Need Ideas For Safe Plants

[CBCAMO]

I'll be going out tonight to pick up some plants for my new chameleon cage that I built and I was wondering what type of plants I should get? Is it ok to get any type of plant that isn't toxic or posinous to animals or humans or is there special plants that I have to use for chameleons? Also, do any of you no of safe plants that have lots of branches or vien's my buddy can use for climbing. I have lots of room my cage is 4'x3'x3'.

Thanks People!

 

[GabeCastro]

Google + The forums search tab will be your best friend.

All i did was googled "Safe Plants ChameleonForums"

This is a official thread that tells you what plants are safe/not safe.

https://www.chameleonforums.com/blogs/gerhartrx/523-chameleon-safe-plants.html

Also (Click A-Z to find what you're looking for, Also shows pictures )

https://www.chameleonforums.com/plants/index.php?browse=scientific&view=photo&order=compatible&ltr=F

Vines, i use Small Jungle Vines...usually find them online from $8-$10 bucks.

 

[CBCAMO]

Thanks, I printed off the list and I'm going to bring it with me on my search for plants!

 

[GabeCastro]

Nice

Before you go out, It's also recommended to provide a Grow light for your plants. Without them they'll eventually die off pretty quick. I don't use a grow light for my Ficus Benjamin or Pothos plant and they did alright for about a month...Pothos is slowly dying. You don't need the light, but if i were you i'd invest in one if you plan on getting some nice plants. You can pick up a light fixture and a 6500k bulb for under $25 bucks if you look around. I think Lowes sells the hood/bulb for around that price.

Also go by the scientific name with the plants.

Check your local homedepots, lowes, oshs, and plant nursery's for the plants. They may even sell the lights w/hood.

 

[CBCAMO]

Sorry, what do you mean by grow light? lol I don't know much about growing indoor plants but is my UBV light and my heat lamps not going to keep the plants alive?

 

[GabeCastro]

Sorry, what do you mean by grow light? lol I don't know much about growing indoor plants but is my UBV light and my heat lamps not going to keep the plants alive?

Yup, Your UVB bulb and Basking light should be fine. Good job on having both of those

Just having a extra light (6500k) will allow your plants to grow better. They won't die out as fast.

 

[UserName336]

I have a hoya and under the grow light and with a constant drip system eventually going into the pot its in, I have it growing at between .5 to 1 inches per day!! Cham safe with pink/white and green leaves.

 

[CBCAMO]

Thanks! and yes I have everything I need, I did my research...well on everything execpt plants haha I appreciate all the help.

 

[BeldarRunsMyLife]

Try finding a plant called Malabar Spinach, Basella alba / Basella rubra.

It's not a true spinach(which means no oxalates!), it's a vine from South India eaten as a vegetable, the leaves are loaded with vitamin A, B, C, calcium, iron, manganese, and other minerals. It grows like wildfire and will vine out all over the place, so not only do you get a good food source but your animal gets all kinds of new stuff to climb on and explore.

My veiled absolutely loves this, I grew a pot of this up to have about 10 feet worth of vine and he ate it down to bare stems within a month and a half, then started biting parts of the stem off! Made him regular as a clock too.

I'd recommend having more than 1 pot of it growing at a time(makes a pretty houseplant if you have a south or west-facing window, especially if you get the rubra species with red stems) if your cham loves his veggies as much as mine does. You can propagate it by snipping off a stem and soaking the bottom portion in water until some roots start sprouting out, then put it in nice moist fertilized potting soil. It will re-root and take off from there.

None of the big box stores are going to have it, call around to the specialty nurseries in your area to find some. If you can't manage to locate it that way, go find an Indian grocery store and ask if they have fresh Alug Bati(Ahh-loog Bah-tee) for sale, or know a place that does.

edit: Here's a link to the nutritional value of cooked malabar spinach (data comes from USDA analysis so it's pretty legitimate), raw will of course have higher levels of certain vitamins: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/3049/2

 

[andred82vert]

i'm actually interested in this too. I'm looking at the database but most of these plants are not cham friendly. A lot of the plants listed are not sturdy enough for adult chameleons to climb on. IF you have your cage indoors, look for plants that don't need ALOT of light to thrive, like pothos, unless you have a grow light.

A few plants that i found are "cham friendly".

Ficus nitida (indian laurel fig): kinda like benjamina but with lighter green colored leaves and single white trunk.

Japanese Boxwood: very branchy so you might have to trim

I would love a manzanita plant but i can't find them anywhere for sale. I've seen TONS of them around our hills and mountains (so-cal), but i think its illegal for people to yank them out of the ground and take them home.

 

[Chameleonmaster]

Flchams has a safe list on there site.