
Formula(s): Premium Diet, Pro Diet, Lite Diet, 1st Crumbs, Ultra Diet, Ultra PLUS (listed below)
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein -Not less than - 32%, Crude Fat -Not less than - 12%, Crude Fiber -Not more than - 6%, Moisture -Not more than - 12%
Ingredients: Chicken meal, extruded yellow corn, soybean meal, extruded brown rice, fish meal, steam-rolled oat groats, extruded whole soymeal, soy hulls, vegetable oil, Brewers yeast, whole dried egg, blood meal, potassium chloride, salt, magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, choline chloride, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A acetate, D-activated animal sterol (source of Vitamin D3), DL-Alpha Tocopheryl acetate (source of Vitamin E), Menadione sodum bisulfate complex (source of Vitamin K), Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, niacin supplement, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, folic acid, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, maganous oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, corn germ meal, dried kelp, dried tomato pomace, vinegar, yeast culture, monosodium phosphate, sodium sulfate, ferric sulfate, magnesium oxide, cobalt sulfate, cane sugar, DL-methionine, ferrous fumarate, sea salt, l-lysine, lecithin, Vitamin E Supplement, potassium iodide, beta carotene, zinc methionine complex, hydrochloric acid, yucca schidigera extract, algae meal, diatomaceous earth, cobalt choline citrate complex, ferric choline citrate complex, calcium pantothenate, copper choline citrate complex, sodium selenite, magnesium amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, calcium amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, thiamine monoitrate, ferrous carbonate, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, peppermint, violet leaves, garlic, alfalfa, horseradish, parsely, dandelion, geranium, ginger, juniper (berries), elder flowers, hops, licorice, clover, tocopherol, amylase, cellulose, maltase, phytase, protease, lipase, mixed tocopherols, citric a acid, ascorbic acid, rosemary extract.
Hedgehogs and Friends
Formula(s): Really Good Hedgehog Food*
*Note: I won't say without a doubt that this is a cat food private labeled for Hedgehogs and Friends. But I will say that it is identical in every way to a product Evanger's offers for private label: their Grain-Free Catch of the Day Dry Cat & Kitten Food. Lots of people feed cat food - that's okay! But if someone were to falsely imply that a cat food was specifically formulated for hedgehogs, that would be a disservice to hedgehogs - and their owners. :(
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein, not less than 34.0%, Crude Fiber, not more than 3.5%, Moisture, not more than 10.0%, Crude Fat, not less than 17.0%, Ash, not more than 6.7%
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Whole Dried Sweet Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Whole Dried Peas, Whole Lentils, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavors, Dried Chicken Liver, Salmon Oil, Dried Egg Product, Sodium Bisulfate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Dried Cranberries, Dried Blueberries, Kelp Meal, DL-Methionine, Dried Carrots, Dried Celery, Dried Beets, Dried Parsley, Dried Lettuce, Dried Watercress, Dried Spinach, Dried Chicory Root, Turmeric, Hydrolyzed Yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast Culture, Dried Enterococcus faecium-Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Aspergillus niger Fermentation Extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilus Fermentation Extract, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Yucca, Schidigera Extract, Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Taurine, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Methionine Complex, Copper Sulfate, Copper Lysine Complex, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Methionine Complex, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Cobalt Carbonate, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Mixed Tocopherols (a source of Vitamin E) and Rosemary Extract
Mazuri
Formula(s): Hedgehog Diet (listed below), Insectivore Diet
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude protein not less than 28.0%, Crude fat not less than 11.0%, Crude fiber not less than 11.0%, Crude fiber not more than 15.0%, Moisture not more than 12.0%, Ash not more than 8.0%, Vitamin E not less than 300 IU/kg, Omega-3 Fatty Acids not less than 0.25%
Ingredients: Chicken Meal, Ground Soybean Hulls, Ground Wheat, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Rice Flour, Poultry Fat Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Ground Whole Aspen, Powdered Cellulose, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Apple Pomace, Wheat Germ, Dried Whey, Fish Meal, Natural Poultry Flavor, Lecithin, Soybean Oil, Fish Oil, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Salt, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Choline Chloride, Lactose, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Manganous Oxide, d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Inositol, Biotin, Cobalt Carbonate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Citric Acid (a Preservative), Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Pantothenate, Nicotinic Acid, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Carbonate.
Exotic Nutrition
Formula(s): Hedgehog Complete (listed below), ZooPro Hedgehog Essential, Premium Insectivore Diet, Insectivore-Fare
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 35.01% (min), Crude Fat 7.07% (min), Crude Fiber 8% (max), Moisture 10% (max), Calcium 0.53% (min), Phosphorus 0.20% (min), Vitamin A 9042.52 IU/lb (min), *Lactobacillus 1x104 CFU/g (min)
*Contains a source of live (viable) naturally occurring microorganisms.
Ingredients: Bloodmeal, Soybean Meal, Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Roasted Soybeans, Tallow, Cane Molasses, Dried Beet Pulp, Dehydrated Mealworms, Yeast Culture, L. Acidophilus, S. Faecium, S. Cerevisiae, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Cobalt Proteinate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Oxide, Biotin, Folic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Pyridoxine HCL, Dehy Alfalfa Meal, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin Supplement
Wild Harvest
Formula(s): Hedgehog Nutrient Rich Diet
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 28.0% min, Crude Fat 8.0% min, Crude Fiber 3.0% max, Moisture 7.5% max, Calcium 0.80% min, Calcium 2.0% max, Phosphorus 0.50% min, Vitamin A 5,000 IU/lb min, Vitamin D 800 IU/lb min, Vitamin E 60 IU/lb min
Ingredients: Ground Corn, Ground Peas, Poultry By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Fat, Natural Chicken Liver Flavoring, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, Calcium Propionate (Preservative), Sodium Selenite, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Biotin, Calcium Carbonate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Magnesium Oxide, Vitamin D3 Supplement
Pretty Pets
Formula(s): Pretty Pets Hedgehog Food
Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 32%, Crude Fat/Oil (min) 5%, Crude Fiber (max) 6%, Moisture (max) 10%, Ash (max) 4%, Vitamin A (min) 17,500 IU/kg, Vitamin D3 (min) 800 IU/kg, Vitamin E (min) 200 IU/kg, Copper (min) 10 mg/kg
Ingredients: Ground Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Meal, Ground Oats, Beet Pulp Fiber, Potato Protein, Soya Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, DL Methionine, L-Lysine, Magnesium Oxide, Betaine Anhydrous, Diatomaceous Earth, L-Ascorbyl-2 Polyphosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Niacinamide, Ferrous Sulfate, Mixed Tocopherols, Copper Sulfate, Yucca schidigera Plant Extract, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Rosemary Extract
The Bottom Line
Whether or not a hedgehog will eat a certain food is the bottom line - no matter how nutritious it is! We can't say whether your hedgehog will like any particular brand. However, we put a lot of time and effort into ensuring our Hedgehog Precision staple diets would be palatable and preferable so that as many hedgehogs as possible will enjoy them!
We are always happy to answer any questions you have about hedgehog nutrition, our products, or hedgehog care in general. Please reach out if there is something we can help with!