great SAFE plant list ( w/ one exception ?)

[flybyferns]

Amphibian Care >> Tropical Terrarium Design

A plant on this list I have read "could be toxic"? is the Dieffenbachia.
I have read enough info the on the Dieffenbachia that I would be reluctant to put it in w/ my red eyes?

Two other ( NOT on the list ) that I keep reading "bad" things about as well are :

rubber plant
Rubber Plant - Ficus elastica - Indoor House Plants - Plant Encyclopedia Database at PlantCare.com

and

croton
Croton Plant

Has anyone else read that the croton and rubber plant have a toxic ( to tree frogs) sap that comes out of the leaf if it breaks .
I had a rubber plant in my enclosure,but removed it. I have snapped a leaf in half. It most definitely has a white sap that seeps from the broken area !!! It's too bad - these 2 plants have nice big sturdy leaves.

Lynn

[UncleChester]

I've also read that Dieffenbachia is a potential problem. It supposedly contains a much higher concentration of calcium oxalate crystals crystals than pothos (pothos is supposed to be bad to ingest for this reason). It is supposed to be nasty for anything that eats it, but I've also read that people have used it in frog vivariums with no issues. I don't really like the plant, so I don't bother with it.

Crotons seem to be used frequently in vivariums, I've stayed away as I've also heard they were a potential problem. I do like the look of some of them though, so I've been holding off judgement until I can find out more.

I do have 2 types of rubber plants, Ficus elastica and Ficus elastica variegata. They are sturdy as you say, and not much chance of being broken by a wee frog so they're in for me. Note that there's also the unrelated "Baby" rubber plants, Peperomia obtusifolia, that are on the 'safe lists' like the one you've found and that I've fallen in love with for vivariums. Nice thick leaves, come in several shapes and colours, and some have great upright growth habits.

[flybyferns]

I've also read that Dieffenbachia is a potential problem. It supposedly contains a much higher concentration of calcium oxalate crystals crystals than pothos (pothos is supposed to be bad to ingest for this reason). It is supposed to be nasty for anything that eats it, but I've also read that people have used it in frog vivariums with no issues. I don't really like the plant, so I don't bother with it.

Crotons seem to be used frequently in vivariums, I've stayed away as I've also heard they were a potential problem. I do like the look of some of them though, so I've been holding off judgement until I can find out more.

I do have 2 types of rubber plants, Ficus elastica and Ficus elastica variegata. They are sturdy as you say, and not much chance of being broken by a wee frog so they're in for me. Note that there's also the unrelated "Baby" rubber plants, Peperomia obtusifolia, that are on the 'safe lists' like the one you've found and that I've fallen in love with for vivariums. Nice thick leaves, come in several shapes and colours, and some have great upright growth habits.

Hi Brian,
Good point about the rubber plant. Actually, I had to really stress the leaf to break it.
I really like the rubber plant too. I guess I will rotate it back in as well.

I rotate my 4" pots in and out of the enclosure to expose them directly under the plant lights/fluorescent lights. It keeps them nice and healthy. When they are out I'm able to clean them well. At least there is one advantage of having an enclosure in the yuckie basement.

Lynn