Teklad Ingredients

[Kinswee]

I just ordered Teklad for my 6 week old grey squirrel and noticed that corn is the second ingredient in it. I thought corn was bad for them, but I have seen so many people recommend Teklad 2018.
The full name of the blocks that I ordered is "ENVIGO-Harlan Teklad Rat Food Diet Global 2018" and I got it off of Amazon. The manufacture date is 9/9/24.
Are these ok to give to her or not?

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

I just ordered Teklad for my 6 week old grey squirrel and noticed that corn is the second ingredient in it. I thought corn was bad for them, but I have seen so many people recommend Teklad 2018.
The full name of the blocks that I ordered is "ENVIGO-Harlan Teklad Rat Food Diet Global 2018" and I got it off of Amazon. The manufacture date is 9/9/24.
Are these ok to give to her or not?

Hi Kinswee and thanks for finding TSB!

I looked at this product on Amazon and apparently it is the actual Teklad 2018 that the Nesom Distributing Company repackages in smaller amounts (and thus less expensive) than would be required if purchased directly through Teklad or a Feed Store!

IF the manufacture date is really 9/9/2024 and IF this really is Teklad 2018; this preparation would be ideal for your Squirrel!

As far as the corn concerns, please don't feed actual corn to your Squirrel for a number of reasons including the fact that the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio heavily favors phosphorus and this will adversely affect your Squirrel's calcium absorption and utilization and a diet predominantly consisting of corn will invariably lead to the development of Metabolic Bone Disease which is a very serious condition that can be fatal! BUT, corn is used in Teklad and other quality blocks such as Mazuri Rat and Mouse diet and it is quite safe in those preparations because it is part of an optimally crafted balanced diet and the Calcium to phosphorus ration is highly controlled as are all other nutritional constituents and all nutritional requirements and recommendations for rodents met! Just for another example of this; we recommend that captive Squirrels get a nut only on rare occasions or not at all yet one of the main constituents of a very popular Block, namely Henry's Healthy Blocks (HHBs) are pecans or other nuts! This is fine in this case also because HHBs are also a balanced nutritional source and is very safe and nutritionally very sound! For captive Squirrels being fed Teklad, Mazuri Rat and Mouse diet or HHBs; the risk of MBD or other nutritional imbalances or deficiencies in virtually non-existent as long as any other foods or treats are avoided or highly controlled as well!

Once again, I am very familiar with the Teklad products and recommend them but I am not familiar with Nesom. That being said, I am going to investigate them as a source for Teklad and I had seen this before and mentioned Nesom to another Squirrel Board Member in need of Teklad some time ago as a possibility! I had been getting my Teklad Blocks from an eBay member named EcoSandy but she is no longer selling Teklad so the Amazon source seems very enticing!

Here is the full nutritional disclosure for Teklad 2018! It is quite satisfactory!

Harlan Teclad 2018-datasheet.pdf

Please stay in touch on TSB! Do you have any questions regarding your new baby Squirrel? Thanks for rescuing him and caring about him and for him!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[Kinswee]

Thank you Sam for clearing that up for me! My squirrel is doing really well, thanks to you guys!

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hello again Kinswee:
I just saw your other Thread about Squirrely! Sorry I referred to this little girl as "him!"

You a doing a great job with this beautiful baby Squirrel! Y'all are fortunate to have each other!

Please keep on with formula until Squirrely weans herself. Also, as you probably know from your reading here on TSB, a Squirrel cannot simply be let loose! They must undergo a period of acclimation to the wild called a Soft Release. There is a tremendous amout of information here that pertains to Soft Releases in general and construction of a Release Cage. If you don't mind a suggestion, please do some reading on this when time permits.

Thanks again for your love of Squirrely!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel