Can Eastern Box Turtles eat Pothos?
Epipremnum aureum
Safety verdict
Toxic
Why
[confidence: high] [source: The Tortoise Table plant database, ASPCA toxic plant list cross-referenced with chelonian dietary reviews, and exotic reptile veterinary toxicology references (e.g., Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery).] Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense oral irritation, swelling, and gastrointestinal distress in Eastern Box Turtles. Ingestion can lead to hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and mucosal damage, making it a plant to strictly exclude from their enclosure and diet.
How much / how often
None — avoid entirely; no safe quantity established for this species.
Preparation
No preparation method neutralizes the calcium oxalate crystals; do not offer in any form.
Reviewed by admin on May 2026