two plants in terrarium...good idea?

17 years ago

Hello;

I have a mimosa pudica that looks to be flowering age and was wondering, if it set seed, would the other plants grow in a vivarium with lizards and frogs? Im not sure because my plant is growing sharp thorns, which I knew it did. Could I put the seeds in the vivarium?

Also;

I just got back on a trip from the florida keys and brought back two banyan tree cuttings. I was thinking of growing the smaller one as an epiphyte in my terrarium (as a bonsai, of course!) Arent these plants "strangler figs"? Would it make areial roots as a bonsai/epiphyte? And, would it work in a vivarium with frogs and lizards?

Here are the stats of the terrarium so someone can answer my questions better:

HUMIDITY: 70-80%

TEMPERATURE: 70-80oF (90oF under heat lamp)

LIGHTING: One 50 Watt Zoomed Repti Basking Spot Lamp(UVA): One 15Watt Exo-Terra Repti Glo UVB lamp running the length of the cage("Repti Glo 5.0"- puts out 30% UVA; 5%UVB)

The cage is by an east-facing window. If there is not enough UVB output I have a bulb that puts out 10% UVB I can swap the Exo Terra for.

SOIL: coconut fiber(bed-a-beast) with added fertilizer

BACKGROUND: coconut fiber(made off of Blackjungle's "How To make a custom landscpe/background for your terrarium")

ANIMALS: green anole, brown anole, two geckos from Florida keys, two tree frogs.

SIZE OF TERRARIUM: 18in.(height)X 24in.(length)X 17in.(depth, one less than 18inches because of background)

So, would a banyan and Mimosa pudica work in a terrarium?

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Comments (6)

taz6122
16 years ago
You could try but you need much stronger lights.
dirtmonkey
16 years ago
You can ignore the UVB & A output ratings regarding your plants. That's just for the animals. Those plants can grow there if they get good additional light from the window, but they'll probably be thin and scraggly.
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paul_
16 years ago
Since you know the Mimosa has thorns, why would you want to put in your vivarium where one of your charges could get hurt? That simply seems very unwise.

The banyan tree could make for a very cool bonsai. Much higher light is needed though you may then run into the issue of the tank getting too hot. Your banyan will likely produce aerial roots if in the terr -- the higher humidity seems to help in that regard.
tropichris
Original Author
16 years ago
I asked about the mimosa pudica because I was on www.wildsky.net and I saw a terr with mimosa pudica and dart frogs in it...

Sadly, the banyan died...oh well, I'm going to Florida next month anyway (yes I go to Fl. alot)

Here is a link that might be useful: Wildsky vivarium with mimosa pudica
smirgol
16 years ago
The Mimosa would require a great deal of light to do well (they grow in full sun in dry areas here in the USVI) but the "banyan" might do alright. I don't know what species it is, but I've had good success with Ficus citrifolia... i glued it to the underside of an angled piece of driftwood and it immediately began wrapping roots around the driftwood and sending down aerial roots. Very exciting! I think Florida has F. citrifolia and F. aurea... both good stranglers. I would suggest looking in the cracks of old stone walls and on rooftops, etc... they like to germinate in such areas and yanking a little baby from there with some roots attached will make your life much easier.
tropichris
Original Author
16 years ago
I Have a miniature ficus benjamina(F. Benjamina "Nightingdale" plant I was thinking of putting in there- would this survive the terrarium conditions, be considered a banyan (drop aerial roots), and be able to be mounted on wood? I went to Hawk's Cay in the Keys and saw what looked like a F. Benjamina growing on a palm tree.

~Chris