APH Feeding...

[angela__k__84]

Hi there, this is a call to all APH keepers.
I have been researching getting one of these wee guys for a while now and have found loads of information on what to feed them but nothing on the quantities to feed them - I have read that obesity can be a problem with hoggies and would like to avoid it.
I read the best diet to give them is dried kitty biccies with some wet food and a range of insects.
Nowhere seems to be stating how much to give though. And what size feeder insects.
I am a total newbie when it comes to APH and can only go with what I have read so far so I am happy to be corrected and any additional information would be taken on board and appreciated fully!
Thanks in advance.
Angela.

[tarantulabarn]

I have kept and bred these for some years now and always feed mine dried cat buiscuits with added calcium, insects meal worms and a home made rice cake

To make this i boil some rice, wait for it to cool then mix a little olive oil to bind it together with some peas, greens, strawberries cherries and melon dead insects a little vitamin and calcium powder. i then portion up and freeze. they get one of these a week and go absolutely mad for it,

I have never had a problem feeding lke this and manage to breed every year without fail. mine dont suffer from any weight problem and are always funning on their wheel when not climbing and digging over and under their branches.

[angela__k__84]

Haha that rice cake sounds lovely! To be honest I've made up worse for my animals - there's not much turns my stomach anymore.
So just freely feed biscuits, but what size mealies to use? Mini, regular or super?
Thanks for your help.

[animal addict]

yeah free feed biccies - need to be min 30% protein and max 10% fats though - other foods you can add in are cooked chicken and mince, scrambled egg (no added dairy products as they are deemed to be lactose intolerant) and I would say regular mealies - minis are too small and dont know about super - not too many though as they are fattening

[fantapants]

good thread. i have had my hedgies for around 6 weeks and have just been playing it by ear and taking my cue from them......and keeping a closeeye on the scales too!

[angeldog]

ive been breeding for dokeys years now
mine all get cat biscuits as the staple diet, now more than 10% fat and at least 30% protien.
they also get chicken, beef, scrambled eggs, mince, veggies some fruit. mealies normally about once a week. you can give them any size live food theyll eat it. mine like dubai roaches if feeding crickets or locusts i would remove the legs to make it a bit easier to catch.


i might try mine with those rice cakes sounds interesting.

[tarantulabarn]

Originally Posted by angela__k__84

Haha that rice cake sounds lovely! To be honest I've made up worse for my animals - there's not much turns my stomach anymore.
So just freely feed biscuits, but what size mealies to use? Mini, regular or super?
Thanks for your help.

Any size is good, theyll munch away happtily on all of them, though i find the giant are better

[angeldog]

oh and wet food is a no no as a main diet, mine only get wet food very very occasionally infact hardly ever. when they do its just a treat and it will be one thats looks like proper chicken non of that process mushy rubbish. when mine get it is literally a spoon full.

[animal addict]

how do you feed those rice cakes then? do you give them cold straight out of the freezer? or do you defrost them? (thinking of them collapsing if defrosed but wondering if they are frozen it would give the bellache??) sorry for the stupid question!!! I take it rice isnt a problem then lol!!!

[tarantulabarn]

Originally Posted by animal addict

how do you feed those rice cakes then? do you give them cold straight out of the freezer? or do you defrost them? (thinking of them collapsing if defrosed but wondering if they are frozen it would give the bellache??) sorry for the stupid question!!! I take it rice isnt a problem then lol!!!

I get them out and defrost them, they dont collapse because the olive oil binds it all together, these are handy and conveniant and you can put anything into the mix even chicken or other meat

The rice is ok for them and i have found the oil helps their "coat" as well, mind you make sure its a good quality olive oil, not cheap veg oil