Yup, it is a Parlor Palm. I have already begun my search for a very small one. Being that they take many years to grow to full height and they like moisture I figure they would be an excellent choice for her. I have also seen that some flowering plants can be used in there too. Primary reason for the plants is the retention of humidity and soil cleaning, not appearance though. Typically her breed is a primarily terrestrial one. Though, none of my animals are ever typical as many of you know. Least of all her, who still occasionally likes to wedge herself up on her screen top.
Because of her ground dwelling, I have been looking into soil composition for her native regions of Western Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, and even Colombia. Trying to get the right mixture of sand, soil, and even leaf litter is going to be the most important part. Her species is known to sometimes burrow, as she showed me when she was on Eco Earth when she was in her 20 gal. The downside for me is that because of what I do for a living, I am insanely cautious of just going outside and getting soil or cleaner crew. Once you know all the chemicals and fertilizers that are used near you, it can be a bit overwhelming. That being said, I am fortunate enough to have better resources for testing and evaluating the soil. Here in the next week or so I am planning on buying a few of the small shoe box totes to run mixture checks with. So far finding organic soil of any kind has not been easy but I blame that on the season. That and being in a mostly urban area.
With the cleaner crew, I am most likely going to order the majority of them. That way I have less to worry about when it comes to anything they may carry into the house. Funny how I get paid to eliminate some of these things from peoples lawns and property, yet here I am, looking to bring them into my own. Since Pandora is not known for being an insectivore like the Leos, I am fairly good on that front. Certain kinds of beetles i will have to avoid just because of their own appetites for living animals. I figure springtails, isopods, and nightcrawlers should do the job well.
I think the part that will be the worst is getting all of this completely set. Having a brand new type of enclosure and still keeping her in the right climate will mean buying all new lighting and heating too. That way she can move in and the only adjusting she will need is the new smells and possibly new hides. All in all, I am actually really excited for this project. Like I said when I first got her, she is the culmination of a 20yr dream and I am going to do all I can to give her as good of a life as she can get outside of being out in the jungle.
