No. If taken in large quantities, a few anthurium plant bits may upset your crested gecko’s stomach. But one of the most popular indoor plants in a tropical reptile vivarium is the anthurium. It is far more appropriate for frogs than snakes.
It thrives in an environment that is humid. They flourish on soil that is regularly damp. An excellent background plant, anthurium offers reptiles and other creatures cover and shade. Anthurium is often referred to as spathe blooms or flamingo flowers.
Anthurium is frequently utilized to create secure hiding spaces for geckos, as I have seen. However, it might or might not work for your reptile depending on the species. Therefore, I still advise you to avoid it and consider your other secure options for your cresties.
I’ve learned from more research that anthurium could not be safe for geckos. However, most frogs rather than reptiles are typically thought to be completely safe from it.
Although the anthurium plants are utilized as hiding spots in reptile vivariums, it is always a good idea to avoid them personally just to be careful. There are numerous more secure plant species that can be used as decorations or to make hiding places for your geckos.
The safety of anthurium reptiles
A excellent plant to use to provide secure hiding spots for your animals in a tropical vivarium is the anthurium, also known as flamingo flowers or spathe flowers.
Are toxic anthurium leaves?
Virtually every home has plants indoors and outside. While the majority of plants are completely safe, some are harmful to both children and animals. View the list of below dangerous plants for humans and pets for the safety of your household. If swallowed, get medical help right away.
heavenly trumpet
This plant is poisonous in every aspect. Eating any part of this flower may result in hallucinations. Young youngsters have been found to find the blossoms appealing.
Anthurium
They are unquestionably toxic and go by the names flamingo flowers and pigtail plants. You will feel a sharp burning sensation in your mouth if you eat them. Blisters and swelling inside of your mouth are possible side effects. You can have trouble swallowing, and your voice might sound strained. Most of the symptoms will eventually go away. Licorice, icy water, and painkillers have all been proven to relieve these symptoms.
Daffodils
These lovely springtime symbols have a reputation for being slightly poisonous if consumed in big quantities. They can occasionally be mistaken for an onion. Nausea, vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea are symptoms.
FoxglovesFoxgloves have lovely, hanging flowers and can reach heights of up to three feet. Its Latin name, Digitalis, is also the name of a well-known heart medication. The plant’s leaves are utilized to create the medication. You will have nausea, cramping, and possibly even oral pain if you consume the leaves. It could result in nausea and diarrhea. You can also experience heart issues. A doctor should be called right away to pump your stomach and restore regular heartbeat.
Hydrangea
This common flower can reach a height of 15 feet. They are available in a variety of hues. If the blossoms are consumed, you will experience weakness, nausea, vomiting, itching skin, and stomach ache a few hours later. Some people might even start shaking.
Purple lily of the valley
They also go by the name Mayflowers. The entire plant is lethal! Small amounts of the herb can be consumed without experiencing severe symptoms or pain. If too much is consumed, you may feel sick to your stomach, throw up, suffer from stomach pain, cramps, and a slowed heartbeat.
Oleander
The plant is lethal in its entirety. Make sure the sticks you use for a fire pit and marshmallow toasting are not from the Oleander plant. Smoke inhalation still results in symptoms. The heart rate will vary and potassium levels will rise if consumed.
Handle poinsettias carefully because the sap is known to irritate skin if you or your kids are handling one. Eating the seeds or leaves might result in delirium.
Azalea and rhododendron bushes
They grow in many yards around the neighborhood and are particularly lovely in the spring. The leaves and honey are extremely poisonous. You will experience mouth burning, nausea, tingling in the skin, headaches, weak muscles, blurred vision, and a change in heart rate if any is consumed.
Palm Sago
One of the planet’s oldest living plants is this one. According to them, it has endured this long because animals do not consume it (if yours does, call the vet immediately). Even at the root’s lowest point, the entire plant is poisonous. Its consumption will result in nausea, diarrhoea, and may even cause liver failure.
Wisteria Beautiful wisteria is a plant with blue, pink, or white blossoms. Typically, the bloom is found in the South or Southwest. If eaten, the plant’s seeds and pods can make you feel sick to your stomach and make you throw up.
AloeAloe is a wonderful plant for treating burns, but if your pet eats it, they will suffer from a variety of ailments. Dogs and cats are toxic to saponins, which are found in aloe. Changes in urine color, nausea, sadness, and diarrhea are a few symptoms.
AmaryllisThis is a typical Easter plant. Amaryllis toxins can result in vomiting, excessive salivation, depression, stomach pain, and even anorexia.
Crab apples and apple trees can both be exceedingly poisonous to domestic pets. Cyanide is present in the seeds, stems, and leaves. The tree is at its most toxic when it begins to wilt. Your pet will have respiratory problems, pant, and have dilated pupils.
Autumn CrocusThis contains colchicum autumn ale, which is particularly hazardous to pets. If your pet consumes it, they may experience oral irritation, vomiting blood, diarrhea, damage to many organs, and even bone marrow suppression.
Cane toad
It contains ricin, a protein that is extremely poisonous. It may result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness, and an appetite loss in addition to other symptoms. It can cause dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma, and even death, depending on how much is consumed.
Chrysanthemum
Despite being a well-liked and lovely flower, it contains pyrethrins. Pyrethrins can result in several symptoms after ingestion, including drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of coordination.
Cyclamen
The plant’s root has a significant amount of cyclamine in it. Make sure not to drink it as it might result in a number of symptoms, including nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Daisy
Despite being a popular flower, daisies can be dangerous to dogs and cats. They contain the poisons pyrethrins, lactones, and sesquiterpene. The effects of eating a daisy can include dermatitis, hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, and hypersalivation.
Hibiscus
The Rose of Sharon and the Rose of China are other names for them. A hibiscus can be extremely harmful to dogs, cats, and even horses if consumed. The flower contains an unidentified toxin that induces nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even anorexia.
Kalanchoe should not be consumed due to its significant heart effects. The plant includes toxic elements that are hazardous to the heart and will result in major problems with cardiac rhythm and rate as well as digestive troubles. To prevent your family pet from eating it, make sure to keep it away.
LiliesCats are extremely harmful to lilies. Even a small amount can irritate the stomach and induce symptoms that can seriously harm the kidneys. Keep them away from your cat, please.
Schefflera
If consumed, the calcium oxalate crystals in this plant will irritate the mouth. Drooling, vomiting, and burning and irritation of your pet’s mouth, lips, and tongue are all possible reactions.
Tulip
The tulip bulb contains poisons that your pet shouldn’t consume. Drooling, loss of appetite, sadness, convulsions, heart irregularities, and gastrointestinal irritation are all possible symptoms of ingesting a bulb.
Taxine, a substance found in YewYew, is extremely harmful to animals. If consumed, it can have negative consequences on the central nervous system, including breathing problems, balance problems, and heart failure.
Lighting
These plants prefer bright, but only indirect light when grown indoors because they are used to receiving dappled light in the outdoors.
The leaves can be harmed by too much direct light, but the flowering blooms can lose their vibrant hues if there is not enough.
To give your Anthurium some of the filtered light it like, if at all feasible, place it around the base of a somewhat larger plant. In moderation, direct sunlight is OK, but only during the colder months when daylight hours are few and difficult to come by.
Watering
In the correct circumstances, the Anthurium clarinervium may tolerate a little under and overwatering, but it’s best not to push it.
Keep a look out for brown tips on the leaves as this may indicate either too much or not enough water. Make sure you have additional plants or drainage to take up the extra moisture because overwatering can lead to the development of root rot.
Substrate
The most crucial factor in keeping your Queen Anthurium healthy and happy may be making sure she gets the right soil mixture.
Water can easily injure her roots, so she needs a substrate that is sufficiently fibrous to allow water to quickly drain from its roots. For this Anthurium, think of using a coir and perlite-heavy mixture.
You should be good to go as long as your substrate has adequate of drainage.
Temperature & Humidity
When kept in a closed terrarium, velvet cardboard anthuriums have reasonably predictable temperature and humidity needs.
At least 60% humidity is sufficient for them to grow, but 85-90 percent is when they really begin to feel their best.
The plant can dry out at any temperature over 85°F, but at temperatures below 55°F, they can freeze. If the terrarium they are in is near or on the windowsill, you might want to move it farther away in the winter to prevent potentially dangerous temperature decreases and humidity loss.
Growth
Watching the Anthurium clarinervium grow at any point of its life is a beautiful experience.
The juvenile blooms initially have an almost metallic purple colour, but as they mature and become wider, they reveal light green undersides and dark green crowns with faint white veins.
Adding some biomaterials to your terrarium can only benefit this Queen since, like other Anthurium family members, new leaves develop from the very top of the plant. This plant will bloom beautifully when the timing is right, possibly all year long!
Propagation
If allowed adequate space to flourish, the Queen Anthurium is reported to produce offspring. This plant prefers to be divided by root division, which involves taking it out of its terrarium, carefully removing the soil from the roots, and coaxing the new growth away.
The typical stem propagation techniques can be utilized with this plant due to the thick stems, which can be up to 2 cm in diameter.
Remember that this particular variety of Anthurium need multiple stems in order to reproduce; if you are impatient, the mother plant may not be ready to bear children yet and may experience shock.
Varieties & Similar Plants
Although there may not be any close relatives of this Anthurium, there are more than 1,000 additional individuals in the Anthurium species, each of which claims deep tropical forests as its natural habitat.
Both produce petalless flowers with colors ranging from white and brilliant pink to intense purple and blue. It is more likely a myth than a fact that there are supposedly variegated Anthrium clarinervium plants out there.
The stunning Alocasia Black Velvet is a great option if you’re looking for additional plants with velvet-like leaves.
Common Problems
Due to their need for air circulation, anthuriums are not often utilized as closed terrarium plants, however this can be avoided by adding a vent or partial lid, or by just regularly opening your terrarium.
The Queen Anthurium is fortunate enough not to particularly attract or have any susceptibility to any particular pests.
Due to its epiphytic nature, it can succumb to root rot rapidly if not given the right soil ratio, however this can be easily remedied by adding some bark, orchid mixture, or perlite to your soil.
Is it dangerous to contact anthurium?
People can react to anthurium much like animals can. If the sap from the calcium oxylate crystals comes in contact with your skin, it can cause intense itching and burning. If you attempt to consume any component of the plant, you can experience animal-like symptoms. It’s typical to have hoarseness, blistering of the skin and mucous membranes, and difficulties swallowing. Enzymes in the sap can trigger deadly reactions in a small number of people.
Can potted plants be placed in the crested gecko tank?
It’s time to add additional accessories once you’ve purchased your crested gecko’s terrarium, prepped the substrate, set up lighting, humidity, and heating. We’ll talk about picking the best non-toxic plants and branches for a crested gecko’s vivarium in this piece.
Your crested gecko’s vivarium will look more naturalistic with the addition of plants and other decor, and they’ll have somewhere to hide, climb, and, of course, rest.
Each owner has a unique arrangement, most of which is based on the amount of room you have in your terrarium. You will need to maximize the space in a smaller terrarium (10–15 gallons or perhaps a Kritter Keeper).
Are plants important in a crested gecko’s vivarium?
Display lizards, crested geckos are stunning in environments with foliage and other natural elements. It’s essential to have plants in a crested gecko’s vivarium.
This is so that crested geckos can rest and exercise during the day without being exposed to direct sunlight.
Crested geckos must have plants and branches to climb on because they are arboreal (live in trees).
Pros of fake plants:
- The only maintenance required for synthetic plants, other from cleaning, is watering.
- They will work in a vivarium without lights, which is another benefit.
- It is possible to make a naturalistic vivarium with fake plants because many fake plants also appear realistic.
- Even if your crested gecko bites them, the most of them are strong and don’t break easily.
- Furthermore, since synthetic plants won’t grow, there’s no need to worry about trimming or getting rid of any dead leaves.
Pros of live plants:
- will contribute to the creation of a fascinating and naturalistic habitat for your crested gecko.
- appear more alluring.
- Compared to foliage and plants that are fastened with suction cups, plants in pots are simpler to remove for cleaning.
Cons of live plants
- They require watering, pruning, and fertilizing, and if you don’t take proper care of them, they could perish.
- Artificial illumination will be required in the vivarium for live plants.
- For tanks without lights, this is inappropriate. It is not appropriate to heat the vivarium of your crested gecko with an under tank heater. See here for information on heating and lighting in a vivarium for a crested gecko.
- Plant growth might present certain challenges. Make sure the plants you choose don’t grow quickly since if they do, you will need to prune them sometimes.
The best safe live plants for a crested gecko’s vivarium
The ideal live plants for crested geckos should be safe to eat and offer climbing and hiding opportunities.
Never pack too many plants and branches into the vivarium. Your crested gecko should be able to roam around and navigate by having half of the vivarium open.
Some of the plants you select might only serve as decoration and not as a climbing support.
For climbing and hiding, other plants and branches will be used. To prevent them from breaking or bending, you must ensure that the leaves are wide and strong enough.
- Beautiful pothos plant with large leaves. To allow your crested gecko to climb behind the leaves, you can even place a branch or vine there.
- Planta dracena
- yet another lovely plant that crested geckos can conceal themselves under. To fit in the vivarium, choose smaller cultivars like Dracaena compacta. John Graig
- Weeping fig, or Ficus benjamina
- Check that the branches can support your crested gecko, or position a branch beneath the leaves.
- Peperomia varieties like Peperomia orba
- Asplenium nidus, often known as bird’s nest fern
- Sansevieria trifasciata, also known as Mother-in-tongue law’s or snake plant, is a favorite of crested geckos and is easy to care for with strong leaves.
- Use mood moss, forest moss, or mosssheet moss on top of the substrate. You may lessen the chance that your crested gecko will consume the substrate by covering the dirt with moss (read more about substrate here). Moss can be used to hide plant containers as well.
- Lucky bamboo in a vase or planter that is securely fastened to prevent bending You can let your crested gecko stroll on it.
- BromeliadsBoth Cryptanthus and Bilbergia produce lovely ornamental plants.
What you need to remember before putting live plants in a crested gecko’s vivarium
- Make sure the weight of any potted plants is appropriate. To prevent any pots from falling and harming your crested gecko, secure them.
- Any live plants you purchase must be cleaned before being put in a vivarium. This is because pesticides are commonly sprayed on plants, where they end up in the soil. Replace the soil with the sort you used to make the substrate after washing the leaves with soap.
- If you have live plants in the vivarium, artificial lighting will be required. One tiny full-spectrum fluorescent bulb may be sufficient if you only have a few plants. But if your vivarium is mostly filled with plants—roughly 50%—you will benefit from a full-spectrum fluorescent bulb that provides 2.0 or 5.0 UVB. In order to fit a fixture, you will need a hood. You can utilize a dome or canopy with one or a few bulbs. Here is more information on light bulbs. Make sure your crested gecko has places to hide if the lights are bright.
- Because crested geckos enjoy consuming water droplets from leaves, spraying plant leaves will be helpful. Additionally, it will contribute to raising the tank’s humidity levels.
Is it better to have vivarium plants directly in the substrate or in pots?
You should provide your adult crested gecko a lively habitat.
The best option if you decide to employ live plants in your vivarium is to place them in pots. You may, for instance, cover the pot in the vivarium with moss or leaves that are dangling.
If you put a plant in the substrate dirt, it can be too tough to care for. If the plant needs to be removed, it may be difficult to do so because the roots may spread far into the ground. The plant will probably develop more quickly if it is planted in the substrate soil.
It will be challenging to water plants that are submerged in the substrate. Overwatering the substrate is simple and will result in rotting. Overwatering will seriously harm the substrate, however a drainage level beneath the substrate will assist absorb some more water.
Place the potted plants in the vivarium to introduce them, then cover the pots with moss, leaves, and hiding places. Placing live or fake plants with foliage at the rear, hanging down, is a nice idea.
Best fake plants that you can buy/find for sale for a crested gecko’s vivarium
- These bamboo bars can be attached to the glass so that your crested gecko can climb and leap on them. Check the suction cups to make sure they are strong, and place the bars so that they are not too high off the ground.