Can Leopard Tortoises eat ZZ Plant?
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Safety verdict
Toxic
Why
[confidence: high] [source: The Tortoise Table plant database, exotic reptile veterinarian review, peer-reviewed herpetology or veterinary toxicology journal covering calcium oxalate toxicity in chelonians] ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) contains calcium oxalate crystals throughout all plant tissues, which can cause oral irritation, swelling, and gastrointestinal distress in leopard tortoises. Calcium oxalate also binds dietary calcium, posing a significant metabolic risk for a species highly susceptible to calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease.
How much / how often
Do not offer; all parts of the plant should be considered unsafe and avoided entirely.
Preparation
No preparation method neutralizes the calcium oxalate crystals sufficiently to make this plant safe for consumption.
Reviewed by admin on May 2026