Can Yellow-bellied Sliders eat Pothos?
Epipremnum aureum
Safety verdict
Toxic
Why
[confidence: high] [source: The Tortoise Table plant database, exotic reptile veterinarian review (e.g., Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians resources), and peer-reviewed herpetology or veterinary toxicology literature on calcium oxalate toxicity in chelonians.] Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) contains insoluble calcium oxalate raphides that cause oral irritation, swelling, and gastrointestinal distress in reptiles including aquatic turtles like Yellow-bellied Sliders. Ingestion can lead to hypersalivation, pawing at the mouth, and refusal to eat.
How much / how often
Should not be offered at any quantity; remove from enclosure entirely.
Preparation
No preparation method neutralizes the calcium oxalate raphides; avoid entirely.
Reviewed by admin on May 2026