Can Painted Turtles eat Pothos?
Epipremnum aureum
Safety verdict
Toxic
Why
[confidence: high] [source: ASPCA Toxic Plant Database, exotic reptile veterinary toxicology references such as Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery, and The Tortoise Table plant database cross-referenced for aquatic chelonians.] Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) contains insoluble calcium oxalate raphides that cause intense oral irritation, swelling, and gastrointestinal distress in reptiles including aquatic turtles like Painted Turtles. Ingestion can lead to hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and mucosal damage.
How much / how often
Should not be offered at any quantity; avoid entirely.
Preparation
No preparation method neutralizes the calcium oxalate raphides; do not feed under any circumstances.
Reviewed by admin on May 2026