Plant suggestions for Redfoot Enclosure?

[Linds]

Ok, so I have still not decided on what kind of plants I am putting in my little guys enclosure. It's gonna be a 4x2 enclosure so it's going to be heavily planted since he's still so small - might lose him but at least he will feel safe :p So far the only plants I have decided on are Pothos and Ficus. I'm not sure what other plants will do well in the humid, warm environment of his enclosure and also stand up to his abuse :rolleyes:. I'm hoping he doesn't eat the garden I make for him, he doesn't seem to distinguish food from anything else - the little guy eats everything - rocks, sticks, toes, even the lego hide I made him :p What do you guys keep in your tortoise enclosures?

[Scotty Allen]

Good Luck Linds !!! When I was keeping redfoots indoors, I tried numerous species and the tortoises ate or trampled all of it. The best I have ever seen is just planting with clumps of grass. That way you will always have some fresh, new growth for the tortoise to munch on and eventually you get enough to form clumps for it to hide in. Dandelions work well, they are tough and your tortoise will love them. Whatever you plant with, be sure to determine that it is safe.

[Dilshad]

Scotty's suggestion about planting dandelion is a great idea. I'm actually not sure about the grasses...I don't think they're as beneficial for redfoots as they would be for other tortoises, although they would encounter them in parts of their range.

Chris has researched tortoise diet pretty exhaustively (at least he's good for something), so he's the one to ask.

For animals that are very hard on plants, or must otherwise be kept in a relatively simple environment for ease of maintenance, there's still a very nice ornamental option:

Suspend epiphyte branches above the enclosure. The overhead coverage will make forest animals feel secure and well hidden from predators, and it looks great.

For a redfoot enclosure you could mount bird's nest ferns (Asplenium ssp.), as well as bromeliad selections from amongst the various Tillandsias, Vrieseas, Guzmanias etc. (Not Cryptanthus ssp., as these are terrestrial.).

Use sections or tubes of cork bark, or even a nice hardwood branch and some fishing line. You can use sphagnum moss to dress it, and to root the Asplenium in, but don't pack it around the bases of bromeliads, you could rot them that way.

[Linds]

My enclosure is only 18" tall so I'm not sure about suspending many things. I'm not looking to plant an edible garden (hehehe... though my little guy may be under a different impression), so I don't think I'll go with dandelion - he LOVES dandelion :D I'm just looking to provide cover for him as well as decoration for the enclosure.
I have been found this wonderful little site and have decided to adapt its idea for Tortoise Dish Gardens. It can be found at http://www.geo cities.com/~pawsplus/dishgarden.html (copy and paste the URL into your browser, but delete the space in geocities). I'm just stumped for sturdy non-toxic plants that will thrive in that environment :confused:

[Dilshad]

Research it first, but you could try banana plants...I've seen them in use inside tortoise enclosures on the Tortoise Trust website.

[ReptileHQ]

Linds,

I'm working on a herbivorous reptile page that should interest you and others on this topic...should be done soon...stay tuned

Chris

[Linds]

Scotty,
LOL...well wish me better luck than you had, sounds like I sure will need it! :p

Dilshad,
Thanks for all the info! I'm definitely going to take all of it into consideration when I put together my little guys new home ;)

Chris,
Sounds great! :)

[Jaylyn]

Linds,

Maybe not pothos. They love to eat it - but its high in oxalic acid.

Inside or outside?

[Jaylyn]

Could plant little trays of dandelion, collard and mustard greens, and a mesclun lettuce mix .... and rotate them????

Jaylyn