2014 Envigo (Teklad) Recent Price change? / How compares to Mazuri?

[BigNibbler]

Hi.. I have been a decades long buyer of Teklad and now been getting the 2014 branded Envigo.
How much has the price risen between December 2024 and today - April 2025 ?
Having difficulty getting a simple answer from supplier.

So also wondering how the Mazuri nuggets - and which version, I could use as a substitute in the home made blocks I make ?
And do the Mazuri's contain vitamin D3 like the 2014s ?

Thank you.

[CritterMom]

I bought Mazuri blocks for my wilds for ages (which I had to doctor up with peanut butter to get them to eat) and I would say they are a much lower quality block. They are somewhat soft - much more friable than the Teklad. They also smell fishy and I would bet they use fish meal in the production. There is very little nutritional info on the bags.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

Hi.. I have been a decades long buyer of Teklad and now been getting the 2014 branded Envigo.
How much has the price risen between December 2024 and today - April 2025 ?
Having difficulty getting a simple answer from supplier.

So also wondering how the Mazuri nuggets - and which version, I could use as a substitute in the home made blocks I make ?
And do the Mazuri's contain vitamin D3 like the 2014s ?

Thank you.

Hi BN:
I have used an eBay seller; "code" named EcoSandy as my source for Teklad Blocks for many years. She buys from Teklad in bulk and sells any just about any quantity you might want! Shipping takes about a week but I have gotten them sooner. The quality has always been good. She sells both the 2014 and the 2018 formulations. If you don't mind an extra comment in light of MySquirrel; Teklad 2014 would IMHO, be the best choice of the two because of the 14% protein as apposed to the 18% protein contained in the 2018 formulation! I will post a link to EcoSandy's page for Teklad 2014 below!

The Mazuri question prompts some additional comments. I have used Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet in the past when I inadvertently let my stash of Teklad get slim! I have also recommended this particular Mazuri formulation on TSB as I have considered it a "quality" Block! I have NOT purchased Mazuri recently but what CM wrote about a fishy smell is not what I have experienced and I am wondering if this bag was a one-off or if they may have modified their formulation. One advantage of the Mazuri Blocks for my recommendations has been that unlike Teklad Blocks, Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet is available at most neighborhood pet stores such as Petsmart and Petco and someone can ordinarily get those the same day! Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet does contain Vitamin D but I have no idea as to how much! One of the other aspects of Teklad that I like is that the ingredient list is very comprehensive and detailed! Getting back to Mazuri; as I mentioned above; for a "Senior" Squirrel; a lower proportion Protein has may offer a kidney protective advantage and Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet contains 23% protein! I am going to buy a bag today and check out the odor but my personal opinion would be to NOT use this brand of Blocks as food for MySquirrel!

Here is a link to EcoSandy's Teklad 2014 page; https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...889.m570.l1313

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[BigNibbler]

Yeah, well I hope Sandy is OK. I have several emails into her.... waiting to hear from her on some follow up questions...
that is why I posted here about alternatives.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

I bought Mazuri blocks for my wilds for ages (which I had to doctor up with peanut butter to get them to eat) and I would say they are a much lower quality block. They are somewhat soft - much more friable than the Teklad. They also smell fishy and I would bet they use fish meal in the production. There is very little nutritional info on the bags.

The Mazuri question prompts some additional comments. I have used Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet in the past when I inadvertently let my stash of Teklad get slim! I have also recommended this particular Mazuri formulation on TSB as I have considered it a "quality" Block! I have NOT purchased Mazuri recently but what CM wrote about a fishy smell is not what I have experienced and I am wondering if this bag was a one-off or if they may have modified their formulation. One advantage of the Mazuri Blocks for my recommendations has been that unlike Teklad Blocks, Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet is available at most neighborhood pet stores such as Petsmart and Petco and someone can ordinarily get those the same day! Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet does contain Vitamin D but I have no idea as to how much! One of the other aspects of Teklad that I like is that the ingredient list is very comprehensive and detailed! Getting back to Mazuri; as I mentioned above; for a "Senior" Squirrel; a lower proportion Protein has may offer a kidney protective advantage and Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet contains 23% protein!

I am going to buy a bag today and check out the odor

I just purchased a bag of Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet from PetSmart and found it to be as I once knew it to be! It had only a relatively subtle, fresh "block" smell similar to Teklad! The consistency of the Blocks themselves are softer than Teklad and could fairly easily be broken or crushed but they did NOT crumble! This could be an advantage for those Squirrels with dental issues! I decided that it would be safe to taste the Mazuri product so that I could comment on not just is odor and its consistency but the taste as well and it had a fresh taste! The only unexpected issue was after this momentary taste delight; I experienced an almost impossible to resist compulsion to bury several more of the blocks and then climb the nearest tree (this last sentence may not be the whole truth, but my other comments are as stated)!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

[BigNibbler]

I experienced an almost impossible to resist compulsion to bury several more of the blocks and then climb the nearest tree (this last sentence may not be the whole truth, but my other comments are as stated)!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

TREEMENDOUS! Still waiting to hear from the Teklad Trader or the Envigo Eco

[CritterMom]

I just purchased a bag of Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet from PetSmart and found it to be as I once knew it to be! It had only a relatively subtle, fresh "block" smell similar to Teklad! The consistency of the Blocks themselves are softer than Teklad and could fairly easily be broken or crushed but they did NOT crumble! This could be an advantage for those Squirrels with dental issues! I decided that it would be safe to taste the Mazuri product so that I could comment on not just is odor and its consistency but the taste as well and it had a fresh taste! The only unexpected issue was after this momentary taste delight; I experienced an almost impossible to resist compulsion to bury several more of the blocks and then climb the nearest tree (this last sentence may not be the whole truth, but my other comments are as stated)!
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel

STS, I apologize. I was buying my Mazuri in 50 pound bags via the feed store. Perhaps there is some difference between it and what you get in the pet store (besides the price).

[BigNibbler]

Why apologizing CM? Suppose I loved the one pound bag so much, I wanted fifty pounds... you mean I should not expect it to be as good.
Been buying that much of Teklad sometimes... never a problem - except the darn shipping costs.
However, I wonder if the fishy smell, was due to calcium from bones. Or something less healthy.

[SamtheSquirrel2018]

STS, I apologize. I was buying my Mazuri in 50 pound bags via the feed store. Perhaps there is some difference between it and what you get in the pet store (besides the price).

Hi CM. No need for any apologies! I believe that the product in your bag somehow became spoiled!

I have never obtained bags of any brand of blocks in amounts of 50# or more but as BN stated; I just don't believe that the actual product would be any different than that purchased in a small bag! Mazuri recommends that the blocks be stored in an environment 75 degrees F or colder and with a relative humidity of 50%. They also state; "freezing will not harm the diet and may extend freshness." I routinely freeze all blocks and that is one reason why I have not purchased large sized bags as the smaller ones lend themselves better to being stored in my freezer! As a point of interest; Mazuri states that all protein is plant-based!

Again, BN; I would recommend AGAINST using the Mazuri Blocks for MySquirrel or any "senior" Squirrel as the protein content of the Mazuri Rat and Mouse Diet is actually "open-ended" and is stated to be NOT LESS THAN 23%! This should be fine for relatively young Squirrels but for elderly Squirrels; a preparation containing a lower concentration of Protein such as Teklad 2014 would tend to favor preservation of this older animal's kidney function! Also, IMHO; ingredients that may be more critical if presented in larger concentrations should NOT be utilized in minimum concentrations as the actual concentration will be unknown and this could be significantly higher than the stated minimum! They should always be stated in EXACT concentrations and Teklad does this very thing as they list the concentration of Protein in their 2014 formulation as being specifically 14.3%!

Regards,
SamtheSquirrel