If you want to create an environment in your vivarium that’s both attractive and beneficial to the health of your froggy friends, you’ll need to make sure it has plenty of plants!
Little Prince has two White’s Tree Frogs as pets that we have named Willie and Stevie. We love adding new plants to our frog tank (AKA vivarium) and watching them explore their lush green habitat.
While there are hundreds of different species of vivarium plants you could use, some will have better benefits than others depending on the type of frog you have. The best vivarium plants for frogs will be both aesthetically pleasing to you and support your frog’s health.
Hoyas are vigorous plants from Southeast Asia with thick waxy foliage and fragrant flower clusters. They prefer to dry out in-between watering, so be careful not to place them anywhere in the tank where the soil stays waterlogged. Hoyas have a vining-twining growth habit, so consider planting them in an elevated area of the enclosure where their beautiful foliage has room to spread.
Bringing home a tree frog as a pet is an exciting venture. With their cute faces unique colors and fun personalities, tree frogs make for delightful companions. However, properly caring for these sensitive amphibians requires recreating key elements of their natural environment. One of the most important aspects of any tree frog habitat is including live plants. But not all plants are safe for frogs. When choosing foliage for your tree frog terrarium, you need to select options that are non-toxic and frog-friendly.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the critical role live plants play in a tree frog habitat and provide a list of 14 of the best safe choices to include in your vivarium setup
Why Are Live Plants Essential for Tree Frogs?
In the wild, most tree frogs live in tropical rainforests teeming with lush plant life. They rely on plants for food, shelter, humidity, and more. Replicating key features of their native ecosystem is crucial for your pet’s health and happiness. Here are some of the primary benefits live plants provide:
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Hiding Spots Plants allow shy tree frogs to feel secure They can hunker down out of sight in the leaves and stems
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Climbing and Perching: Many tree frogs like to climb and perch on plants. The textured leaves and branches provide enrichment.
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Humidity: Through transpiration, plants significantly boost humidity. Proper moisture levels prevent dangerous dehydration in frogs.
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Oxygen: Aquatic plants oxygenate water for tadpoles while also filtering nitrogenous waste.
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Ambiance: Live plants lend a lush, natural look while helping recreate a tropical rainforest vibe.
Clearly, live plants are integral for meeting the biological and psychological needs of tree frogs. But choosing the wrong plants could harm your pet. Next, we’ll explore plant toxicity concerns.
Avoiding Toxicity: Vetting Plants for Your Vivarium
With thousands of plant varieties out there, how can you discern which are safe to add to your tree frog’s home? Here are some key toxicity risks to avoid:
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Pesticides: Many commercially grown plants are treated with pesticides lethal to frogs. Opt for organic.
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Fertilizers: Chemical fertilizers can leach into the soil and cause frog poisoning. Choose organic options.
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Sap & Leaves: Certain plant saps and leaves contain irritants and toxins dangerous for frogs. Do your research.
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Allergies: Some frogs may have allergic reactions to certain plants. Watch for signs of irritation.
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Sharp Edges: Thorny, spiky, or sharp-edged plants can injure and entangle frogs. Avoid varieties with harsh protrusions.
Vetting each plant species through independent research ensures you avoid these pitfalls. Consult reputable sites and experts to build a list of guaranteed safe varieties.
14 Best Tree Frog Safe Plants
Now let’s explore 14 great live plant options to incorporate into your tree frog terrarium!
1. Pothos
With its trailing vine-like stems and heart-shaped leaves, pothos is a quintessential vivarium plant. It thrives in the warm, humid environment while helping maintain moisture. Position pothos towards the back as the long tendrils create depth.
2. Peperomia
Over 1500 peperomia species exist, most hailing from South America. Many feature thick, succulent-like leaves. These compact, low-growing plants work well towards the front of the terrarium. Provide bright, indirect light.
3. Prayer Plant
Named for their unique nocturnal folding of leaves, prayer plants add visual interest. These low-growing plants feature striking variegated leaves. Allow the soil to partially dry between waterings.
4. Nerve Plant
With prominent veins and gorgeous leaf patterns, nerve plants lend color diversity. Their compact size also makes them suitable for small tanks. Give them bright light and high humidity.
5. Air Plants
Uniquely, air plants don’t require soil, absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air! Just affix these epiphytic beauties to a stick or terrarium wall using fishing line or glue. Mist 1-2 times per week.
6. Bromeliads
Available in a huge range of leaf types, sizes, and colors, bromeliads work wonderfully in tree frog terrariums. Many hold water reserves in their rosettes. Provide extremely humid conditions.
7. Orchids
A bit trickier to grow but undeniably elegant, mini orchid varieties can make stunning arboreal additions. Be sure to match their care needs, providing ample air circulation and the proper temperature range.
8. Rabbit’s Foot Fern
Furry, foot-like fronds make the rabbit’s foot fern a whimsical choice. These compact ferns prefer shaded areas with extremely moist soil. Use towards the edges or foreground of the tank.
9. Creeping Fig
An ideal background cover, creeping fig attaches itself to surfaces with tiny aerial rootlets. The small, heart-shaped leaves provide ample coverage. Prune often to control its enthusiastic spreading.
10. Club Moss
For a lush carpet along the terrarium floor, opt for club moss. Selaginella and lycopodium species work well, enjoying high humidity. Allow the topsoil to partially dry out between waterings.
11. Mosses
Nothing lends a lush, rainforest feel like miniature mosses! Java moss, peacock moss, and mood moss all make fantastic choices. Provide bright, indirect light and constant moisture.
12. Wandering Jew
Trailing wandering Jew species like zebrina provide vivid purple leaves and rapid growth ideal for quickly covering the background. Prune frequently to control its vigorous spreading habit.
13. Crotons
Adding vibrant color diversity, crotons feature dramatically variegated leaves in hues of red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple. Give them very bright light to maintain their vibrant coloring.
14. Polka Dot Plant
Lastly, the polka dot plant delights with its adorably speckled leaves in shades of white, pink, and red. Ensure consistently moist soil and medium to high light for this beauty.
By selecting safe varieties and properly caring for them, live plants will not only beautify your vivarium but also provide enrichment for your tree frog. Monitor your pet’s interaction with new plant species and remove any showing signs of harm. With some thoughtful plant choices, you can craft a thriving indoor rainforest paradise for your froggy friend!
Popular Bromeliads for Vivariums
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Tropical ferns are fantastic additions to most vivaria. They come in a wide array of textures and colors and thrive in the moist, humid conditions typically found in tropical reptile and amphibian enclosures. There are a wide variety of houseplant ferns that you can choose for your frog vivarium.
Popular Hoyas for Vivariums
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If you want something that is easy to maintain and colorful, try adding a bromeliad plant to your vivarium! They’re hardy plants in the pineapple family and work well in low light settings. Most bromeliads are tropical species, native to humid forests of North, Central, and South America. Their large strap-like leaves provide the perfect structure for your frogs to climb and explore their enclosure.
Five of the Best Plants for Reptile and Amphibian Enclosures
FAQ
What live plants are safe for tree frogs?
Pothos is your best friend, fast growing, indestructible and won’t get squished by the frogs. Other good options are wandering jew, nerve plants, bromeliads, philodendron, and bushy ground cover plants like pileas/fittonias.
What plants are good for green tree frog enclosure?
Live plants can help increase the humidity in your frog enclosure and provide coveted hiding places. Be sure to include only amphibian safe plants such as pothos, aloe, philodendrons, spider plants, ficus, and dracaena. They can be planted directly into the enclosure substrate and lightly watered a few times a week.
What flowers do tree frogs like?
- Water Lilies.
- Frogfruit.
- Hostas.
- Wild Bergamot.
- Sedge.
- Pickerel Rush.
- Swamp Milkweed.
What plants to put in a frog terrarium?
Spikemoss (Selaginella spp.) are a great choice for frog habitats. They thrive in the humid conditions created by enclosed terrariums, and are very easy to grow. Slowly-spreading plants like spikemoss act as a groundcover, covering any bare patches of soil that are not already topped by leaflitter mulch.
What plants are safe for tree frogs?
Safe plant options include bromeliads, ferns, calatheas, and orchids. Ensure proper drainage and moisture levels to create a moist environment for your tree frogs. Consult with experts or reputable suppliers to ensure plant safety and compatibility with tree frog terrariums.
Do tree frogs need live plants?
If you are looking at setting up a bioactive habitat set up, then you will need real live plants to be part of this important process. It’s imperative that you choose the right live plants which are one hundred percent safe for your tree frog.
Are Pothos good for tree frogs?
With their lush foliage and ability to thrive in various conditions, Pothos plants are a fantastic addition to any tree frog habitat. Spider plants are not only popular houseplants but also a great choice for tree frog enclosures. These plants are known for their long, arching leaves that resemble spider legs, hence the name.
Can you put plants in a frog tank?
Be sure to include only amphibian safe plants such as pothos, aloe, philodendrons, spider plants, ficus, and dracaena. They can be planted directly into the enclosure substrate and lightly watered a few times a week. Can I put live plants in my frog tank?
Are red-eyed tree frogs safe?
Keep reading to learn more. Red-eyed tree frogs are a popular pet, but many people don’t realize that not all plants are safe for them. These frogs are native to Central and South America, and they require a warm, humid environment to thrive.
What plants should be in a tree frog terrarium?
A: Ideal plants for a tree frog terrarium include bromeliads, calathea, moss, rabbit’s foot fern, air plants, and other small to medium-sized tropical terrarium plants. Q: How can I ensure that the plants in my tree frog terrarium thrive?