An incorrect Ca:P ratio does this. Many feeder insects such as mealworms contain much more phosphorus than calcium, which can cause a calcium deficiency if you're not supplementing calcium or feeding a proper balanced diet. These animals are primarily insectivores and need a wide variety of insects including mealworms. Mealworms don't cause this, an unbalanced diet does.
There are more animals having mbd problems who are fed meal worms as only insects or fed too much. Why feed the worst insect (MW) giving the least nutrition with poorest balance of feeder insects available? Meal worms are cheaper, easier and been fed a long time now. There is no research, nor will there be like most things to do with exotics, feeder insects. You should search for info to see the past years' valid info from experiences shared. I have farmed insects to feeed hedgehogs at Louisiana Hedgehog Rescue Safe Home and have seen the affects on their urine, them compared to better insects. If I did not farm MW for the pupae (healthiest stage MW) I would not have any of them here.
More has been learned this past year. There's more valid info shared where feeding MW as only insect or too much is directly linked to MBD issues with euro hogs, White Belly hogs & reptiles. Supplementing calcium without the extensive test that is required to get a useable calcium level to know ca:ph levels is dangerous. Over supplementing can result in too much calcium which can cause calcium deposits in heart, lungs, eyes. Any supplementing of calcium should be from natural sources like baked egg shells, shell on steamed shrimp, good insects gut loaded properly for best balance according to both of my vets. I've seen my hogs do well with the variety I've fed since 2015 as main daily diet. I recently had a rescue fed cat food and meal worms only affected badly by both.
The Brits say that feeding them mealworms does this. I'm not so sure. Where are you located and do they have mealworms? Thanks.
An incorrect Ca:P ratio does this. Many feeder insects such as mealworms contain much more phosphorus than calcium, which can cause a calcium deficiency if you're not supplementing calcium or feeding a proper balanced diet. These animals are primarily insectivores and need a wide variety of insects including mealworms. Mealworms don't cause this, an unbalanced diet does.
Thank you.
There are more animals having mbd problems who are fed meal worms as only insects or fed too much. Why feed the worst insect (MW) giving the least nutrition with poorest balance of feeder insects available? Meal worms are cheaper, easier and been fed a long time now. There is no research, nor will there be like most things to do with exotics, feeder insects. You should search for info to see the past years' valid info from experiences shared. I have farmed insects to feeed hedgehogs at Louisiana Hedgehog Rescue Safe Home and have seen the affects on their urine, them compared to better insects. If I did not farm MW for the pupae (healthiest stage MW) I would not have any of them here.
More has been learned this past year. There's more valid info shared where feeding MW as only insect or too much is directly linked to MBD issues with euro hogs, White Belly hogs & reptiles. Supplementing calcium without the extensive test that is required to get a useable calcium level to know ca:ph levels is dangerous. Over supplementing can result in too much calcium which can cause calcium deposits in heart, lungs, eyes. Any supplementing of calcium should be from natural sources like baked egg shells, shell on steamed shrimp, good insects gut loaded properly for best balance according to both of my vets. I've seen my hogs do well with the variety I've fed since 2015 as main daily diet. I recently had a rescue fed cat food and meal worms only affected badly by both.
What's wrong with poor little critter?
They have metabolic bone disease
Hedgehogs of Asgard what is that?
A calcium deficiency which causes loss of muscle strenght and the bones to become softer and brittle (often resulting in fractures or bend limbs).
Hedgehogs of Asgard poor little critter
Can it be cured? poor sweethearts..