Plants

[Azruial]

Can you have live plants in your snake enclosure? I always hear about plastic ones and dead branches, but are there any plants that are snake-safe and can survive in the same environment as a snake?

 

[Spirit]

I was told by a breeder to never EVER put live plants in with your snake. Why, I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it has something to do with A: it will mess with the humidity levels in the tank (and basic care of the plant would be a pain in the butt), and B: bugs. Then of course C: I would imagine certain plants may be toxic or unhealthy for your snake.

I would stick with plastic, but that's just my $0.02.

 

[starwarsdad]

Another problem could arise from chemicals/fertilizers in the potting soil.

 

[Azruial]

where do you get plastic plants and what types do your snakes seem to like?

 

[Spirit]

There are two kinds. One is the stiff plastic aquarium kind that go in the water, and the other is a more realistic look/feel. I don't know if they're all concidered "silk", but I would say that any soft artificial plant will work just fine.

I bought mine at the pet store, but I'm sure you can find smaller aquarium size ones at any retail store such as Zellers or Walmart.

 

[Azruial]

all that my local stores have is some stiff plastic leaves for aquariums. They are just an ugly, spikey mess though.
I guess I'll try petco online and target. :shrugs:

 

[MegF.]

I put live plants in mine. They are the common Pothos plants. Non toxic, but they just don't last as well and tend to get pretty beat up from the snakes crawling around on them. Mine always tried climbing up them, and would break off the leaves.

 

[WhiteLips]

many people use live plants in their cages with snakes, and have great success! however it takes a great deal of work, there are also "stages" you could put a plant such as pothos-non-toxic, low light plant that does pretty well and has "air cleaning" qualities. Great care must be used in choosing a plant that has no "bugs" and that the soil is free of pests- organic type fertilizers are perfectly safe if used properly. Additionally, there are some folks that use a bio-active substrate that includes plantings etc. You must also consider where the snake came from and pick appropriate plants (humidity & temp considerations) A very good book on the subject is "The Art of Keeping Snakes" by Philippe de Vosjoli. gives a lot of info regarding live plants & bio active substrates. I've used live plants in the past with good results- no problems but it really is a lot of work. Hope this helps!

 

[Jeff Linkchorst]

when i had geckos. I would go to Micheal's its an arts & craft store. they have a huge selection of fake plants. you just have to soak them in bleach solution first. i would get vine types and wrap them around cane, sort of like bamboo but weaker and smaller in diameter. they sell the cane there too.

 

[princess]

I like the look of live

I have 2 bunches of some nice looking fake ivy which just add some nice greenery and then a stumpy, sturdy Yucca which resists a lot of digging efforts and being a semi arid plant does well in the terrarium. I have a spath in there as well (peace lilly) but if I forget to water it even one day it looks like crap! I think reall plants look lovely but the maintanance is a cow. My little terrarium with the 2-3 month olds has a mall aloe in there but that's for my own aesthetics mainly! I have some goegeous sticks of tortured willow in there too which are all knarled and ugly looking...and you've never seen coensnakes climb so much! The darker morphs actually camoflage beautifully when they sit still. Makes you think of how it must be in nature...

 

[Cindy]

Can you post a picture Princess, it sounds lovely.

 

[Azruial]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll try to find some nice, no-maintinence plastic plants for now. Shool and Home work leave little enough time for my snake as is!