Live plants in vivariums?

[JodiLeigh]

What is the general consensus on live plants in vivariums?

I came this:
Lucky Reptile Tree Planter Small TP-K - Surrey Pet Supplies (http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/lucky-reptile-tree-planter-small-tp-k.html)And really like it and has brought my attention to the idea of having live plants in my vivarium.
I like the idea but I don't know what plants will live in such warm humid temperatures and are safe for Manny?

Does anyone else have live plants in their vivs?

Any advice for me please?

[chris-uk]

I kill plants, so stick to silk plants in my vivs. I've seen photos from people who do use live plants, so it is done and when done well looks spectacular. As for plants suitable, if I was to do it I'd do a little research on plants in the snake's natural range and see which plants were available here.
Given that I struggle to keep my aquarium plants alive (I persevere with them because they actually help the tank chemistry and serve more than a decorative purpose) I won't be adding any to the snake vivs any time soon.

[guidofatherof5]

I tried a small fig plant but not being the best with a green thumb it died. Left it in there and the snakes hide under the pot and inside the pot under the moss.
I also tried pothos but the snakes dug it up exploring the potting soil. I know a guy that uses large amounts of them to filter water used in his turtle and alligator enclosures. No soil just running water around them. They grow like crazy.

[JodiLeigh]

I kill plants, so stick to silk plants in my vivs. I've seen photos from people who do use live plants, so it is done and when done well looks spectacular. As for plants suitable, if I was to do it I'd do a little research on plants in the snake's natural range and see which plants were available here.
Given that I struggle to keep my aquarium plants alive (I persevere with them because they actually help the tank chemistry and serve more than a decorative purpose) I won't be adding any to the snake vivs any time soon.

Ar yes that's a good idea, I will get on google now and see what I can find.

What aquarium plants do you have? I have two fish tanks but they are only small; 12 liters each and wanted some live plants in there but got put off by all the specifics. How do you manage them?

[JodiLeigh]

I tried a small fig plant but not being the best with a green thumb it died. Left it in there and the snakes hide under the pot and inside the pot under the moss.
I also tried pothos but the snakes dug it up exploring the potting soil. I know a guy that uses large amounts of them to filter water used in his turtle and alligator enclosures. No soil just running water around them. They grow like crazy.

So fig plants and pothos are safe? Are they cheap? What kind of maintenance do they need?

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

I keep one live potted plant in each of my snakes cages. They like to dig in the dirt, some more than others though. I think it helps keep some humidity too because I live in a desert area and it is very dry. I just water them once a week or so. I've never had a problem. I have Pothos plants because they are easy to care for (even brown thumbs can grow these) and healthy for your home :)
Pothos - Plant Encyclopedia - BHG.com (http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/houseplant/pothos/)

[JodiLeigh]

I keep one live potted plant in each of my snakes cages. They like to dig in the dirt, some more than others though. I think it helps keep some humidity too because I live in a desert area and it is very dry. I just water them once a week or so. I've never had a problem. I have Pothos plants because they are easy to care for (even brown thumbs can grow these) and healthy for your home :)
Pothos - Plant Encyclopedia - BHG.com (http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/houseplant/pothos/)

Ar thank you, I will try and find one of these plants and give it a go. I like the leaves and would give nice shelter for Manny and a bonus for helping with the humidity, I've been having a bit of trouble with it too.

Do you have any pictures of your plant in your set up?

I will try the fig plant too, see which one works best in my viv.

Thanks for the advice

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

Do you have any pictures of your plant in your set up?



I took a few for you :) 633063316332

With these pothos plants, you can just break a leaf off at the stem (or clip off a stem), put it in water and it will root. Then just plant that and it will grow. So it is easy to make new plants or smaller plants for smaller cages too.
I also have lots of fake plants for them to play in. They don't always have shredded paper in there. Thats just a treat when the shredder is full. They like it :)

[JodiLeigh]

I took a few for you :) 633063316332

With these pothos plants, you can just break a leaf off at the stem (or clip off a stem), put it in water and it will root. Then just plant that and it will grow. So it is easy to make new plants or smaller plants for smaller cages too.
I also have lots of fake plants for them to play in. They don't always have shredded paper in there. Thats just a treat when the shredder is full. They like it :)

Awww thank you, cool! That's a really nice set up, I like the holey rock hide in the corner! Where did you get that from?
They really are nice looking plants and sound fun to experiment with in different places and sizes.
What kind of garter is that? S/he is really cute, looks really happy in that shredded paper. Think I will try that, I bet Manny would look to burrow in some shredded paper or card

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

I like the holey rock hide in the corner! Where did you get that from?
I actually made that. I am starting to make 3 more. 2 for my other cages and 1 I am going to try and sell locally. They can be rinsed off with a hose if they get pooped on. The snakes love it, it has 2 caves.


What kind of garter is that?
She is a Thamnophis Sirtalis Fitchii, a Common Valley Garter. I have 2 girls. They are really sweet snakes, and pretty :) More pics...
633463356336

[ConcinusMan]

Live plants = PITA. If you want live plants, keep a tank with live plants. If you want snakes, keep live snakes but use fake plants. The snakes don't care. They don't know the difference.

[JodiLeigh]

I actually made that. I am starting to make 3 more. 2 for my other cages and 1 I am going to try and sell locally. They can be rinsed off with a hose if they get pooped on. The snakes love it, it has 2 caves.


She is a Thamnophis Sirtalis Fitchii, a Common Valley Garter. I have 2 girls. They are really sweet snakes, and pretty :) More pics...
633463356336

Aww they are really sweet! Beautiful colouring.
What is the hide made out of? Expanding foam? What paint and waterproofing do you use?
I made a castle style hide out of polystyrene, painted it with acrylic paint and going to use yacht varnish to coat it.
It's brilliant, looks really realistic!

[JodiLeigh]

Live plants = PITA. If you want live plants, keep a tank with live plants. If you want snakes, keep live snakes but use fake plants. The snakes don't care. They don't know the difference.

PITA? What does that mean?

[JodiLeigh]

Oh Pain In The Arse! HA HA got ya

It does sound like a bit of a hassle but they look so nice!

Maybe I should just get a plant for my room in general and just let him climb in it when I get him out.

[Selkielass]

I am currently experimenting with a semi-naturalistic terrarium for two Butlers garters. Terrarium is a big zoo med front opening cube with about a 18 x 18 footprint around 22 inches high.
inside I placed an inch thick plastic grid covered with landscaping fabric folded up two inches to create a tray.

I placed a screen capped watering tube in a back corner and filled the tray with a mixture of coconut husk earth and sterile potting soil grading it to slope upward toward the back.

I planted moss around the water dish, 'iron plant' still in its four inch pot at the back and a bit of ground ivy/ creeping charley in the middle.

I then scattered about some bark and leaf litter and let everything settle in for a week.

All three plants survived the initial week but the moss seemed to want spraying down twice a day and needed to remain way too damp.

Introduced 2 adult Butlerii and they took right to this familiar looking and smelling habitat.
Butlers don't seem to burrow in the coco earth, but they do like to hang out in a hollow under a large piece of maple bark.
the moss clumps look horrible and will be removed soon.
The ground ivy is dying (probably insufficient light.) But the pink spotted freckle(iron) plant is doing great and growing well. If it gets too leggy ill just lift it out and replace it wit another shade tolerant four inch plant from loews.- the potted plant seems to be getting plently of moisture from below, but the surface layer of coconut and bark is nearly dry.

So potted yes, planted in substrate no. (So far.) Smells like a forest, not at all unpleasant. Trax and Cranky seem very happy and comfortable so far.

Spot cleaning and changing soiled bark and leaves is working great so far.

[ProXimuS]

Those two in the last pic look like they are going to kiss:p

Yea, those plants(Pothos) seem to be pretty "survivable"(couldn't think of a real word....). My ex's mom had one at her house on the coffee table, that just sat there. I guess she would water it every once in a while, but it survived very well for years. Probably still alive....

[chris-uk]

What aquarium plants do you have? I have two fish tanks but they are only small; 12 liters each and wanted some live plants in there but got put off by all the specifics. How do you manage them?

I've got a 180 litre tank - I've got some vallus, cabumba, anubus and a couple more whose names escape me. Vallus and cabumba will overrun a small tank very quickly (my vallus is spreading and the leaves grow by 5-10cm a day), but you'd probably be okay with some anubus and I've got one that looks like a vallus but is much smaller with spiral leaves. I add some liquid plant food every couple of water changes and trim them as they grow too long, so not a great amount of maintenance, and they absorb nitrates so the levels in my water are normally zero.

[Mommy2many]

I have used potted plants such as the Pothos before. You may get those little white bugs though, which are another "PITA". You can try a Peace Lily, which are the small aquatic plants sold in pet stores for the Betta Fish Bowls. They grow in water. It just needs enough water to cover the roots. My snakes really didn't care about the plants, I actually used them more for my frogs who liked to sit on them. Moss would be a good alternative. They like to go in it when it is moist.

[ehsanjadoon]

I tried growing Friendship Plant in a vivarium from cutting. There was no extra effort in it. You just need to keep it moist all the time in the beginning. And make sure the plant is getting enough light. It will form its root in a few days.