The Best Safe Plants for Reptiles (10 Naturalistic Species)
by Admin
Posted on 07-11-2023 01:53 PM
Creating a naturalistic planted vivarium is one of the best things you can do for your pet reptiles. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by lush green foliage?
that said, the appetite of your pet critters can make plant choices a little more complicated.
It’s important that we choose non-toxic plants just in case they have a curious bite. But we also want to have interesting and aesthetic plants that are going to grow well too!
so for this guide, we’re covering the best safe plant for reptiles, that can thrive in terrarium conditions (and look good doing it). Let’s go!
this page may contain affiliate links that allow us to make a small commission (at no further cost to yourself).
The use of live plants in arid reptile enclosures is less common than for tropical reptiles but is increasing in popularity as more products are being released catering to arid bioactive enclosures. When selecting arid plants for your reptile enclosure, it's important to ensure that the plants are safe, non-poisonous and do not have any harsh spines that could harm your reptile. Succulents, spineless cacti and xeric tillandsia species are all great choices, with some other plants such as carex, a drought-tolerant scrub grass making a perfect choice to add some foliage. An arid bioactive or live planted setup does not need a drainage layer, but you do need to take care to keep the lowest layers of substrate moist without it becoming too wet further up.
How to Choose Plants Safe for Reptiles
Providing your pet with an appropriate habitat requires that you not only understand his or her needs but that you also understand the needs of the other living things kept in their habitats. I’m talking here about the vivarium plants you choose to add. Unfortunately, many keepers struggle to incorporate plants in vivaria.
Many keepers wonder how to select the best plants for the enclosure, as well as how to best care for the plants selected. Some also worry about the safety of some plant species. I’ve worked with reptiles and amphibians for nearly 20 years. For about half of this time, i was tasked with designing and maintaining natural-looking vivaria at an environmental education center.
In animal terrariums & vivariums this page may contain affiliate links that allow us to make a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to yourself). We appreciate your support. Keeping plants in your reptile’s terrarium doesn’t just make it look amazing but actually helps your reptiles be healthier and more comfortable. Not all plants are safe for reptiles though, and caution should be used when determining plant types for your reptile’s terrarium to be sure they are not toxic. I decided to research a variety of non-toxic plants that reptiles can safely be around. Suggested safe plants for reptiles: within this article, i have included some specific information on the suggested plants listed, including certain plant types that work best for specific habitat environments, such as desert terrariums.
The Best Reptile Safe Plants – Our Top 10 Picks
As you dive deeper and deeper into the world of reptiles, you’ll start to realize just how important your pet’s habitat is. Your reptile will spend almost all of its life living inside its tank. You want to make sure they have the perfect setup. Not only does this setup include the right temperature and humidity but it also includes features like hides and foliage. For many pets, live plants are the pinnacle of enclosure design. However, it’s important to make sure that the plants you choose to go into your reptile’s enclosure are safe and appropriate for them.
Tropical species of reptiles and amphibians (crested/other arboreal geckos, tree frogs etc. ) often prefer hot, humid environments. For these animals i recommend a drainage layer of clay balls to prevent the soil becoming too waterlogged. Organic top soil is ideal as it is safe for animals and will allow plants to grow. Adding cocofiber to this mix can help raise the humidity. Suitable plants: swiss cheese plant (monstera deliciosa) dwarf umbrella plant (schefflera arboricola) peace lily (spathiphyllum wallisii) (those with * next to them may be unsafe for plant eating reptiles such as bearded dragon).
There are typically two kinds of terrarium that you can make - closed & open. Any kind of glass container can be used, granted it receives enough light and has enough room for the plants to grow and breath. Closed terrariums are great for plants that enjoy high humidity, like fittonia, ferns, and palms. Because the container is closed, typically with a cork or capped lid, the terrarium creates it’s own eco-system meaning they infrequently need to be watered! explore our high humidity category to find some plants that might enjoy being in a terrarium. Open terrariums usually don’t have a lid, or are simply designed in bowls.
Our business, buzzard reptile and aquatics, founded in 2013 as a cottage industry which focused on a modest selection of quality (and at the time hard to get) feeder insects and bioactive custodians. Since then, we have focused ourselves on offering quality products that have only the animals best interests at heart. Through this, we have quickly become the uk’s largest supplier of dubia roaches and tropical woodlice, supplying retail, trade as well as to wholesalers. Alongside this, we now import and offer a range of reptile safe live plants and decor, more recently embarking on an import of a new terrarium plant grow system as well as tree fern panels and substrate direct from new zealand – the only sustainable producers of these products in the world (one of the biggest selling points in our book!).