Recommended Plants for Reptile Terrarium

Apparently, selecting live plants for your reptile enclosure is not as simple as. It is crucial to select plants that will survive in the environmental conditions which the reptile requires. Before choosing the plants, it is crucial to recognize that your reptile may damage, uproot, eat, or destroy live plants. Well, here we are going to share some recommended plants for reptile terrarium.

Recommended Plants for Reptile Terrarium

If you have a herbivore or omnivore, or your pet only likes to sample the plants, you have to select non-toxic plants. Where the reptiles or amphibians do not eat the vegetation.

Here are some plants that are recommended for reptile terrariums:

• Pothos
• Spider Plants
• Bromeliads
• Snake Plants
• Ficus
• Dwarf Schefflera
• Orchids
• Peperomia
• Ponytail Palms
• African Violets
• Edible Plants

Different references tend to list different plants which might be safe for reptiles or amphibians. Aside from that, tolerance and safety vary with each species. There are several plants listed above that are considered safe for reptiles or amphibians to eat. However, if you have a herbivore or omnivore, it is a nice idea to double-check any live plant choices against a list of toxic plants.

For note: Several plants may be classified as toxic if their sap is an irritant. With these kinds of plants, it is best to use your discretion. For reptiles or amphibians that do not nibble on plants, these might be okay, despite several pet owners prefer to avoid them altogether, for example, if broken branches lead to skin or eye irritation. The safest choice is to speak with a veterinarian or pet store where you bought your specific reptile or amphibian. They are going to guide you on the right plants for your pet.

Decorative Additions for a Habitat

You may want to add several decorative elements to your reptile habitat. Making a territory for the animal to live in is crucial. This can be reached by adding plants (live or fake), short sections of branches, bark, or e a hide box. This is a pre-made box which is basically a dark plastic box with a small entrance on one side, allowing your lovely pet to hide. Also, you are able to outfit your cage with a variety of climbing surfaces.

Depending on your reptile, they probably prefer to climb on live plants or man-made devices like ramps, ladders, and hammocks. Please ensure any item you add to the cage is really secure. Climbing devices must be anchored at the bottom of the cage to avoid falling and injuring your lovely pet. Branches and bark have to be wedged against the walls of the tank to avoid breaking or falling.

It is best to speak with the experts at a pet store to assist determine what type of cage accessories are best for your pet. Aside from accessories and decoration, these experts are going to know the right amount of water and food your pet needs for proper care.

Good Plants for Bioactive Terrariums

Here are some good plants for Bioactive Terrariums:

Bromeliad

Bromeliad are a good choice for anyone looking for an impressive centerpiece. They are big, very rugged and colourful. The leaves are long and large arcing down from the center to the floor of your enclosure, this will make for a very handy ladder for small reptile like geckos and frogs and also provide many hiding spots for shy pets. Because they are also epiphytes, they are able to be planted on to cork pieces or other decorations to give a raised decoration.

Ficus benjami

This tree grows a lot taller than other species. After being established, this Ficus benjami are also quite strong so can support small and medium sized pets. Because it grows vertically and does not spread out too much, this is a nice choice for thin enclosures like mantis or spider tanks. Also, this plant will be brilliant to one corner of a larger bio-active enclosure because it should finally fill that corner and create a dense hiding space.

Philodendron scandens

Philodendron scandens are brilliant for anyone keeping pets that drink from the leaves. The leaves on the vine are big and tapered towards the bottom, making them a good source of hydration after the morning spray. Philodendron scandens grow very quickly when compared to other plants and also will take up as much space as you want to offer. Usually, they tend to stem out from a central location before rooting in a new area. If you pin the stem to decorations and keep it off the ground you are able to manipulate the plant to cover a desired area. The only downside to the plant is that it will try to take over your enclosure and need pruning every now and again to prevent it competing with other plants.

Ficus pumila

This Ficus pumila is also a brilliant choice for anyone looking to cover an area of floor or someone who does not want to hang a vine for partial cover. The leaves on this Ficus pumila plant are not too big and thus they are a little bluer than a lot of other jungle plants, it makes for a pretty contrast. The Ficus pumila grows quickly and can be pinned by the stem or woven around decorations to create it seem nature is taking over the enclosure. Usually, the plant starts off thick and thins out when it stretches that makes it brilliant for filling corners or gaps between decorations.

Cryptantus

Initially, the Cryptanthus plant appears quite underwhelming if compared with the size of some of the other plants. It stays quite small. Cryptanthus are a great addition to the enclosure when you have limited space. Also, Cryptanthus are a great addition to the enclosure when you need to fill a small area between decorations. Usually, they are light pink to dark purple in colour, so can be placed in between green plants and still stand out.