list of safe and dangerous plants for herps

[ginnerone]

Hi all i thought this would be helpfull so i compiled a list of safe and dangerous plants, hope this helps.

SAFE PLANTS FOR HERPS

Plants for Desert Environments
The following are suitable for architectural and topographical interest but are generally not suitable as basking and perching plants.
Snake plants (Sanseveria sp.)

S. aethiopica

S. caniculata
S. kirkii pulchra
S. parva
S. pinguicula
S. sinularis
S. thyrsiflora
S. trifasciata

Caudiciforms ("caudex" refers to the stem which stores water for the plant) such as Aloes:

Dwarf Aloe (Aloe variegata, A. jucunda)

Climbing Aloe (Aloe ciliaris)
Lace Aloe (Aloe aristata)
Bromeliads (except species with spines)
Caudexed Figs* (Ficus petiolaris, F. palmeri)
Ceropegias vines
Cow- or Oxtongue, Bowtie (Gasteria) - cut off any sharp tips
Elephant Trees (Bursera)
Gasterhaworthia "Royal Highness"
Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Grapes (Cissus and Cyphostema)
Haworthias
Ponytail Palms (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Thornless cacti

Tillandsia (Air plants; Spanish Moss; Air Moss)

There are two primary forms the 500 or so species of this type of bromeliad. Before buying any Tillandsia, make sure it is a form that will grow well in the environment into which you are planning to put it.
While most Tillandsia are found growing on trees or rocks, some are also found in desert regions. Some, those with green leaves and a root formation but no scales, may be grown as epiphytes or can be planted in soil. Some of these species include:

T. anceps

T. brachycaulos
T. cyanea
T. lineniana

Others are strictly epiphytes ("air plant"), noted by their dense covering of grey scales and generally without roots. These are the ones that can be grown on rough tree trunks, the joints of branches, and in or on other structures and artifacts. They need bright light and frequent spraying with water or periodic soaking in water. Epiphyte forms include:

T. bulbosa

T. Ionantha
T. usneoides

Temperate and Tropical Plants

Depending on the width of the enclosure, at least 2-4 plant lights should be installed, running the length of the enclosure. Use UVB-producing fluorescents if required by the reptiles in the enclosure; otherwise, you can use plant grow lights. If using a mixture of the two, remember to install the the UVB-producing fluorescent tubes correctly to ensure the reptile is getting adequate exposure (placing them so the tubes are not separated from the lizard by by glass or plastic, are within 8-15" of the reptile where it spends most of its basking and lounging time, etc.) and to replace the UVB-producing tubes annually.
Most of these plants fare well in daytime temperatures in the mid-80s (29-30 C), and can tolerate nighttime drops into the mid-60s (18-19 C).

Bromeliads (Aechmea, Billbergia, Guzmania, Neoregelia) - clip spines

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum)
Creeping Fig* (Ficus pumila)
Corn Plant (Draceneas - until they outgrow enclosure)
Dwarf Schefflera (Brassaia actinophylla)
Earth Stars (Cryptanthus)
Gesneriads (Aeschynanthus, Nematanthus)
Orchids (Dendrobium, Epidendurm, Haemaria, Oncidium)
Peacock Plant (Calathea stromata; Marantaceae)
Peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia, Piperacaeae)
Ponytail Palms (Beaucarnea recurvata)
Rosary Vine (Ceropegia woodii)
Sanseveria trifasciata, including the following cultivars: Bentel's Sensation, Laurenti, Moonshine, Gray Lady.
Sanseveria parva, including cultivars: Hahnii, Hahnii "Loop's Pride", Hahnii Silver Frost, Golden Hahnii.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Virginia Spiderwort* (Tradescantia virginiana)
Wandering Jew* ( Tradescantia zebrina)
Weeping Figs* (Ficus benjamina)

* = There has been some concern expressed about the milky sap that oozes from broken leaves and twiglets of the various Ficus species. The sap may be an eye/skin irritant to the animal that brushes up against it and gets it in their eyes (as may happen by accident in passing or when rubbing the eyelid against it as it gets ready to shed).

DANGEROUS PLANTS FOR HERPS

Air plant
Amanita
Amaryllis
American yew
Andromeda
Arum lily
Australian flame tree
Autumn crocus
Avocado
Azalea
Balsam pear
Baneberry
Bird of paradise
Bishop's weed
Black laurel
Black locust
Bloodroot
Bluebonnet
Blue-green algae
Boxwood
Bracken fern
Broad beans
Broomcorn grass
Buckeye
Buckthorn
Bulb flowers
Burdock
Buttercup
Cacao
Caladium
Calla lily
Camel bush
Candelabra tree
Cardinal
Castor bean
Chalice vine
Cherry tree
Chinaberry tree
Christmas candle
Clematis
Cocklebur
Coffee
Coffee bean
Coral plant
Coriander
Corncockle
Cotton bush
Coyotillo
Cowslip
Crown of thorns
Cutleaf
Daffodil
Daphne
Datura
Deadly amanita
Death camus
Delphinium
Devil's ivy
Dieffenbachia
Dutchman's breeches
Eggplant Elderberry
Elephant's ear
English ivy
English yew
Ergot
Eucalyptus
Euonymus
False hellebore
False henbane
Felt plant
Firethorn
Flame tree
Four O'Clock
Foxglove
Ghostweed
Glottidium
Golden chain
Ground cherry
Heliotrope
Hemlock
Henbane
Holly
Honeysuckle
Horse bean
Horse chestnut
Horsetail reed
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Indian licorice
Indian turnip
InkberryIris
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Jasmine
Java bean
Jerusalem cherry
Jimsonweed
Johnson grass
Juniper
Kentucky coffee tree
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Leucotho
Lily-of-the-valley
Lima bean
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords and ladies
Lupine
Malanga
Mandrake
Marijuana
Maternity plant
Mayapple
Meadow saffron
Mescal bean
Mexican breadfruit
Mexican poppy
Milk vetch
Milkweed Mistletoe
Mock orange
Monkshood
Moonseed
Morning glory
Mountain laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Navy bean
Nettles
Nightshades
Oak
Oleander
Panda plant
Parsley
Peires
Pencil tree
Periwinkle
Philodendrons
Pigweed
Pikeweed
Poinciana
Poinsettia
Poison ivy
Poison oak
Pokeweed
Potato
Precatory
Privet
Pyracantha
Rain tree
Ranunculus
Rape
Rattlebox
Rattlebush
Red maple
Rhododendrons
Rhubarb
Rosary peas
Sandbox tree
Scarlet runner
Skunk cabbage
Snowdrop
Snow on the mountain
Sorghum grass
Sorrel
Spindle tree
Spurges
Sudan grass
Sweet pea
Tansy ragwort
Thornapple
Tobacco
Vetch
Virginia bower
Virginia creeper
Wattle
White cedar
Wisteria
Yam bean
Yews
Yellow jasmine

[jools]

That must have taken you ages to do - you are a star! It will be very useful for many ppl - Sticky perhaps?

[ginnerone]

any comments of what you think or any additions/corrections you may think are required are welcome

[Crownan]

This is a list for habitation though, not feeding. Add feeding list and that would be worth a sticky! lol

[AmyW]

Pothos (Scindapsus aureus, Epipremnum aureum) (Devil's ivy I think but really not up on plants!lol)

Sorry to be picky but I always thought this was poisonous/toxic to all species other than Corucia zebrata (Monkey-tailed skink)?

Correct me if I am wrong though....

[ginnerone]

Originally Posted by jools

That must have taken you ages to do - you are a star! It will be very useful for many ppl - Sticky perhaps?

it did take a while but in comparison to how many threads i post on about people asking for safe plants and 'are these safe' threads i thought this would be less time consuming and possibly a great help for people.
Thanks jools your too kind but stroking my ego is welcomed lmfao

[jools]

Originally Posted by ginnerone

it did take a while but in comparison to how many threads i post on about people asking for safe plants and 'are these safe' threads i thought this would be less time consuming and possibly a great help for people.
Thanks jools your too kind but stroking my ego is welcomed lmfao

I'd rather stroke your ego than stroke one of your Tokays

[draconiz-666]

possible suggestion would be pictures of the plants, my internet is so slow it would take an age and a half to trawl google images for each of them!!

i used to 'test' my plants on the locusts, as the locusts will inevitably eat them -if the locusts die then the plants are BAD.
so my check list would be:
does it have sturdy leaves for the lizards to sit on?
does it have sharp bits? *
will it be tall enough?
has it ever been treated with chemicals? *
does it provide shelter?
can the locusts eat it?
does it have milky/strong smelling sap? *
will it tolerate the heat/humidity?

the ones with a * had to be a 'no' for me to consider the plant, and all the others had to be 'yes'

ive now got a house full of half eaten wilted houseplants or plants that were destroyed by the lizards jumping all over them!!

lately i found the list to be useful.

[ginnerone]

Originally Posted by Crownan

This is a list for habitation though, not feeding. Add feeding list and that would be worth a sticky! lol

LMFAO, i made this on the basis that most people buy plants for live viv's for visual/humidity reasons only. anyone want to add a list of edible live plants to the thread?

[Crownan]

Originally Posted by AmyW

Pothos (Scindapsus aureus, Epipremnum aureum) (Devil's ivy I think but really not up on plants!lol)

Sorry to be picky but I always thought this was poisonous/toxic to all species other than Corucia zebrata (Monkey-tailed skink)?

Correct me if I am wrong though....

Its fine for walking/slithering on. Bad for eating