Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I have begun brainstorming for a vent tank, and I would like to put native plants in it if possible. So, I assume a few neos would be in order....but what else? maybe something else for the background and then something terrestrial? I am not very plant savy, so common as well as species names are welcome.

Thanks in advance,
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Matt

Okay you want to put in native plants. What part of the country (world) are you in? If you dont live in a place that has a extremely high temperature all year long and stays roughly around 70s/80s or so all year long it more then likely wont last very long.

Most all of us get our plants from online sources. Sometimes you can find a couple froms or 'terrestrial stars' at lowes or some place. Although I have never seen them at my lowes.

We normally get our plants from

www.blackjungle.com
www.fantasticfrogs.com (T&C terrariums)
www.peaceofthetropics.com
those are the three that pop into my head. There are others, check out kyle1745's signature of a better links.

aj
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I know where to get the plants. I just don't know which ones to get. I assume that most of the plants that peaceofthetropics sells are tropical, but he also sells begonias....are they tropical? Same thing with black jungle and the rest. Is selaginella uncinata a Brazilian species?

Thanks,
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Matt

Ecuador would be more accurate I guess.....
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Matt

Selaginella uncinata is an Asian species.

that is what I want to avoid next time...it is beautiful though
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Matt

Matt,

I believe that you mean plants that are native to areas that vents naturally inhabit...right?

If that's the case some species that you can use are:

For color- passion vines (passiflora genus)
For big enclosures- heliconia: vents are known to breed in the leaf axils of this plant in the wild

More practical- Fittonia spp. (terrestrial)
Calathea spp.- many native to the upper Amazon
Philodendron spp.

If I'm not mistaken neoregelia's are not native to most parts of the vents distribution so go with broms that are such as members of the genera tillandsia, vriesea, and guzmania.

Hope that helps....post some pictures when your done.
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Justin
stk18119@loki.stockton.edu

D.auratus (Costa Rican, Nicaraguan)
D.leucomelas
D.tinctorius (lorenzo, yellowback, citro, pb, oyopock,etc.)
D.azureus
D.ventrimaculatus (yellow/gold)
D.pumilio (blue jeans, solid red)
P.aurotaenia (narrow bands/green)
P.bicolor
E.tricolor (Santa Isabel)
H. leucophyllata
P. hypochondrialis azurea
P. resinifictrix
A. caladryas
etc.......

hmm....I hate that about the neos. I may use them anyway because of the small size. My first tank looks good, but it is a bit of a hodgepodge of various plants from different locales. I want to make my next one a bit more realistic. Thanks for the suggestions, I will start looking for some of these.
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Matt

I commend you on undertaking such a challenge! Your best bet would be to do a google search on the plant specifics of a certain locale. Many biological stations have lists of the plants native to a certain area. I've stumbled across these many times online.

Just remember, however, that certain genera of plants can be found throughout Central and South America. All of the plants mentioned previously are in this category: Neoregelia, Fittonia, Calathea, Passiflora, etc. Pin pointing and purchasing exact species is going to be extremely difficult. I wish you luck!

Also, you might want to add Harry at www.cloudjungle.com to your list of plant dealers. He is an extremely nice guy, and nobody can beat his prices.
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David Knight
Tempe, AZ

3.0.1 D. imitator
2.2 D. leucomelas
1.2.1 P. terribilis (mint)
0.0.2 D. azureus
0.0.1 D. tinctorius (Alanis)
0.1 D. tinctorius (Brazilian cobalt)
0.0.4 D. auratus (Panamanian green and bronze)
1.1 M. madagascariensis
1.0 P. hypochondrialis

www.frognet.org/gallery/davidknight

I agree about Harry. I think it was you who originally turned me towards him. I may not try to locate specific species. I am not a plant guru as some on this forum. I just want to make my next tank a bit more realistic. The tank I recently built has a beautiful fern in it....from the South Pacific Islands...see what I mean?
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Matt

Also try Tropiflora. Don't assume that what they have listed online is all they have. Its just their new imports and heavily stocked items. All their species plants are labled with country of origin and they have just about the largest selection of bromeliads you will find anywhere in the US. My suggestion is to get a list of plants you want and give them a call. They will be more then happy to help you.

www.glasshouseworks.com

No locality data in their descriptions but if you know what you're looking for they probably have it. Lots of rare tropicals.
It'll take you half the day to browse through their online catalogue!

I do quite a bit of business with Tropiflora but I was a bit disappointed in the latest cargo report. Mostly because they just didn't have anything that interested me.

And as Dave said, always check out Harry. Good guy, excellent plants and service.

Donn

You know I wasn't all that impressed with last cargo report either, too few interesting terrarium plants. But I was down there the other week and they had suffered some cold damage and that have something to do with it. I don't know though.