healthy weight

[Jenn1]

As some of you noticed my bonzo is a "big" boy. I was wondering what a healthy weight is? I have a gram scale to keep an eye on all my animals weight but it helps to know what weight he is supposed to be at lol.

 

[Cimredopyh]

This one has no definite answer, as it all depends on how much fat a hedgie has on their individual body frame and not a number.
Its sort of like asking what the ideal weight for a human being is. Hedgies, just like humans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

A 700g hedgie could be perfectly healthy for his large body frame, and a 400g hedgie could be too fat for his small frame.

As long as he can ball up, has no yellowed fat deposits in his 'arm pits', is on a low fat food, and gets enough exercise, its all good.

( Leaning towards the 'fluffy' side is not a bad thing, as when they get ill their weight drops very quickly, having a little extra works as a buffer )

 

[Jenn1]

thanks. My bonzo is a healthy 640 grams :thumbsup:.

 

[paris26]

I absolutely agree that there is no "standard" weight for hedgies as they come in all shapes and sizes. One thing I definitely recommend when you handle your hedgie is to get in the habit of doing a little "exam". Look at his eyes, his ears, his feet, feel along his belly so you know what "normal" is for your hedgehog. That way you can keep tabs if something seems off so you know what to communicate to your vet

 

[Jenn1]

thanks for the tip Paris. play with his feet all the time just so he stays used to me handling so it makes for easier cutting. I will start doing more with other body parts lol.

 

[Philogirl]

Jenn-- sorry to steal your post here, but Jack is only 330 grams. He's a tiny hedgie though... been the same weight since we brought him home. I know he's not anorexic... he runs all night long and I've given him more of the high-fat food to put a few grams on him with the eye problems and all.

Is this too light?

 

[Kalandra]

Take a look at your hedgehog from above. Does his sides sink inwards? There are two shapes to hedgehogs, referred to as teardrop and runner body styles. Teardrops, are just that they have a nice teardrop shape when looked at from above. Runners have a thinner long body and often have long legs that make them look like they are running on stilts.

Hedgehogs come in such a variety of sizes. I have had one as small as 296-300 area and one that is over 700g. Both are/were healthy weights for that hedgehog.

 

[Hedgie Girls]

Our Snuggles is going to be 4 years old in March and she weighs 336 grams. She is a runner. When she was younger her weight was right around 250 grams to 270 grams. She has always been real tiny and very active.


Cyndy

 

[Cimredopyh]

Angel holds steady at 290/300g with a little extra fat in her diet. Her body is short so she does not have the long twinky appearance, but she certainly has the walking on stilts look. She is leaner to the touch and does not have as much of a smooshy feeling around the tummy when i pick her up. Shes a very avid wheeler

( Lizardgirl on HHC has a very petite hedgehog who is perfectly healthy, cant remember the exact weight but its something like 220g? )

 

[pricklesnquills]

I have 5 hedgies. Millie is 515, Teddie is 350ish and Tiggie is 435. My other two are still growing. but these 3 are all at their healthy weight.

 

[Nancy]

I have adults ranging from 260 g to almost 900g.

 

[scythefwd]

philogirl,
My fiona is 330 and is very healthy. As stated earlier, I have met 700g males that were perfect weight for their frame and I personally have a 325-330 g girl that is a good weight for her frame.