Nut question

[Loudhouse2]

I just ordered in the shell almonds and black walnuts from nuts.com. While browsing I found theses nuts. They are expensive but state they are high in calcium protein and magnesium. Any opinion on them and giving to squirrels? They’re called pili nuts they’re from the Philippine.

https://nuts.com/nuts/pili.html

[Diggie's Friend]

I wouldn't recommend buying nuts outside the US. unless you live in that area outside the US, as nuts tend to go rancid, and a number are more likely then to be moldy since shipping time to the US means more time from the tree to the table or in this case bowl.

And since mold inside a shell cannot be seen, it means that each nut will need to be opened up and examined for any sign of mold before feeding it to a squirrel, for the mold produces a toxic compound known as alfatoxin, which if ingested it is often fatal to pets since there is no known medical cure, save Milk Thistle Seed primarily that offers some protection to the liver this fungus mainly impacts.

The Black walnut isn't a good source to feed in captivity, for its inverted ratio of Phosphorus to calcium is high, which makes it a poor source of calcium. In addition, it also has a high oxalic acid to calcium ratio, making it a dermineralizing source of calcium, not one that adds any calcium to the meal, but depletes calcium in other foods it is ingested with.

[CritterMom]

I have seen those too but they are really pricey! Never tried them.

I use the black walnuts as a dentist. It takes my big bruiser of a boy HOURS to get into one, and all that time is spent chewing and wearing the teeth down. Hickory nuts do the same. He gets one or the other once or twice a week.

[Loudhouse2]

Yes they are expensive. :eek:eek Their main nut is going to be the almond. I planned to only give them the walnut maybe once a week. They won’t chew any bone or antler I put in, so I figured the black walnut would work on trimming their teeth down. Plus are area is covered in black walnut trees. Figured they better practice.

Thank yall