Best Vivarium Plants for Reptiles and Amphibians

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

*Don't forget to download the Best Vivarium Plant list! Click here for the FREE PDF:* www.animalsathomenetwork.com//BestVivariumPlants

[@danielwilliams4574]

Thanks for a thoroughly interesting and informative episode. All my vivs, bar one are doing great after making the decision to go bioactive last year. The major issue that's driving me nuts is still Drago's viv (starred agama). Plants just aren't doing well. The only thing that does OK is grasses, well until he shreds them to death and digs them up! I've also tried planting seeds, (of edible weeds) and have seen a few saplings which get eaten before they've had a chance to grow. Loads of isopods, darkling beetles, earthworms, all breeding and doing fine. The springtails are struggling, but I expected that.

[@pumpkinchow]

Nice I just ordered plants and lights to start turning my enclosures to bioactive. And definitely interested to find out what plants might work with my monitors because I’m tired of watering fake plants lol

[@MikeTytula]

Really depends what monitors you have!

[@joeyp734]

this is so awesome. Thank you for this episode. And thanks for adding time stamps for each topic. it's like opening up a book! lol

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha no problem at all! Glad you enjoyed the episode!

[@shannonp2321]

Thank you for making this channel exist!!!! Can't wait to watch more episodes. I hope KZbin gets taken over by science based pet care from people always willing to learn more.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you found the channel :) Enjoy the episodes!

[@trinkaduncan5875]

Impeccable timing with this episode! Loved every topic.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Excellent! Thank you so much for listening 😁

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed the episode!

[@emptyoften]

Amazing podcast!

[@jakehunnicutt8760]

This was really interesting! Id love to hear this crew talk about more ecologically friendly alternatives to peat since it's such a common ingredient in substrates.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Great point! I will have to add that to the discussion next time around!

[@carnivorousjellybean1599]

I swear you're a mind reader, thank you for another fantastic episode!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

😉 thanks for watching!!

[@reggiep7399]

Im keeping Eastern Indigo snakes(A very large and heavy colubrid) and trying bioactive with them. They are in 4ft x30in cages and are around 5ft long. Almost every rule I have found on bioactive/natural with "large" snakes applies to animals like kingnsakes and smaller which are not that big IMO(Indigos will get 7-8 ft and pretty bulky). My Indigos after setting up my cage for a month went underground and I saw them lift the whole scape up as they burrowed everywhere in the cage. Several months later the isopods and what not seem fine but keeping the plants rooted has been somewhat of a challenge. I have found that somethings do help. Planting around really heavy hardscape(Scape the snakes cannot move) seem to be fairly effective. Also making sure the snakes have places to hide underground so they don't burrow under the dirt helps as well. I have found my snakes typically burrow when it gets too warm or its not humid enough so maintaining the micro climate properly may help as well. The snake plants I have are still alive and so are a couple others despite being uprooted every now and then. They seem to just bounce back so having hardy plants is big. They are getting an 8ft cage soon and I want to try some fast growing hardy grasses and see if that works better. I have not seen anybody really do natural with large pythons, colubrids, monitors, and iguanas so I am excited to see people try and see what works.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Yes it is certainly a challenge! I’ll be curious what you you set up with the 8 foot enclosures, hopefully the grass fair is better. Eventually I’ll be setting up some larger enclosures for my Boas, so I might try the same thing. I think grass would look really cool!

[@JH-hy6hx]

For fungus gnats, use liquid BTi concentrate in your misting unit reservoir.

[@ChrisChurch161]

I grow my plants and clippings in coconut fiber. I propagate in my wild moss tank though, in water. Fresh coconut fiber needs to break down to work best. I tend to lose plants in fresh fiber. Look at an earth bucket method for drainage. You use the bottom drained water. The drainage would be wicked back into the soil, also promoting roots to grow deeper.

[@livingoutsidethebubble]

Springtails eat the eggs of Fungus gnats. I have started adding them to my seedling trays as well.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

That’s really good to know!

[@norwichreptileshed]

This was a great listen!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening! Glad you enjoyed it

[@ryderreptile]

Really cool video! I have to watch it by sections haha. Glad you guys spend the time to share this info

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Take your time! :) And actually... it would probably be good if I time stamped out this video. i'll do that today!

[@ryderreptile]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast good idea!

[@mitchmccline1614]

Thanks you all for the great plant and potential pest information!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you enjoyed it, Mitch 🙂

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching man!

[@gmoooooney]

Great chat! Thanks for doing this

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@Snakes_N_Crafts]

I really wanted a nice planted vivarium until I listened to this podcast. Now I know I definitely don't. edit: Sorry for being negative, Dillon. I'm going to give it a try and see if I can learn. Thanks for the information.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

That’s too bad!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

They can’t be a lot of work, but I think they’re worth it! 👌🏼 they aren’t for everyone though

[@brewkeepyr4647]

Funny.... I don't think they're that much work at all....and whatever work that is involved I find quite enjoyable.

[@Dana-cb7vk]

Later to the party on this- Tarantula keeper have done bioactives since they were just called 'natural setups' (or akin to) - but excellent video. Have been debating the dart frog route but trying to master the biome/microfauna for it first. I get close doing bio setups for my Old World arboreals, but not the same! Thanks for the video and experiences shared, love, a Tarantula keeper from the future lol.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha always happy to hear from time traveling tarantula keepers! 🤣 Thanks for listening to the episode, glad you enjoyed it!

[@bananafloat27]

Here for the subtle bd shade

[@pangaea981]

awesome! thank you for your information my friends

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@CricketsMa]

Great video, guys! Thank you.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening Suzanne!

[@liquidfluidity8061]

No n filtering glass is an interesting to me. I have been in the tropical fish side of things for almost 40 years. Back in the day, the big glass to use for tops was non ferrous. Is this similar to the different glasses you guys were speaking of?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Yep, I think it is exactly the same as that

[@honeybunny7239]

For fertilizer similar to the worm tea. If you have a friend that owns a rabbit or if you have one yourself, rabbit tea works amazing . its also one of the only manures you can apply directly to plants and gardens without composting it first. I have a rabbit and iv always just mixed her droppings into my garden mix at the beginning of the growing season and its in my potting mix too. Other manures can burn plant roots but this doesnt and it breaks down slowly over time for a slow release effect when used whole. Iv had good success with plants using whole mixed into the soil as well as using tea. People on etsy actually sell bunny poop for horticulture hobbyists so you can get it easy.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Great tip, thank you for adding this to the comment section!

[@clydesdale1775]

Argh, those little flies!! I thought I was the only one!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

They are the WORST!!

[@olympusnfitness]

Organic All Natural Fertilizer brand, Down to Earth, is what I use. They have tons of options. I think best one is Bat Guano and make the tea like he was saying with worm casings which they have too as well as plant based ones so not all of it is excretions if you’re looking to avoid that.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Awesome, thank you for the info!

[@rudmerbakker491]

Amazing vid as always!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening!

[@LongfieldReptilesandAquatics]

Lots of great information! interested to see how you incorporate plants into the boa vivs, I've tried to include some into my royals viv but most just got squashed 😂

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening! And yeah haha I’m curious to see how I do it myself 😂

[@thegooch7206]

I love videos like this.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@blueseanewt2138]

Is there any way to get an update to this Round table.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

What sort of topics would you be interested in us covering?

[@stevepivin8059]

as fertilizer in a strating terrarium a use osmocote, bone meal, bloood meal, some mud from ma fish tank filter, also some black gold

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for the tips!

[@rustyshackleford7288]

That white stuff used for drainage is glass or a form

[@Psionetics]

Great talk!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for listening! 😁

[@curvingfyre6810]

Not sure i understand the hate for ficus quercifolia. Any stem plant will eventually need trimming back, and quercifolia is gonna be among the least bushy options, at least based on what i've seen from it. If you set it exclusively against a backdrop or as a semiepiphyte, it shouldn't even want to peel itself off the wall at all.

[@dericplummer9272]

Would love to here an update on how the large plants with your larger heavier body snakes are going. I am trying to figure out the same.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

So far the plants I put in my male’s boa enclosure are doing really well, he hasn’t trampled them at all! Here’s what I did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mne7noWbjpelj7s

[@Ferdinalchandra]

Thanks for sharing

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for watching!

[@jaydeef5187]

I use ferts in my python and my 2 geckos planted tanks and have 0 issues affecting animals. I use chemicals directly to the root and foliar spray. If fish can be in water animals should be fine unless they are eating slow release fertilizer bb's. LoI I also mix worm castings in with my reptisoil and miracle grow.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Awesome, that's a great tip! I think you are right, unless they eat large amounts of it then there is nothing to worry about!

[@harrynewton9045]

Fantastic!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks, Harry!

[@gifts5564]

不错呀！

[@andyevans8585]

Just finished watching this. Building a viv for my Chinese Water Dragon complete with pool, waterfall and stream. But PLANTS are where I fail. Nicks comment on trees was a good one for me as I've been looking for something small so good to know there is no point! Drainage layer drainage point was something I hadn't considered so that was great! Can't wait to see the plant list. Question: I've heard Ficus leaves are toxic. Naturally Chinese Water Dragons are carnivorous so eating them isn't a problem, but their claws are also very sharp and will easily cut into the leaves leaving the sap exposed. Am I worry too much about this or is this a real danger than I need to avoid?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Glad you enjoyed the episode, hopefully you were able to download the plant list 👍 I wouldn't worry about the toxicity of ficus leaves, it is a very common plant used in herpetoculture and the animal would have to be exposed to a ton of the sap for it to cause an issue. Good luck with the rest of the viv!

[@andyevans8585]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Thank you for the response! Yeah the pdf is saved on my phone and I'm now listening to your other podcasts: I used to run a reptile rehoming centre so the conversation on the responsibility of youtubers is really important to me and very close to home, especially the comments about vivarium stacks and shops giving incorrect advice. A perfect example of this is one shop in Barnsley UK that were keeping a 4ft Taiwanese Beautysnake in a 2 ft by 2ft tub on a shelf. They refused to get it out because it would bite them. I bought her, spent 6 months getting her back in shape and sold her onto a collector I know and trust who spent most of the time shebwas recovering building her a 4ft x 4ft x3ft enclosure. She could barely grip the branches when I got her but barely leaves them last I heard.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Wow that is incredible, it is amazing how weak they get when they don’t have the opportunity to climb. But as you experience, it seems like as soon as they have climbing options they develop the strengths really quickly. Sad to see an arboreal snake stuck in the tub

[@danielhale3312]

I have been using the biobude stuff for my bio actives. While it works great, it is expensive for being just dirt. Any suggestions or links to something better priced?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Anything that is already premixed will be in the same range as bio dude’s Products. If you want to save money, I recommend mixing it yourself. SerpaDesign Has some great DIY substrate mixes on his channel👌🏼

[@MikeTytula]

Like Dillon said mixing your own is the way to go! Bio dude stuff really isn't very good if you actually separate the individual components and see how much you are getting for the money.

[@danielhale3312]

@@MikeTytula I wanted to try and mix my own for the nxt enclosure i have coming in. Just wanted to try and find a list of what to throw together

[@MikeTytula]

@@danielhale3312 If you watch some of my newer build videos I share my recipe!

[@MOONOVERMIAMI]

Hello great video podcast

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thank you for listening!

[@icxcnika9399]

You'll learn alot from Aeroponics, hydroponics, aquaponics etc that would be useful for your vivaria

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

That is a great tip!

[@icxcnika9399]

Passive hydroponic systems use a mixture of perlite and vermiculite to wick water/nutrients from a reservoir to the plant. A similar mixture could be used instead of hygrolon, vermiculite and coir might increase wicking whilst still looking ok until the areas grow in, though without the perlite oxygen for roots will be reduced.

[@Amzer84]

Hi. Wondering: about the fungus gnats. Is it safe to put in pitcher plants? Such as Sarracenia ‘Mississippi’? For cresties 🙂

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Yep, it’s definitely safe! 😊

[@Amzer84]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast thank you very much 😊 I thought I had heard it somewhere.

[@jem5108]

Great Round Table thanks! I heard something about taking the clear plastic cover off an LED light? I don't think that would be safe?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks, Jeff! Good question, I'll need to look into that a little further!

[@Hamburglar009]

Ok, now I need to know why mike said he doesn’t use bioshot. Anybody have any idea?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha good question… I’m not sure. I suspect he thinks it’s overpriced for what it is. Especially since that type of fungus is already included in many brands of potting soil

[@Miduuza]

Me when there's another 2.5 hour round table: 😀🥳😬😳🦎

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

☺️ yay!! Enjoy 😄

[@alexanderbrown5425]

I have three dwarf geckos in an enclosure and they don't seem to eat the fungus gnats at all. The fungus gnats don't seem to leave the tank though.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Damn that’s too bad! It would very much simplify things if they did!

[@alexanderbrown5425]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast on a related note, I have a mealybug infestation in some house plants. The mealybugs seemed to make their way into at least one terrarium one year ago but even now they are in very low numbers. I think the lizards are eating the bugs

[@asl-tutorials]

1:00:00 z never made sense to me why leopard gecko keepers and uro \ beardie keepers don't copy ackie and argus keepers

[@susanstephans5959]

hot shot pest strips will 100% of them nats pretty quickly

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Thanks for the tip!

[@legionaquatics]

can I just use any nonbranded halogen bulb for my corn snake and will it be warm enough or should I use a reptile branded halogen/spotlight

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Any brand (hardware or reptile) will work fine. If you buy a hardware brand, make sure it’s a “flood” and not a “spot” light

[@legionaquatics]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast ok thanks

[@brewkeepyr4647]

Question regarding light/heating.... I use a DHP for my kingsnakes in conjunction with halogen....but would a DHP disrupt a pythons day/night cycle? It seems that the infrared from above would most definitely be visible considering labial heat sensory and I would think that it wouldn't be very natural. Thoughts?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

The DHP won't disrupt the day/night cycle because it emits almost zero visible light. The snake will be able to sense the heat, as you said, but the day/night cycle is driven via relatively intense visible light (rather than the extremely weak visible light/infrared that the DHP throws off). Hope that makes sense!

[@brewkeepyr4647]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Yeah it kinda makes sense....but if pythons have the ability to sense infrared.... what about that? My kingsnakes obviously don't have infrared sensory perception....and pythons do. So I would be under the impression that they would detect the thermal image of the heat projector.... when naturally at night...all they should detect would be the thermal heat of like rocks and wood and prey items. It was just something that I was thinking about that's all. Hope I'm making some sense....lol. Thanks for the response though.... appreciate you!

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

@@brewkeepyr4647 Yep, makes perfect sense! I know exactly what you mean. As far as I am away, the perception of infrared doesn't impact circadian rhythm... although it's definitely an interesting question! I will write that one down, next time I have a lighting expert on the show, I will ask!

[@krobzik]

A question bothering me (and probably a few other people from EU) - they don't sell tree fern fiber over here, not as far as I was able to find. With that in mind, what a good substrate mix would look like? Would replacing it with eg orchid bark require adjustment in the ratios of other ingredients? Another thing about ABG mix - what component is supposed to be providing the nutrients? As far as I understand, fern and bark are there for structure, charcoal for nutrient retention and microbiota, and sphagnum and peat for moisture retention. But where are the nutrients coming from?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I think orchid bark would work as a good replacement. However, maybe I’ll get one of the other guys to chime in on this one. As far as nutrients go, I think this is where leaf litter and other decomposable‘s come into play. As they break down they will provide nutrients.

[@LakusPakus]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast Even orchid bark has been - not impoosible, but hard to come by in any real quantities where I live. Typically sold in pretty small bags and not for cheap. Thats fine for smaller enclosures, but when making a bigger one it quickly adds up. Im currently planning a little experiment by replacing all orchid bark/tree fern fiber in an ABG mix with rough shredded coco fiber (HerpEasy substrate) and leaf litter mixed in. Simply because it is so much easier to get big quantities of. I have no expectations for how it will work out, but it sure is cheaper - if it works.

[@Expeditionwildside]

The nutrients comes from the substrate breaking down over time and you have to remember also many of the plants from the tropics grow in relatively low nutrients already. As for the fir bark aka orchid bark you don’t really need to change the ratios of the other ingredients.

[@MikeTytula]

For immediate influx of nutrients, I just buy a giant bag of aquasoil (whatever brand you can find near you) and just add a small amount, like a cup or two.

[@krobzik]

@@Expeditionwildside I haven't realised that tropical soils are quite poor, so it makes sense now, thanks. And to echo a commenter above that was looking for alternatives - if bark's primary purprose is to make substrate more chunky and aerated, would perhaps coarse hardwood chips do the same job?

[@anthonyhernandez9391]

Hey guys can u recommend some good plants for my Chinese water dragon tank that he won't destroy please help 🙏

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

You can check out the plant list we put together, there is a column for hardy/30 plants that should work decently: www.animalsathomenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Vivarium-Plants.pdf

[@CoryG1981]

superglue and baking soda works better then cotton , this is coming from a Hobbit from tabletop gaming , where we use foam, superglue and other tricks to acheive the effect ur going for , just wanted to share so ya dont get chem burns

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Fantastic tip! thanks for sharing that

[@CoryG1981]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcast np at all just dont want to see anymore chem burn fingertips.

[@DDryTaste]

Why don't you guys use nematodes against fungus gnats? It works really well.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I’ve used them in the past, and they do work well. However, I think they kill other beneficial members of the clean up crew too

[@DDryTaste]

@@AnimalsatHomePodcastThanks for the reply, steinernema feltiae and carpocapsae only kill larvae-stage insects with a symbiotic bacteria. Isopods and springtails should be safe. But I never considered other clean up crew critters than those two, I will do a bit more research on that. Thanks!

[@icxcnika9399]

So gorilla glue is soup and great stuff is souffle?

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha hmm… I’m not sure? Are those European products?

[@Ekzotika-g8w]

It’s actually depressing that you can compare how most breeders care for ball pythons to how most people care for Isopods.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

I know 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jenniferkaminski5605]

Why don’t more hobbyists use Hoya? They are slower growers. Hoya Serpens, Hoya Mathilde, lots would do wonderful in a tank.

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Great suggestion!

[@taeviansworldofreptiles3828]

My gawd lol Nick's voice is so deep rofl

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Ha ha! A perfect radio voice

[@Expeditionwildside]

😂

[@MikeTytula]

Nick just needs to get into the voice over game! could make bank!

[@monsterkajiu1912]

A 3:1 ratio of canadians and america!! LOL

[@AnimalsatHomePodcast]

Haha you bet!

[@Offshore912]

Put some spiders in their house spiders

[@gordmonteath6090]

Pumice???