Re: Lesson In Plants.....

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Posted by MichelleB on October 01, 2002 at 07:59:23:

In Reply to: Lesson In Plants..... posted by Heather on September 30, 2002 at 12:44:50:

I have a chameleon, so I am somewhat familiar with using plants in herp enclosures, but I would caution against using real plants for an iguana. Smirnoff looks pretty big, and a big ig with live plants usually just equals a big mess. Most plants can't handle the weight of a large ig climbing them regularly. They collapse, fall over, and loose large amounts of foilage. As someone else also posted, you also have to be very careful about what is on htese plants. To use a plant in my chankeleon's enclosure, I actually clean every leaf with soap and water! I remove it from the pot, and take it to the utility tub and wash it. Then I repot it using new soil that does not have vermiculite or perelite in it. It also eases my mind to let it sit out for a few months before I place it with the cham. I have tried plants in with my iguana, and it was a disaster. She knocked them over, trampled them, and generally demolished the plant and her entire cage! If it is a lesson you must learn for yourself, ;), then please thouroughly clean any plant you use. I apologize I cannot comment on many of the plants you listed... except the bird of paradise. It is toxic. Plants used with chameleons (assumed safe for igs, but follow up with research please...) include: ficus, umbrella plant, pothos and hibiscus.

:OK. I told all of you that I'm turing a closet into a new home for Smirnoff. One thing I'd LOVE to do is put all kinds of real plants that would make it BEAUTIFUL and the he could nibble on without problems. I went to the local "Home Depot" and saw all kinds of beautiful plants there. I'm trying to stick to ones You'd find in places where Igs really live. So some of these plants are "tropical" ones. Can you tell me Yes or no if they'd hurt him and name any other plants that You'd find in an Igs habitat that WON'T hurt. Also please tell me where I can find pics as The look really does matter to me. Sad to say but it's true. :P THANKS!

:List of plants I found:

:Variegated Silver Grass

:Maiden Grass

:Silver Feather Grass

:Yaku Jima Miscanthus

:Spider plant

:Draecena

:Corn plant

:Bird Of Paradise

:Rubber Plant

:Yucca

:Umbrella Tree

:Palm Tree

:Boston Fern

:Bam Boo Palm

:Croton

:Snake Plant

:
:Please Just go down the list and type "Yes", "No", or "?" next to them. "Yes" For they are Bad, "No" for they aren't and "?" for I don't know. THANKS! You guys of the best! And Smirnoff thanks you too! :)
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