Super Easy Plants

[Elliriyanna]

What are some super easy plants for a crested gecko terrarium? Plants that I would not need any extra lights and such for.

I am looking for plants of all types, climbing, ground, and hanging.

 

[JessJohnson87]

New England Herpetoculture LLC - Gecko Appropriate Plants

that's a link I found in a thread on this part of the forum. Most plants will need a fluorescent bulb to help them grow since you can't fertilize them in the tank. Snake plants do well in planted viv's and are sturdy enough for a crested gecko.

 

[Elliriyanna]

what kind of bulbs? Do you have links? Like the tube lights made for plants? Or just any bulbs?

 

[JessJohnson87]

All Living Things
or
Philips Agro 75-Watt Incandescent BR30 Plant Light Bulb-249052 - The Home Depot
with crestie's, the temperature cannot exceed 80*, getting a lower wattage bulb or hooking it up to a lamp dimmer and playing with it until it stays under 80* will work. Plugging the bulb into a timer will eliminate having to constantly turn it on and off every day as well.

 

[Elliriyanna]

how often do you have to replace bulbs?

 

[Elliriyanna]

I just found this one too ... If it would work Amazon.com : Zoo Med Tropic Sun 5500K Daylight Fluorescent Bulb T8 15 Watt, 18-Inch : Aquarium Lights : Pet Supplies

 

[JessJohnson87]

When they burn out, just like any bulb in a fixture. I have a bookmarked link to another forum that has a more extensive plant list, can't post the link here, I can Pm it to you.

Yeah any bulb that can be used to grow aquarium plants, work. Fertilizing the plants can be toxic to the feeders and animals, that's why lighting is important to keep the plants healthy. The only plant I have that has been super easy to care for is Coleus, the rest have been temperamental.

 

[Elliriyanna]

I am a turtle owner ... They have to have their bulbs replaced every 6 months no matter what because the output decreases, I wasnt sure if plant bulbs were the same.

 

[JessJohnson87]

Well with plants its different, on a cloudy day, they don't get as much sun light. It's filtered through the clouds, so even if the bulb has decreased UVA/UVB output, it shouldn't harm the plant. It's a trial and error thing. I experimented years ago with growing plants in one of my reptiles tanks, that didn't eat plants, and it went from seed to sprout within a matter of days and grew fantastically.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I plant snake plants in terra cotta or plastic pots. Snake plants are low maintenance and low light. Just let them thoroughly dry out between watering. I just keep a 25 watt incandescent bulb near my crestie's vivarium.

Brightness from overhead fluorescents could stress cresties out, because they are nocturnal. I'd keep lighting simple.

Ludisia discolor is a low light orchid that works well.

 

[CrestedRick]

As for bulbs you can do CFL bulbs, depending in the height of your tank will determine wattage. I used 18watt for a while then moved to 23w bc I was using a 18-18-24 Zoo Med. They're pretty inexpensive and you'll just need to buy a flukers dome. Good thing about them is they give off a little which helped me this time of year in CT. And as Jess said, look at the link she sent. Mike and Jess and NeHerp are great, buy all my supplies there. Email them and they'd gladly give you some ideas.

 

[Lozmick geckos]

For live planted vivs I use Arcadia jungle dawn leds