living plants

[Just Jay]

i am unsure if this is the proper place for this post. if i am wrong please move it where you see it fits best.

i am making this thread to keep track of living plants i am trying out in my hermits tank. i work for a pet and garden supply store so i am using the help of my Reptile and Aquatics manager, Horticulturist and another friend from garden who even made a reptile safe plant section! i dont add anything until i check with all of them and the trusty internet.

im going to be posting what i put in, how it does in my tanks environment, how my hermits like it (my goal is to add things they can eat for enrichment in their diet and natural foraging). the only plants i add are reptile and invertebrate safe. found in the same heat and humidity the crabs are. if you see any cause for alarm PLEASE TELL ME.

background on my tank:
it is a 20g long tank. i use a play sand ee mixture that i add FW treated with prime. i also mist the tank about once a day or every other day with the same FW. i have the tank insulated currently with coco fiber matting on the back wall one side and a third covered on the other side and along with a dried grass netting that is sprayed about the same with SW that is treated with instant ocean. for heat i use a uth on the back right wall behind the salt water pool. since its gotten colder and my apartment doesnt use central heating or air i use two 100w bulbs. one red during the night and one white during the day. they are both on a ceramic dome light with a dimmer. the heat is 80-85 humidity in the 90s. any questions please ask.



plants used so far:

"air plant" they are usually all called the same thing but come in different types. not all are crab/reptile safe. you also need to be careful since some companies will spray paint the plaints to help sales. of course you need to make sure they are pesticide free as well. you can tell the plant is painted if its an unnatural color or any color scrapes/peels off the plant.

(the air plant i know to be safe and have used) Guatemalan Ionantha -
Care - when you first get your plant take it out and soak it in FW (the exact same you use for your crabs they also can not have tap water it will kill them) for about 20-30 minutes. after shake all excess water off your plant then place it in direct sunlight and with good air flow. misting with FW once a day to every other. they can live a while without water but will die after a time and they also will not grow without water. i personally mist just over my plants letting the water settle on them instead of directly spraying the plant. it is also recomended to resoak them once every 2-3 weeks. i personally do not do that to any plants in my tank simply because they dont last long enough. the ones i have growing in my bathroom are doing amazing with mistings once a day or every two and one soak a month. the plant has no root system so it doesnt need any soil. it can be placed directly on the sub. i have also put it in things like my shower caddies with just rocks under them, extra large shells none of my crabs can fit and even some climbing logss i have. they do well in high heat and humidity. will wilt and brown with too much water. the levels will brown and dry out, at that point they should be pulled off. if the tips dry out you can snip them off as well. doing so will help prompt new plant growth.

How it did - even though my tank often is foggy or "rains" on one side i had no problems with wilting or browning. they have even bloomed in my tank. (they make purple flowers) when i chang the food (about every day or three. honestly depends on whats being fed since i feed raw, dehydrated and dried.) i will occasionally take them out as well and set them on top of the tank to dry.

How the Hermits enjoyed them - HUUUGE hit. took them a few days to find the plant. once they did they they loved it. munching on the limbs and climbing all over the plants. i even had my smallest crab Tina use it as her favorite nap spot.

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prickly pear cati

*I have not used this one yet but am getting it for my crabs this friday (for christmas hahaha) but my coworker and friend has been using in his tank and for his bearded dragons*

Other Names— Barbary-fig Cactus, Cactus Pear Fruit, Gracemere-Pear, Indian-fig, Indian fig, Nopal Cactus, Oponce, Opuntia, Opuntia cardona, Opuntia ficus, Opuntia ficus-indica, Opuntia fuliginosa, Opuntia hyptiacantha, Opuntia lasciacantha, Opuntia macrocentra, Opuntia megacantha, Opuntia puberula, Opuntia streptacantha, Opuntia velutina, Opuntia violacea, Tuna Cardona, Westwood-Pear.

care- do best in direct sunlight. like more space so its best to avoid over crowding. they do need to be repotted once they get a root system. (im fully planning to break off a piece and let my crabs eat it or let it grow. we shall see.) Once the plant starts to grow slower it has the root system. any buds/pads that grow into each other need to be pruned. if the plant does come to fruit when it does for the plant and fruits health you need to thin down extra fruit and flowers. this should be done two weeks before the fruit is fully formed leaving 10 pears per stalk. any needles that grow can be lightly rubbed/plucked off with no affect to the plant. you can can pull pads off wait till they scab and grow. (what i plant to do for my tank) they need well draining or airy soil.

[Just Jay]

all of this is my own personal trial and error. as i add things and try things im learning. finding what does work and what doesnt . again all input is welcome. this is also more for my own keep up on what plants im adding and what im findings.

[Kermie16]

Following Thanks for starting this thread!! I'm very interested in adding some live plants to our tat as well but wasn't sure which ones would be hermie safe and low maintenance. Also, are there any reputable places to buy them and are pesticide-free?


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[Just Jay]

Im verifying an air plant site as we speak. It does whole sale as well so im thinking about buying a bunch since i know how much my hermits and i like them. If i do i can probably see if its cheaper for me to send you one or so depending on where you live if youd like.

Also it might be slow going. Im only posting plants i have verified 100% and seen my hermits eat and respond healthily to for at least three weeks. Just incase. Id feel horrible if something i recommend hurt/killed someone elses pet. Just yesterday i added a plant i thought would be great and just wanted to follow up research on and found it was toxic.

I can also post pictures if it helps clarify. I keep finding plants in the same species will have the same common name but are not all safe. [Thats how i mixed up my other plant ]

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[aussieJJDude]

Remember, 3 weeks isn't long enough to be deemed safe. You want numerous moults and months, 3 weeks simply won't guarantee. Many plants are toxic, but only in small concentrations. One could eat a bit and have no ill effects, but over time the concentration of toxins build up into a dangerous level.

When adding new plants, ensure they are "organic" and if they come with potting mix, potting mix is removed and all traces of the mix is removed from the plant. If the plant is not organic - which most are - then its important to grow the plant in EE for a few weeks - months even - and allow traces of fertilisers and pesticides to be removed. Regular watering of the plant - and leaves - will ensure they these compounds are removed safely.

[Just Jay]

The only plants im looking at grow in the same environment /climate or temperature/humidity as my PPs and are all so verified reptile/invertebrate/dog/cat safe. On top of need im little to no soil the ones that do im using mose or ee. Also all my the plants i havr gotten have come from my work so we know 100% how they are grown or have the contract info to find out. I didn't exsplain clearly im sorry. I meant the weeks of a plant working and doing well in my tank with no ill affects to crab or tank. Im also putting in plants i know my crabs can completely eat. [Its my main purpose for adding and starting this].

Also this is 100% my own personal trial, error and research. All from sources i know and trust. I understand what is deemed good or appropriate for one owner is not the same for the other. Thats also why i decided to post this to get input! So thank you very much assieJJDude!

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[Just Jay]

Super excited the prickly pear cacti is taking root and has a bud. My hermits are just starting to find it. I haven't seen them interacting with it just the evidence after. They are either going for the roots and getting distracted by the marbles. Or they are trying to climb it and its not strong enough.

[LadyJinglyJones]

Ooooooh!

When (if) it gets big enough, pictures plez!

Incidentally I think I managed to get prickly pear spines in my fingers for the first time when cutting up some for the crebs yesterday. I was surprised. Somehow I'd never considered they might be called 'prickly' for a reason.

[Just Jay]

Ooooooh!

When (if) it gets big enough, pictures plez!

Incidentally I think I managed to get prickly pear spines in my fingers for the first time when cutting up some for the crebs yesterday. I was surprised. Somehow I'd never considered they might be called 'prickly' for a reason.

My little sprout so far! Im super excited.....little annoyed my crabs haven't found it yet hahahaha! They have flexible spins so youd be surprised! Hope or want to bad

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