They can grow to around 2 feet tall, though they will stay at whatever size they are restricted to within your pets cage with a bit of regular pruning. Named for its sticky sap used to create rubber products, the rubber tree has large, oval-shaped, waxy leaves that are extremely sturdy and tolerant of various conditions. Although it takes quite a while for it to bloom, its certainly worth it when its vibrant red, yellow, and orange flowers emerge from the center of its crown. The Boston ferns foliage is so dense that your pet will always feel safe and comfortable lurking underneath. A classic for many reptile enclosures, golden pothos vines (also known as Devils Ivy or, less commonly, their Latin name, Epipremnum aureum) is a wonderful addition to a chameleon habitat. This tropical plant fares extremely well in warm, humid chameleon enclosures, and chameleons love it for its abundant leaf cover and sturdy branches. They thrive in low light but also do just fine under bright, filtered light, so regardless of where you set it up in your chameleons habitat, the parlor palm will grow happily (albeit slowly) for months and potentially even years to come. Its soil should be kept moist at all times, though its fine if the top inch or so dries out a bit in between waterings. With its bright green, waxy leaves, the weeping fig provides lots of plant cover if you set it up towards the center of your pets enclosure.
For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. In addition, they help to maintain the humidity inside the enclosure. Once the roots start to overgrow the pot, replant your rubber tree into a slightly bigger pot, since rubber trees prefer tighter settings. Its okay to allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out a bit if youve overwatered it recently; itll bounce back in no time! They also dont like too much heat, so avoid placing your plant near hot UV bulbs and heat lamps. Lush and green, this compact tree is constantly producing new leaves that create great hiding places for your shy chameleon to get out of sight when they want to. When watering your weeping fig, instead of drenching the soil completely, try to keep it damp. These plants fare best when placed near bright, indirect light to keep their leaves vibrant and glossy. Can you put real plants in a chameleon cage. Its best to place these near your basking bulbs, but not too close to where its directly under harsh heat lamps or any other bright lights. If its leaves are beginning to turn brown, youre probably overwatering. i was just buying plants for my chameleons enclosure and i came across Hedera Helix (common british ivy) is this safe for chameleons??? They do particularly well under bright, filtered light and will thrive if placed near a window or if your chameleons enclosure happens to already be near one. Bromeliads need to be kept moist, so be sure to water them regularly. Polka-dot plants make excellent filler plants, and they add beautiful pops of bright pink and green to your chameleons habitat. Hibiscus plants like bright and direct light, so if the light inside the enclosure isnt enough, youll need to take the plant out and keep it in a bright and sunny location. This plant gives clear cues when it isnt doing well, so if you notice its leaves starting to turn brown, just add more water, and itll bounce back fairly quickly. They fare best under indirect, medium light, so keep them away from any basking bulbs. Correctly housing a chameleon means providing them with plenty of lush greenery to climb on and interact with. Avoid soaking the plant, and just keep the soil moist. Ficus elastica prefers partial to full exposure, but it cant stand too much heat or too much light.
If you notice your rubber tree shedding leaves, youre likely not watering it enough. Chameleons wont object to having a few fake plants inside their enclosure, as long as they are mixed with some live plants, too.
They like to climb, so feel free to encourage them to slowly creep up the walls and surfaces of the enclosure. Its leaves are incredibly vibrant and lovely to look at, especially if you use this as a centerpiece or even an accent within your pets enclosure.
Not only are live plants nice to look at, but they also have many important functions inside the chameleons habitat. Still, theres nothing quite like those pink and green leaves if you want a truly unique and stunning habitat for your pet. These plants look great when combined with other creeping vine-like plants, like the earlier golden pothos. They are very drought tolerant, too, so theyll be fine if you occasionally forget to water them. While this fern is an ideal plant for chameleons, caring for it is another story. I wouldn't use it. While they arent quite large enough to be a centerpiece and wont cling to walls like vines, spider plants are excellent for filling up some space in your chameleons habitat reasonably inexpensively. There are several weeping fig varieties, all of which can be a bit touchy when it comes to light and watering. Aside from your pet chameleon, plants will be the second thing anyone will notice when looking at your enclosure setup. The exception to this is hibiscus rosa-sinensis, also known as Chinese hibiscus. With its bright purple and varying shades of green leaves, the wandering jew looks great and is fairly easy to care for, even for beginners. These are attractive, easy to maintain, and theyll also help keep the humidity within your pets natural-looking habitat. Mist its leaves regularly so your chameleon can lick up any water droplets they find when they become thirsty. You should keep up with regular pruning to keep the rubber trees size under control.
As far as watering goes, keep your yucca moist but not wet, and allow it to dry completely before watering it again. Caring for grape ivy is pretty simple, even for beginners, too! Another great thing about these plants is they arent fussy and dont require any special care. They arent quite as commonly used in chameleon enclosures as some of the others on this list, as theyre a bit pickier with their preferred conditions, but theyre still worth mentioning as they look great and provide lots of dense plant cover for your pet. The grape ivy is another ideal plant if you want something vine-like to grow along the walls and surfaces of your chameleons habitat. Plus, they grow very quickly, so theyll fill up the space fast! Keep the wax begonias soil moist but not too wet or oversaturated. Their small, light green leaves also hold water droplets well, so your pet will be able to sip water comfortably without feeling anxious or exposed. OddlyCutePets is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Wesley Oaks a veterinarian. We wanted to include a wide range of colorful plants on this list to truly make chameleon enclosures look great and be comfortable and safe for your pet. However, its narrow and long leaves dont create much of a hiding space. If your chameleon likes to eat plant decorations or you notice that they are eating a lot of rubber tree leaves, its best to remove this plant from the setup. Plus, since water droplets cling to its leaves and flowers very easily, they provide plenty of hydration to your pets diet. While you certainly have the option of using fake plants for these delightful arboreal lizards, weve compiled a list of some of the best natural plants for chameleon enclosures. Keep your hibiscus plant in an all-purpose potting mix and stay on top of repotting, since it doesnt like to be root-bound and prefers to have space inside the pot. Dragon trees are very drought-tolerant, hardy, and resilient, so they will be fine if you happen to forget watering them every once in a while or arent particularly skilled at caring for plants. Since compact varieties stay small and grow very slowly, they can fit inside a tank easily. The parlor palm, sometimes referred to as the neanthe bella palm, works great either as a centerpiece or as an accent plant in a chameleon cage, and it thrives extremely well in tropical, humid conditions. The Boston fern is native to many warm, humid areas, such as Central and South America, South Florida, and even Polynesia and Africa! They fare well in the warm, humid conditions typical of chameleon enclosures, though they best under bright, indirect lighting. Updated: September 26, 2021 by Jennifer Munsell. Interestingly, they more closely resemble ferns than a typical palm, and they are on the smaller side like ferns, too. Featuring thick and glossy green leaves and sturdy stalks for climbing, this plant can easily become the center of the entire habitat.. As its name implies, the rubber tree is a tree, which means it can grow to be several feet tall. However, once you figure out what your fern likes and dislikes, caring for it wont be difficult. They do quite well in warm, humid environments, and they look great alongside some of the other colorful plants on this list, like the croton or polka-dot plant. Crestie-Mum to Splat & Buffie and Leachie-Mum to Armani! On the plus side, fake plants dont require any care and last longer than live plants. Come join the discussion about breeding, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more! Despite its sort of tricky initial setup conditions, the China doll plant does well once youve made it comfortable. If you are looking for a more compact and sturdy plant, consider getting a rubber tree, which is great for climbing and hiding. Since the croton is a tropical plant, it fares exceptionally well in hot, humid chameleon enclosures. Allow its soil to become completely dry between waterings, and avoid pouring water directly onto the plant to prevent root rot. Weeping figs also dont like to be moved around a lot and will start losing leaves in revolt if they are disturbed too much. Adding plants inside your chameleons enclosure should make it more comfortable and inviting for them, not transform it into a death trap! Simply pot your yucca plant in standard potting soil for houseplants and ensure it has adequate drainage. This trailing vine will happily grow in low-light conditions or full sun exposure. Its native to hot, moist swamplands in Central and South America, so it will fit right in with your pets habitats warm, wet conditions. It doesnt need much light, though it will tolerate moderate and bright lighting just as well. When watering your rubber tree, be sure to allow the top layer of soil to dry out almost completely before rewatering. Just be sure not to overwater this plant! This chameleon live plants list wouldnt be the same without the jade plant, which is a very popular choice for chameleon enclosures. Thankfully, bromeliads absorb and store large amounts of water very easily, so youll typically only need to water it once or twice per week. Live plants, on the other hand, provide adequate cover for your scaly friend to hide, produce oxygen, and help maintain humidity inside the enclosure. Although ferns, in general, dont provide much in the way of surfaces for your chameleon to climb on, their extremely dense leaves offer well-covered hiding spots for your shy, reserved lizard to seek out when they dont want to be on display. The natural habitats of most species of chameleons that are commonly kept as pets are covered in lush greenery, so your scaly pet needs plants to survive and thrive in captivity. Keep the soil moist at all times, but allow it to dry out a bit if you notice any leaves beginning to turn brown. To encourage better drainage and avoid root problems, plant your compact dragon tree in soil thats airy and drains well. JavaScript is disabled. Keep its soil damp, water it regularly, and keep it near bright yet indirect lighting for best results! Plants also create a safe place for your scaly arboreal pet to hide and feel secure inside their enclosure and provide a suitable surface for them to climb on. If you notice any leaves falling off, its probably getting too much light! Without further ado, lets find out what kind of plants can go in a chameleon cage! Water your plant thoroughly but allow the surface layer of soil to dry completely before watering again. This means your scaly pet will be breathing fresh air as long as you keep the yucca tree alive. Knowing what kind of plants can go in a chameleon cage will help you create a safe and comfortable habitat for your scaly pet.
First of all, these ficuses prefer to get some actual sunlight. The dragon trees leaves look a bit like the spider plants with more length and height.
While this might seem like too much fuss over a single plant, the extra effort is really worth it, because the weeping fig can give the entire tank a lush tropical rainforest feel. ReptilesLife.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. They need lots of bright, direct light to produce their brightly colored flowers and leaves, and they need very frequent watering when their flowers begin to bloom. Both types will make a great addition to your tank, and its up to you to decide which variety is better suited for your lizards home. Caring for the money tree is also quite simple, as it already thrives in tropical conditions. Hardy and relatively easy to care for, jade plants can outgrow even the biggest enclosures, so youll need to trim your jade plant regularly. If youre worried about how much water you need for this plant, just look at its leaf coloration. Another perk to keeping these relatively low-maintenance plants in your chameleons enclosure is that they dont need a lot of light each day to thrive. I am a Member of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. any help really appreciated, heres a list of safe plants its a sticky at the top of the forum. Although its one of the best live plants for chameleons, the compact dragon tree is slow to show signs of problems. Its crucial to keep in mind that some plants can irritate your chameleons skin, and others can be toxic if ingested. These handsome little plants somewhere between a shrub and a tree are sometimes also known as serpent or emerald trees.
Its a good rule of thumb to keep in mind if youre not especially experienced with maintaining and caring for plants. Many reptile owners opt to simply set up their golden pothos towards the bottom of their chameleon enclosures, ideally around the sides of the enclosure, and allow the vines to slowly creep upward over time and become one of the main centerpieces of the habitat. Just make sure not to place your fern directly underneath any heat or UV lamps in the enclosure.
Jennifer is the founder of ReptilesLife and has had a reptile friend since she was seven. Amazingly, these bush-like plants are capable of growing to 15+ feet! Its native to tropical regions of South America, so its perfectly suited for the warm, humid conditions in your chameleons habitat. These long, leafy vines provide lots of leaf cover and plenty of good hiding spots for shy, reserved lizards like chameleons. They thrive in a wide range of temperaturesfrom 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 C)and grow well in low and high lighting conditions. This palm will create a ton of comfortable hiding spaces for your chameleon to retreat to and relax. Since this plant doesnt have deep roots, you wont have to water it often. Like we mentioned earlier, you want to avoid overwatering it, so be sure to allow the top layer of soil to dry out completely before watering it again. Indoor yucca plants can come with a central tree trunk that supports foliage or as a shrub with several stalks, all of which end in foliage. Allow the top inch or so of soil to dry completely between watering and water sparingly so the soil doesnt become soggy. One way you can do this is by filling your pets tank with safe live plants for chameleons that will create a tropical and foresty feel inside the cage. The biggest benefit of adding a yucca plant to your chameleon tank is that it is one of the most effective plants for air cleaning. Caring for the parlor palm is also simple enough for beginners and experts alike. The China doll plant needs lots of bright yet indirect lighting for at least around five hours per day, so be sure you position it somewhere in your chameleons enclosure where itll get adequate lighting to thrive. One thing to keep in mind with this plant, like with most centerpiece plants, is it can grow to a considerable size and height. As far as care goes, theyre a bit higher-maintenance than some of the others on this list, but we think its worth it for such a beautiful, colorful plant. Water it regularly to keep it moist, and dont allow the soil to dry out for long. While undoubtedly beautiful, hibiscus plants are rather difficult to grow indoors, so you might want to reconsider getting one if caring for plants isnt your forte. However, they fare especially well under bright lighting, preferably direct sunlight, when watered once a week or so. It provides great foliage cover because its leaves are thin yet very densely clustered together. "It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. Bear in mind that Ficus Benjamina produces sap when injured or cut, which can irritate your chameleon if they touch or consume it. Simply mist the leaves directly and watch as the droplets pool up at the ends. With its sturdy tree-like trunk and long, spiky green leaves, the yucca plant is a great plant for a chameleon habitat.
One of the best things about these plants is they are extremely hardy and forgiving, so they make great centerpiece plants if youre worried about not being able to care for something larger and more demanding. Live plants clean the air and make sure your chameleon has enough fresh oxygen. Plants also create hiding places for a chameleon to retreat to, which helps them feel safe and secure in their environment. The parlor palm is another great plant for chameleon habitat due to its lush green foliage that can easily cover an entire enclosure. As far as care goes, these plants prefer bright yet indirect lighting at all times and semi-regular watering once or twice per week. The golden pothos is extremely adaptable and tolerates a wide range of conditions, which makes it an ideal plant for chameleons and people without a green thumb.
Its woody stems are also sturdy enough for your pet lizard to climb on, although its small and fleshy leaves dont create much coverage. The dwarf umbrella tree is especially great for providing spaces for your chameleon to drink water droplets from its leaves. Overwatering presents more of a danger to these plants than under-watering!
While its most known for its large, tropical-looking flowers of varying pink, orange, and red shades, its broad leaves are also well suited to providing plant cover. They fill space very well and grow quickly, so theyll fill out any space in the enclosure in mere weeks. Its a short, shrub-like plant with lots of brightly colored pink, orange, white, and sometimes red flowers, so dont be surprised if your chameleon takes a liking to munch on them. Some are even toxic! Caring for the Boston fern is also quite simple, though youll need to ensure its soil is always kept damp. Youre not going to get much brighter, more lush green leafage than the rubber tree! This palm isnt a fan of overwatering, and its leaves will start to turn brown if you go overboard with water. Providing adequate plant cover is crucial to preventing your chameleon from becoming stressed out. The corn plant isnt very picky about its lighting, either, though it prefers indirect, bright lighting. Plus, some chameleons like to chew on hibiscus flowers which is a good source of vitamin C. So dont be alarmed if you catch your pet lizard munching on hibiscus flowers, since they are completely safe and wont put your scaly friend in any danger. I stick to good old Schefflera! Though it isnt very picky about its conditions, grape ivy tends to shed leaves quickly if overwatered. Simply water it regularly, avoid overwatering, and allow the top layer of soil to dry almost completely in between waterings. If you opt for this particular plant, its essential to keep in mind not to confuse it with a very similar species, the Schefflera actinophylla, the Australian umbrella tree, as it is moderately toxic to most animals. We just cannot resist colorful plants, and the hibiscus is perhaps one of the most vibrantly colored plants youll find in a chameleon enclosure. They do pretty well in hot and humid environments, making them perfect candidates for a chameleon enclosure. Chameleons also really enjoy these plants for hydration, as their long, thin leaves catch water droplets that collect neatly on their tips. Hibiscus plants are best known for their elegant and gentle blossoms that come in various shades of purple, red, yellow, orange, and more. Since all ferns require high levels of humidity, they are a great plant for chameleon enclosures. Even though the China doll plant is somewhat tricky to care for if youre a novice when it comes to plant keeping, theyre certainly worth the effort, as they grow fairly slowly and stay quite small for the entirety of their life if kept in your chameleons enclosure. Some of the links may be affiliate in nature meaning we earn a small commission if an item is purchased. If you choose to implement it in your pets habitat, this unique-looking plant will be loved by both you and your chameleon. While such a huge plant might look ideal in your home, its size can be a bit over the top for any type of chameleon enclosure if left unchecked.
A mixture of soil, bark, and sand is a good option for growing and maintaining this plant and will ensure good drainage. Its perfectly safe if your pet happens to munch on it from time to time, too! Amy used to eat loads of Schefflera leaves when she was tiny! As a reasonably inexpensive trailing plant, the golden pothos is perfect for cheaply filling up space in your chameleons habitat. Good plants will be sturdy enough to allow your chameleon to climb, and they should also ideally have lush foliage to create hideouts for your shy and reserved lizard to retreat to. The compact dragon tree can do well in areas where there isnt ample bright light, but it will start to wither and show signs of stress without enough sunlight. To grow and thrive, jade plants need several hours of direct sunlight every day.
While your chameleon likely wont be able to climb on the spider plant (unless theyre a tiny variety of chameleon), they will immensely enjoy using it as plant cover and sipping water droplets off of its long, thin leaves. While there is nothing wrong with plastic plants, per se, they cant help with humidity nor do they hold water droplets as long as live plants. Finally, chameleons are arboreal lizards, and live plants allow them to climb like they do in the wild. There are so many safe and attractive plants you can choose for your chameleons enclosure that you may have a hard time deciding what is the best one. Despite its name, it doesnt produce corn; its name comes from its leaves, which look like corn husks. The weeping fig is one of the most commonly used centerpiece plants for chameleon habitats, and many good reasons. The closer you come to replicating your chameleons natural habitat in terms of substrate, plants, and humidity, the happier and healthier they will be living inside an enclosure. As far as watering goes, semi-regular watering is plenty for the dragon tree. Dracaena compacta, also known as the compact dragon tree, is another excellent plant for your chameleons enclosure. At this point, you may be thinking, Great! You can either place the entire tank near a sunny window or take the plant every few days to a sunny spot to ensure that its getting enough sunlight to thrive. You have a wide range of options when it comes to centerpiece plants, but we love the money tree, also known as Pachira aquatica or the Guiana chestnut, for its wide, sturdy, bright green leaves. Even though its branches arent particularly sturdy, the wandering jews broad, dense leaves make great, inconspicuous hiding spots for more shy chameleons.
So, if you notice that your plant is leaking sap, remove it from the tank until the injury is healed. If you dont prune it regularly and keep its growth in check, itll quickly grow to over 5 feet tall! This variety is just as beautiful as the rest of the hibiscus species without being quite as high-maintenance and difficult to grow. She loves sharing her love of reptiles and has made it her mission to provide legit information on caring for them as pets.
If you cant keep your chameleon tank near a window, take your plant out of the cage and place it in a sunny place once in a while. Theyre hardy plants and grow quite quickly. You can also keep two plants and rotate them between the enclosure and the sunny spot. This means youre fine to place it just about wherever you wish in your chameleons habitat without worrying about it potentially drying out or dying. Fake plants also cant clean the air inside the enclosure, and they may cause an intestinal obstruction if your chameleon accidentally eats them. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Thankfully, this wont be much of an issue in a chameleon cage, though youll still need to check on it semi-regularly to keep it from becoming too dry.