Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone,
I'm looking into getting my first gtp and I'm trying to tackle different scenarios before any problems arise. (I'm posting this on a couple different forums so I apologize if you've seen this topic before) I'm working on my enclosure right now and I wanted to use live plants to help with the humidity and aesthetics of the cage. I'm worried about any possible insect/bug infestations that could come along with using live plants down the road and was wondering if anyone had ever thought about using ladybugs inside the cages. I imagine they would be beneficial in combating any infestation or could even help with mites (heaven forbid) if my snake was to succumb to an infestation. What are your thoughts and feelings with this idea? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks!

I am sort of in the situation as el_jefe, Other then these his questions I was wondering what kind of plants do best? And I have found a lot of controversy on using moisture retaining substrate such as repti earth, Is it a good idea or not?

Also everyone seems to recommend not keeping juveniles in glass tanks? Is it only because of the humidity issue? I was thinking of keeping the area on the screen top
not used for the heat/light covered with a thick towel or some cloth which I can soak so it would create a dripping effect which would not only keep humidity up but would provide a rainforest type feel?! Input would be greatly appreciated

>>I am sort of in the situation as el_jefe, Other then these his questions I was wondering what kind of plants do best? And I have found a lot of controversy on using moisture retaining substrate such as repti earth, Is it a good idea or not?
>>
>>Also everyone seems to recommend not keeping juveniles in glass tanks? Is it only because of the humidity issue? I was thinking of keeping the area on the screen top
>>not used for the heat/light covered with a thick towel or some cloth which I can soak so it would create a dripping effect which would not only keep humidity up but would provide a rainforest type feel?! Input would be greatly appreciated

To be honest, that setup sounds like a huge pain in the butt and it's going to make you hate the snake... a soaking wet towel is going to be a great place for mold and who knows what else to grow, plus it's constant upkeep that will need done (soaking it, etc) that can be eliminated with a less-ventilated tub or other setup. A lot of new chondro keepers think that they need to have super high humidity...but that will just make them sick after awhile. Save the sopping wet setup for a neonate rainbow or something.

Keep it simple with a tub for a neonate or something like a commercially built cage or something homemade from melamine or shower surround (that's what I use and recommend) for juvies or adults.

I agree with the other poster on types of plants, etc. I've used several of those with good success. of that list, Pothos have been a good standby plant because they don't need as much light as some of the others mentioned.

To the OP: The ladybugs also sound like a huge hassle. Keep in mind that these are arboreal snakes that spend 95% of their time up on a perch. If you have "ground bugs" of some kind in the substrate, they shouldn't bother the snake. In fact, if you have a good, naturalistic setup (see websites or books like "The Art of Keeping Snakes" for how-to guides), CERTAIN types of insects or worms can be beneficial in breaking down liquid waste and keeping the live plants healthy.

But again, the more complex the setup, the more of a pain it will be.
-----
- Jeff -

there are a few issues with live plants that have to be addressed. Do you have ample light in the cage for the plant to live? What type of plants do you want to use? Have they been sprayed with chemical pesticides or fungicides or fertilizers. Are you going to be heartbroken if the animal breaks the plant or hides in it? Will it make the cage more difficult to clean?--This can be a bigger deal than you think. If a cage if hard to keep clean, then chances are you won't clean it as often--bad news for the plant and the animal. Here is what I do--remember I am by no means an expert but this has worked for me. I have several plants that are fine in low light levels. Pothos,spider plants,mother in laws tongue,various philodendrons. I use florescent lights on a timer. just regular florescent bulbs. I don't plant the plants in the substrate. I put them in their own little pots that I can move to clean and water when needed. Most of the pothos and philodendrons aren't even potted but are in jars of water where they root. Plants get changed out as needes or as whim hits me. I always keep more clippings than I need for any one cage and rotate them out as I need to. For heat I use a seperate moon bulb over a branch. that way the snakes get to choose their temp and I can control the humidity by the amount of plants I use. My method may not be the most pretty but it is cheap and it works for my gtps, amazon tree boas and emeralds. I have seen all these animals setup in beautifully planted enclosures with expensive orchids and bromeliads only to come back a few months later and see these same enclosures with dead plants and the enclosure be dirty because it was all too hard to clean. Hope this helps

Also some very good points.
-----
Corn Snakes
1.0 Blood Red CB
0.2 Normal CB
0.1 Aztec CB
1.0 Anerythristic CB

Morelia Pythons
0.1 Morelia Viridis CB
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheynei CB

Homo Sapiens Sapiens
0.1 Normal Neonate CB
0.1 Very Bizarre Adult WC

First off, congrats on entering the GTP world. While live plants look great and contribute to the natural look and feel of the environment, the plants themselves don't actually help with the humidity, they actually hamper it, by soaking in moisture to it's root system helping it grow. If you really want to keep your humidity up, there are several commercially available high pressure misting systems on the market that are relatively affordable. This way you can still use live plants, and still keep high humidity. Another tip for keeping the humidity high is to use a natural, fast drying substrate like coconut husk, it dries quick enough that if it's not sopping wet, it won't grow mold. I've heard of people using wet towels by their heat lamp (which sounds like a fire hazard to me, they will dry out and light when you least expect it). A piece of heat resistant styro or mold resistant drywall would work to close the top of an enclosure in.

Worrying about an infestation of insects while using live plants is certainly a valid concern, but botanical gardens and nurseries of higher quality often guarantee their plants bug free. It's their business, just don't buy them at Home Depot (nothing against home depot,just trying to make a point). Also, introducing an infestation of a different insect species doesn't really sound to me like it'd help matters. Your snake won't know the difference between mites and ladybugs (ladybugs will go anywhere and will crawl on anything) and your snake will likely stress as though the ladybugs were mites.

In conclusion, I would use: live plants (obtained from a reputable source or specialty shop with a guarantee), fake pllants and decor, a misting system of some sort, be it a $4 spray bottle or a $200 programmable exo terra (I prefer the Exo Terra Monsoon 4000). I wouldn't use: any introduced species of plant from a source that doesn't specialize in plants specifically, or any introduced species of insect.

Hope this helps. - Scott.
-----
Corn Snakes
1.0 Blood Red CB
0.2 Normal CB
0.1 Aztec CB
1.0 Anerythristic CB

Morelia Pythons
0.1 Morelia Viridis CB
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheynei CB

Homo Sapiens Sapiens
0.1 Normal Neonate CB
0.1 Very Bizarre Adult WC