The spring and summer has been real dry here but the rains finally came,The Mountain Torts now get some fresh mushrooms to eat.and they love them.--- a few pics
Finally, Wet enough for mushrooms
- Thread starter Len B
- Start date
- Status
Do you grow your own on purpose or are those wild ones that just spring up?
Tom said:
wild ones, if i knew how to grow them i would try. the ones in the pic are still in the front yard hoping they will drop some spores.
You do know that a lot of mushrooms are really really toxic, right? I've tried to learn to ID them, but its very difficult and confusing. I would love to feed my wild mushrooms to mine, but I'm too scared to try it. Seems like yours are fine.
Tom said:
Yes i know that many are toxic to humans and mammals but mountain torts and box turtles eat a lot of fungus i wouldn't eat. it's like the colocasia and alocasia plants they are a major part of mountain torts diet, humans and mammals can't eat them because they are an irritant that causes the throat to close up. also birds can eat really hot peppers and not feel the heat but we feel the heat. I have plants that my torts shouldn't eat, they smell them and leave them alone. I believe they know somehow what not to eat.
We've had this discussion here on the forum before. I'll respectfully share what I know and then you can proceed how you wish, without further comment from me.
I know for a 100% sure FACT that tortoises will eat things that they shouldn't, plant or otherwise. I've watched many of them do it and I've seen all sorts of "stuff" in their poop. I used to feed mine handfuls of oxalis, before I knew better, for example. They hungrily gobbled it down. And lack of taste buds and a sense of smell in parrots does not equate to being able to eat toxic plants for a tortoise.
Okay, there it is. Do as you wish.
BTW, I love the mountain torts, so please keep posting pics of them.
I know for a 100% sure FACT that tortoises will eat things that they shouldn't, plant or otherwise. I've watched many of them do it and I've seen all sorts of "stuff" in their poop. I used to feed mine handfuls of oxalis, before I knew better, for example. They hungrily gobbled it down. And lack of taste buds and a sense of smell in parrots does not equate to being able to eat toxic plants for a tortoise.
Okay, there it is. Do as you wish.
BTW, I love the mountain torts, so please keep posting pics of them.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2010
- Messages
- 8,800
Well .... wet or not ... 25 years ago ... we used to hunt for mushrooms ...but not for our Torts! ...
If I only new years later ! .....
JD~
BTW ... My RF's LOVE UM!
If I only new years later ! .....
JD~
BTW ... My RF's LOVE UM!
In a human a toxic mushroom will cause the liver to fail causing death. I don't know how they effect tortoises or turtles.
Good luck!
Good luck!
I thought we were discussing toxic plants oxalis are not toxic they may not be good as a staple diet, But in moderation will not harm a tortoise any more than broccoli, brussel sprouts, or spinach, They all contain oxalic acid. My torts have access to Oxalis debilis Kunth, but have never showed any interest in eating it.but they do love broccoli. And maybe in the 14 years I have been feeding my mountain torts mushrooms I never offered them a toxic one, I don't know, But they have never refused to eat them,and never had any ill effects that I know of from eating them. They eat fungus in the wild so I offer it to them in captivity.Tom said:
IMO, the mushrooms that pose a risk of toxicity are not going to be found in lawns in the USA in the majority of case. Destroying angel and simialr ushrooms that are known to cause problems in humand are fairly distinct. I personally feed my tortoises wild mushrooms from the lawn, but, while I don't know exactly what they are, I can tell what they are not....they are not the toxic species we fear. I do not suggest anyone collect mushrooms from areas with manure or from woodlands, but mushrooms that are plae tan and moist, that break apart easily as well as the ones that are the same texture, odor, and rough shape of button mushrroms are just fine. The very large ones that are the size of small basket balls and create spore clouds after thay have dried and are stepped on are also ok. Food mushrroms are easily grown from kits and the leftover compost is a great soil additive for planting beds and veggie gardens.
Just a cautionary note, Amanita (deathcap, drestroying angel, et. al.) are found in yards particularly in areas that woodlands have been cleared for home building.
S
smithdoge
Guest
I have tried to learn to ID them, but its very difficult and confusing. I would love to feed my wild mushrooms to mine, but I'm too scared to try it. Seems like yours are fine.
- Status
