Would this plant be toxic?

[Nixehface]

Hi guys, just wondering if an Anthurium plant would be toxic to my panther?



http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.j...w=lister&ts=1265891843307&isSearch=false&fl=1

 

[DGray]

not good

This should probably be moved to the 'Enclosures and Supplies' section.

Modern Anthurium hybrids are members of the Aroid family, as are pothos, Philodendrons, and taro. Most have a type of oxalic acid crystal in the leaves that cause and immediate burning sensation when bitten into. Very few animals eat enough to hurt themselves, but to be cautious, you should not use them around grazing species.

See if you can find a dwarf Schefflera in stead (Schefflera arboricola).

 

[atsutane]

a more extensive plant list can be found here
http://www.flchams.com/safe_plant_list.asp

however, the plant you mentioned is not on the list, and based on DGrays assesment, and knowing that philodendrons are bad, that you are best off going with what we know to be good staples, such as hibiscus, pothos, ficus benjaminia, schefflera arboricola.

most of these plants are easy to find right about now at walmart or lowes etc... as for the pothos, to make sure you arent getting a philodendron (they are often misslabled), make sure the pothos you buy is verrigated (splotchy green colored leaves) because pothos are more commonly verrigated where as philos are not

if you find yourself in a bind and are not sure if your pothos is a pothos or not, looking at some pictures of the two and looking at the veins in the leaves gives it away imo

the philo will have creases where usually 3 main viens on each side of the leaf are, and pothos have more numerous smaller veins so the leaf will apprear more rippled but not as deeply creased

other differences are that philos have a sheath to protect new growth, it will apear as a redish brown cone of dried up plant at the base of a new leaf.

when in doubt, check it out... remeber, philos are bad

 

[rmichaelk]

My panther male recently started chewing on the schefflera plant and if I am right too much of it can be bad too. I am considering using a hibiscus plant if I can get it to fit and thrive in the enclosure.

Michael

 

[atsutane]

schefflera arbolica is the less toxic of the two commonly found umbrella trees, however it is in fact toxic to humans, animals, small children etc. it has a high oxalate content and should be removed if the cham starts to chew more than a few bites....

hibiscus are 100% safe, however you might want to condsder getting two or three and rotating them between cage and windowsill, or buying a plant light to help them grow.

a word worth mentioning; unless you have a veiled, chewing on plants is uncommon, and usualy means there is an underlying issue such as dehydration or hunger. try misting and providing a dripper to make sure you cham gets the hydration it needs

 

[Nixehface]

thanks everyone.
I went to all the garden centres and unfortunately haven't found any of the plants yet anyway!