Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I'd really appreciate any thoughts you have on this. Our redfoot just moved into his bigger indoor enclosure. We have two large plants in there: a ficus and a pothos. As I've mentioned before, he eats the pothos, which wouldn't be a problem if it could grow faster than the rate at which his wanton destruction occurs. The ficus isn't taking well to the heat (it really dislikes being near the heat emitters, but I've moved it as far as possible and it still dries out/wilts).

I'd rather not use plastic or synthetic plants, but these aren't doing well! Does anyone have suggestions for safe (e.g., nontoxic), heat/humidity tolerant indoor plants that Ndugu won't eat within a week? Maybe something that naturally tastes bad? I definitely need help here...thanks!

Can't help a great deal with the plants other than to mention we use monkey grasses and they are holding up well. Another name is Mondo grasses and they can get quite tall.

I use ficus in our Chameleon's enclosure that has great ventilation but we maintain a heat source continually and ours do fine. They do drop leaves here and there but that is normal for ficus. I use the ficus benjamin.

SM

Dwarf or pygmy palms usually work good in that situation. Tortoises won't eat them and they are very hardy. Some grow fruit that tortoises love also. Pygmy date palms are good for that.

I hadn't thought of that--thanks for the suggestion! Do you happen to know whether those are widely available?

I came home today and Ndugu was huddled behind what's left of his pothos, looking (I swear) like he was so angry because he couldn't figure out where his hiding spot went!

Yes, pygmy palms, including the date palms, can usually be found fairly regularly at most nurseries. At least here where I live in southern California, anyway.

On my outdoor enclosures I use "plastic" plant pots, around 8" - 10" in diameter. I will cut the bottom of the pot out and then slip it over the plant I am trying to protect. This allows time for that plant to establish and the torts cannot get to it.
I also bury the bottom of it into the soil.
These plastic pots can be obtained at any garden center, Lowes, Home Depot, etc... They usually come in a terra cota color and I have also seen some green colored ones.
Mind you...this is for the smaller species of torts that cannot reach up over 8" or 10".
I am sure there are larger pots out there also that could accommodate the larger torts.

Lori