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A certain plant in my corn snakes cage

C

corn snakey

New member
Hey all, my parents just got back from hawaii and brought me a plant (which was store bought) And I was wondering if it could be harmful to my corn snake if i put it in his cage.

Heres the info about it:

- It's technical name is a dwarf schefflera
- It is a bonsai
- It is growing out of a lava rock
- it is placed in a small plastic bowl with gravel and water
- I am supposed to water it with "enriched water" which is called schultz liquid plant food (this part worries me the most)

The person who sold the plant's website is fukubonsai.com (yes, the name does make for some jokes :p )

Thanks!,
Kevin
 
I don't know about the safety of the plant for your snake but depending on the size of your snake the plant might be the one in danger. I thought some live plants would be a nice touch in my Taiwanese tank. They looked nice until she lay all 7 feet of her on them and tried to "climb" them. They were all crushed and dead in less than a week and a half. So if you really like the plant and your snake is very active and semi large... heads up.
 
MalinoisK9 said:
I don't know about the safety of the plant for your snake but depending on the size of your snake the plant might be the one in danger. I thought some live plants would be a nice touch in my Taiwanese tank. They looked nice until she lay all 7 feet of her on them and tried to "climb" them. They were all crushed and dead in less than a week and a half. So if you really like the plant and your snake is very active and semi large... heads up.
Click to expand...

haha! wow, what a twist. I didnt see that one coming. But I think I should be okay. My corn snake is only 8 months old or so and barely 2 feet
 
Haha alright. I didnt even consider it until she started laying across them. Good thing they were cheap. What are the indigents on the plant food? I'd google the first couple main and see what it says about them. Is the plant an evergreen? I know that some needles can leach out certain acids that can be harmful after they fall of the plant. But I think it is only in larger quantities like a pine tree. But I would be something that i would be very cautious with.
 
I don't see a problem other than the one Sheldon mentioned... (a bearded dragon DESTROYED my attempt at having a "nice" viv).

Tell your parents "CONGRATS" for visiting Hawaii. I MISS Hawaii (but you can't own snakes there!).
 
corn snakey said:
My mom laughed. :D
Click to expand...
LOL. I hope it was a "good" laugh. I graduated from HS there (Leilehua High) and spent another 8 years as an adult there. My favorite place is HILO, Hawaii.

IF I could have snakes there, I'd already BE there. LOL.

As for the plant, I'm having second thoughts. I spent some time on the website you put on there. They certainly are beautiful, but I can honestly say that I have my reservations... IF you try it, keep an eye on the snake and how it interacts with the plant. If you notice ANY change in behavior remove the plant.
 
The_Thunderer said:
LOL. I hope it was a "good" laugh. I graduated from HS there (Leilehua High) and spent another 8 years as an adult there. My favorite place is HILO, Hawaii.

IF I could have snakes there, I'd already BE there. LOL.

As for the plant, I'm having second thoughts. I spent some time on the website you put on there. They certainly are beautiful, but I can honestly say that I have my reservations... IF you try it, keep an eye on the snake and how it interacts with the plant. If you notice ANY change in behavior remove the plant.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestions thunderer, Thats amazing that you got to live in hawaii. I did actually notice a HUGE behavioral difference. It caught me by suprise. Usually my corn snake sits in one spot behind his water bowl untill night time, then he becomes very active. But instead, for the past 5 hours hes been nonstop climbing everywhere around the plant, cage, standing as high upright as he can without falling. It almost sounds like it made him high or something lol. I have enjoyed watching him, but he has never been so active like this before. Is this something to worry about?
 
Well I went to the web site and checked it out, then went and googled the plant type and it is a plant that I'v had in my home for years. I couldnt find any info on it having any toxicity. I would feel fairly safe putting it in a tank with a snake but like Fred said just watch your snake. Any odd behavior or changes and take it immediacy out and cleaning the whole tank. Even if all is well I would make sure to regularly pick up any dead leaves that fall off, just to be on the extra safe side. Still check out that plant food, I wouldn't feel to easy about that.
 
corn snakey said:
Thanks for the suggestions thunderer, Thats amazing that you got to live in hawaii. I did actually notice a HUGE behavioral difference. It caught me by suprise. Usually my corn snake sits in one spot behind his water bowl untill night time, then he becomes very active. But instead, for the past 5 hours hes been nonstop climbing everywhere around the plant, cage, standing as high upright as he can without falling. It almost sounds like it made him high or something lol. I have enjoyed watching him, but he has never been so active like this before. Is this something to worry about?
Click to expand...


When ever I rearrange one of our tanks the snakes always do this. They love investigating the new surroundings. Usually for a good hour or so they go into hyper mode and check out every new nook and cranny.
 
MalinoisK9 said:
Well I went to the web site and checked it out, then went and googled the plant type and it is a plant that I'v had in my home for years. I couldnt find any info on it having any toxicity. I would feel fairly safe putting it in a tank with a snake but like Fred said just watch your snake. Any odd behavior or changes and take it immediacy out and cleaning the whole tank. Even if all is well I would make sure to regularly pick up any dead leaves that fall off, just to be on the extra safe side. Still check out that plant food, I wouldn't feel to easy about that.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have decided against not feeding the bonsai some special water.
 
MalinoisK9 said:
When ever I rearrange one of our tanks the snakes always do this. They love investigating the new surroundings. Usually for a good hour or so they go into hyper mode and check out every new nook and cranny.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reassurance :D He has definitely been hilarious to watch
 
MalinoisK9 said:
Thats a good idea with the water, I would do the same thing.

What color variety is your corn?
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I'm not exactly sure how to be technical with the terms of colors and such, but I named him pepperoni because he looks like a cheese pizza with pepperonis. Kind of a light orange body with red spots.
 
Sounds like a pretty amel! Glad you've worked out the details with your plant.

When I change the substrate for my snakes, they seem to take special interest in doing tunnels etc. GERBILS are the same... only MUCH funnier! LOL.

Good luck and keep us updated! PICS would be great too!
 
Back to the original question, I'd like to add something.
All schefflera species are slightly poisonous when eaten. Wont be a problem since the snake will not eat it. I don't know the bonsai-version of this plant, but if it doesn't have spikes or something that could actually hurt the snake, that would be no problem.
Enriched water? Is that fertilizer? In that case, don't put this plant in your viv, because fertilizer can poison your snake. So much easier since the snake will try to bury itself in the gravel and most likely drink some of the water.
 
marike said:
Back to the original question, I'd like to add something.
All schefflera species are slightly poisonous when eaten. Wont be a problem since the snake will not eat it. I don't know the bonsai-version of this plant, but if it doesn't have spikes or something that could actually hurt the snake, that would be no problem.
Enriched water? Is that fertilizer? In that case, don't put this plant in your viv, because fertilizer can poison your snake. So much easier since the snake will try to bury itself in the gravel and most likely drink some of the water.
Click to expand...

The sap is toxic too so if the snake gets any on it's tongue or absorbs it through it's skin don't you think that would be a problem?
 
@ Iguanagirl8662: Sure, you're right.

So altogether advise to Kevin: Don't use the plant in your viv.
 
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