Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know of a bush/plant that is safe for chucks and desert iguanas that is easy to keep alive? I was hoping for either a plant that I can keep in large buckets and rotate from inside to outside or one that can be planted directly inside an indoor enclosure. I live in Pleasanton TX between San Antonio and Corpus. I was originally wanting to purchase Creosote Bushes for my chuck and desert iguana enclosures. Not only do the plant companies not carry Cresotes but they will not order them either.

.

I'll have to go to the store tomorrow and buy some. I'll need to find a nursery that does not use any type of chemicals on their plants.

I thought you wanted to grow them. What happend to that idea?
Their faily easy to grow. I've grown them along with cat claw (acacia gregii) and other desert small shrub plants from seeds collected on my trips.
Try this place in Ca. They sell creosote seeds and other CA. native plants online. I've seen various small sized creosote for sale in the premises. However, I'm not sure if they sell them online. They also have this seed mix packet bubbed, Desert Tortoise Mixture. It's good for desert tortoises. I suppose it would be safe for chucks. Check them out at www.theodorepayne.org.

Creosote bushes would be my first choice for my chuck and iggy enclosures. I was just trying to find other options for plants until I am able to grow/buy creosotes. I will definetely check out the link that you gave. Thanks so much for your help!

I had the same thought, but Gus says they won't grow anywhere but in the Mojave. I still might try. Here is where you can buy creosote and other desert bush seeds:
http://www.turtlestuff.com/shop/?shop=1&cat=41

I looked into buying seeds but from my research it's really hard to grow from seeds. The best results seem to be from transplanted bushes that have not had their roots disturbed. I may give it a try anyway. I even found that cresote seeds are sold on ebay.

I was talking with a botanist at the AZ Desert Museum when I was there a couple weeks ago and they said very easy to start from seed. Usually transplants do not make it. She said the put a knick in the side of the seed then let soak in water over night and plants in good well drained soil. SHe said though that they are usually tough to keep them going(out of their natual range) unless you have a greenhouse. Good luck and keep us posted. I just sent some seeds to the Netherlands to a fellow DI enthusiast. He will keep me posted also so we will see how it goes.

That's great news. I'll have to buy some seeds and give growing them a try. Thanks for the info and please give me an update on your friend's progress.

Tom, what if you keep them like you do the lizards, under a MVB or in high sun and maintain desert like temps? Do they fair better in the viv itself, well, unless the lizards eat them?

Has anyone tried a bush like Purple Sage or Mesquite trees with the thorns trimmed in their lizard enclosures? The care sheets show they need full sun but I wonder if I could get some type of lighting that would help keep the plant alive. Would the desert iggys climb on them or am I better off using large pieces of wood for their climbing needs?

I ordered a few different types of seeds so hopefully I will have some luck growing them. I ordered Creosote Bush, Wolf Berry and Four Winged Salt Bush. I ordered from Plants of The Southwest. Thanks again for the help.

http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/

Cool! Let us know how the service is. I might place an order myself.

The seeds came in the mail today. Great service and quick shipping. I'm also planning on planting some of the seeds at our family ranch in Tilden, TX to see how they grow.