Weeping Widow Msuhrooms

[DoubleD1996!]

I try not to panic about things, but I read that the weeping widow mushroom can be dangerous to people and torts.

One of my redfoots ate a bit, and I wanted to get your guys opinion if I should let them eat them in the future.

 

[zovick]

I try not to panic about things, but I read that the weeping widow mushroom can be dangerous to people and torts.

One of my redfoots ate a bit, and I wanted to get your guys opinion if I should let them eat them in the future.

View attachment 395907

In my experience, tortoises do not eat mushrooms which are toxic to them. I have observed this phenomenon many times over the years:

tortoise approaches a fungus (mushroom) and smells it. If it is a toxic one, the tortoise walks away. If not, the tortoise devours it in short order.

Personally, if your tortoise wants to eat the mushroom, I believe it is safe to let the tortoise do so.

 

[DoubleD1996!]

In my experience, tortoises do not eat mushrooms which are toxic to them. I have observed this phenomenon many times over the years:

tortoise approaches a fungus (mushroom) and smells it. If it is a toxic one, the tortoise walks away. If not, the tortoise devours it in short order.

Personally, if your tortoise wants to eat the mushroom, I believe it is safe to let the tortoise do so.

I agree. My box turtles eat them all the time, and ignore some, and my redfoots have as well, but I was just curious as I haven't seen these pop up in the enclosures. Thanks.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

In my experience, tortoises do not eat mushrooms which are toxic to them. I have observed this phenomenon many times over the years:

tortoise approaches a fungus (mushroom) and smells it. If it is a toxic one, the tortoise walks away. If not, the tortoise devours it in short order.

Personally, if your tortoise wants to eat the mushroom, I believe it is safe to let the tortoise do so.

I'd like to add a bit on this. There are mildly toxic mushrooms - like Yellow houseplant mushroom (Leucocoprinus birnbaumii), it's not deadly but causes gastrointestinal discomfort.

When one of these pops in my redfoots enclosure, she readily eats it. However, even a small portion knocks her off for a day or two (low activity and poor appetite). So, if tortoise finds something edible it doesn't mean it's a 100% safe and harmless food item.