Recipe: banana pancake

Offering homemade treats is a fun way to enrich the diet of hedgehogs and tenrecs, as long as the recipe is safe, simple, and built around ingredients they can digest. This banana pancake recipe combines fruit with insects, creating a soft, nutritious snack that mimics the variety they might encounter in the wild.

Ingredients (makes 2–3 small pancakes)

• ½ ripe banana (mashed)
• 1 small egg (beaten)
• 1 tablespoon oat flour or finely ground rolled oats
• 1–2 teaspoons finely chopped mealworms, crickets, or roaches (gut-loaded and dried or cooked)
• A splash of water if needed to thin the batter

Instructions

1. Prepare the banana: Mash the banana with a fork until smooth.
2. Mix the batter: Add the beaten egg and oat flour. Stir until combined.
3. Add insects: Fold in the finely chopped insects so they are evenly distributed.
4. Cook gently: Heat a non-stick pan on very low heat. Spoon in small portions of batter (about the size of a coin). Cook for 1–2 minutes per side until lightly firm. Do not add oil, butter, salt, or sugar.
5. Cool completely: Allow the pancakes to cool to room temperature before serving.

Feeding Tips

• Offer as an occasional treat, not a staple diet.
• Break into tiny pieces for easy eating.
• One small piece per animal is enough in a single session.
• Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or freeze for later use.

Why This Recipeimal protein that both hedgehogs and tenrecs require.

In Summary

Banana pancakes are an easy, safe, and fun way to provide variety in the diets of hedgehogs and tenrecs. By mixing in gut-loaded insects, you transform a simple fruit snack into a protein-rich enrichment item. Just remember: moderation is key, and this should always remain a treat rather than a dietary staple.