Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've read that box turtles eat mushrooms in the wild, so when I discovered some in their pen today, I was curious. I pulled them up to be on the safe side, but I'm sure they will come back due to any loose spores. Has anyone had a negative or positive experience with this? Should I leave them in there (an orangish color down here in southern Texas)? Thanks in advance for any replies.

I live in NJ and in the summer when the wild mushrooms are out I feed them to my turtles all the time. The turtles are pictular in what kind they eat. I have watched them poke there beak into the mushroom first before they eat it or walk away from it.

The ones that they love to eat i have found grow under oak trees. They are light red to pink on top and white underside.

When the mushrooms are out my tutles love them. I Have also come accross box turtles in the wild eating wild mushrooms
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Jack

I'm in central VA and I feed my turtles wild mushrooms: they really gobble up some of them. I agree with Jack about the fact that they seem to be particular about which kinds they eat, and none have gotten sick from eating them.
I have come to suspect that baby turtles eat alot of mushrooms in the wild: they're a good source of protein and don't run away or fight back.
I got myself a field guide on mushrooms after noticing that mine prefer certain kinds, and found that they go for what are called Boletes (the underside looks like a sponge), and usually those with orange or red caps.

Stephanie

Thank you both so much. Hope we get some mushrooms down here that my turtles will enjoy. Thanks again!

mine eat plain off white ones. they look similar to the portabellos you find in grocery stores. i keep meaning to buy some of those & try them for all my guys as my red foot came to eat his fair share of 'shrooms also.

Tina